Talk to me about shared gardens...thinking of moving to a flat

[ImflightbutIcantlogintoday]

Its an amazing flat, very large inside, basement and ground floor - but the garden though very large is split in half. There is a great couple upstairs with two little boys (aged 2/3 and newborn) and I have a nearly 5 year old and an 11 month old.
Their steps lead down and through our part - along the edge - to the far end of the garden which is their bit.

I like them but am concerned about making it clear to Ds1 that it is not all ours - especially as their dad is building some immensely exciting play equipment for them, we're talking woodne castles and such - and Ds is going to want to go on it...

I can see myself having to forcibly restrain him...we have our own swings etc but I just don't know how it will work!

Has anyone experience of this sort of thing?
Thanks

Im just thinking it would be impossible to stop my daughter from wanting to play on all that exciting stuff(shes 4), and it would make her pretty sad to see it so accessible!!
how about asking them if you can 'share'?
it could turn out to be a really idyllic situation with all the kids playing, and of course if they are that young, there will be parent supervision?
of course, it will take some sensitivity on your part, as to how the kids all get along.
If they seem apprehensive, maybe put up a meakeshift fence.....

I would really hate having to share. The whole point of a garden is that it's 'your' space and you have some privacy.

What if the 'great' couple move and you get someone you wouldn't want to share a garden with?

Yes, thanks for the thoughts, where we are we have our own patch - nothing amazing but at least we know where we are iyswim.

They are a really nice family according to our mutual friends, who tell me their children are unnaturally well behaved which is why I'm worried that Ds will totally shock them!!

I think they are long term, ie they have bought it while we are just renting, but hoping to be long term too.

There is a fence albeit a lowish one, and a shed blocking the view somewhat. But Ds is not that easy to fool

I am picturing scenarios whereby we end up looking after each other's children quite a lot. I don't know. It could be brilliant but it could be awful!

And as you say, they might move and someone not so nice could move in. I guess there is always potential for new neighbours wherever you are, and fences can be bought...

It's tricky to decide what to do.

The flat is gorgeous - large rooms including a huge basement area for the boys' playroom/bedroom, also a living room, second bedroom on the ground floor and kitchen, and dining room at the back.
It hasn't got a bath which I think the boys would miss - might have to get one installed! But it is much nearer the shops, on a lovely street.

Oh darn it. What is it with agents? It was on with two at different prices - one of which we can afford, one a bit too high.

So I asked the ones who showed us round, if they might come down a bit on the price. They said we'll ask and get back to you.

So I rang the others and said, I'd be interested in the property, at your asking price, and they said 'we've just had a call from the other agents telling us that the landlady has told them to tell us to raise the price'!!!!!!!!

So it is now apparently on at 795 with both? Can agents tell each other what to do like that?
I am so sick of being mucked about by them. Just after a huge profit when all we want is a place to live, and are happy to pay for it. £750 for a decent long term tenant can't be such a bad prospect surely?

The #nice' and cheaper agent is getting back to me, well so she says, but I don't think i'll hear any more about it. It's still on their website at 750.

You must be v fed up. But your own garden space is invaluable IMHO.

I would give this place a miss.

I agree with Seasider, your own garden space is invaluable.

I enquired about a flat last week Flight, and it had a large balcony area at the back where you accessed the flat, but no garden.

I loved it as it was huge and right by everything we could possibly need, schools, shops etc, but in the end I thought the balcony come garden just wasn't enough.

Mind you, I need not have given it so much thought as the agent landlord decided he didn't want to rent to someone on benefits anyway.

Aw Nutty, I feel your pain. The b*st!rds.

Somehow whenever we find a potential place, the agent finds a way out of it even if they've said they're Ok with HB.

Last time it was someone showing up with 6 months rent in advance that blew us out of the water. It's so upsetting, not the not getting the house, but the way you feel kind of looked down on.

I guess estate agents exist to make money and get as high a price as they can - the rents here are shocking really.

Private tenancies (direct to landlord) are the way to go but like hens' teeth.

Hope you get sorted soon pet x

(I just rang for an update and the nicer agent has left landlady a message. I wish I could find the landlady as she is our old neighbour and even bought my son a present when he was born, but I don't know where she lives now!)

you do know that it is none of the agents business to know where your money for rent comes from dont you?
Little white lies are the bomb i reckon, cos lets face it, they ARE predudiced against H>B tenants.
When I was staying at my sisters, 7months pg, and looking for somewhere to rent(I was relocating, after living abroad) I had to sign on for a few months bfore my partner could join me, get a job, and pay our own way.
I was totally honest with all the agents, and was turned down for no less than 24 suitable places......
and then i told a white lie, well, why not?
it was only for 3 months that i was on H.B in that case.

Emaknee, really? I thought you had to be upfront or it could invalidate your contract - besides which most of them ask for references - how did you manage to avoid that one?!

Do tell!

I've been told that house insurance and or mortgages often preclude tenants on HB, so it might mean having to move again very quickly once they found out iyswim...I'm looking to be long term wherever we end up.

well( I am whispering)
my thinking is,if you can pay the rent, have a landlord whom you paid rent to previously, and have"private means of income", then you dont need to put a name to it do you?especially, as there is so much stigma attached to H.B!
And I told them my job was a teacher...and I wasnt lying, just not in work at that time(obviously).
I got my Dad to write that if anything happened where i couldnt pay the rent, he would be liable.
It is a sensitive issue,and really up to you,but if you jnow that you will be a good tenant.......
as for insurance....havent heard that one.
but you are not the house owner are you, so probaly doesnt apply to you.

sudden fit of paranoia!!
are the thought ploice gonna come and get me?????
may have to name change quick!!

police even.
ok im alright now.

Hee hee

Thanks! Worth thinking about actually, I might try that next time...one agent said don't mention it, just say you have a guarantor - my dad does the same as yours - anyway, thanks for sharing and I hope the police don't come round!!

Technically you could lose your job the same day you move into a property and then claim HB and they would be none the wiser.

That's true. I hadn't thought of that.