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Original poster

Can you live in a one bedroom flat, long term?

28 replies

gollee · 08/10/2024 07:51

DP and I are thinking about buying a one bed flat. Our options are:

a) buy a one bed in Zone 1/2 and either have a short commute or walk to work; or

b) buy a two bed in Zone 3 and have a slightly longer commute

The two bed would cost more to run, and we like the idea of not over stretching ourselves so we can afford to invest money in non-property options.

OP posts:
Alicana · 08/10/2024 08:00

Of course you can! I am assuming you share a bedroom and don’t work from home. One bedroom is fine for two people. You could get a sofa bed for guests if required.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 08/10/2024 08:01

On my own? Yes.
With DH? Maybe. Depends on how often he would go out.

exprecis · 08/10/2024 08:03

Definitely you can

But not if you WFH at all.

And I think for me, it would need to have at least a separate kitchen, preferably one that could fit a dining table in, and a decent size living room

Frowningprovidence · 08/10/2024 08:05

I had a lovely one bed flat and lived in it for 3 years. It was great and we enjoyed the fact we weren't overstretched and made the most if no commute by going out before some people had got back. Day to day it was great.

However, I did used to have really vivid dreams about opening the storage cupboard door and there being an extra bedroom there and feeling really relieved because I was studying and wanted a place where dh wasn't to study.

FasterMichelin · 08/10/2024 08:06

It depends how big the floorplan is, is it a small 1 bed or large?

And how much stuff you have.

And how much personal space you like to have.

shesamarshmallow · 08/10/2024 08:07

Depends if you ever WFH and if you have / would have guests much.

A one-bed would also be harder to sell in future.

Personally I’d go for the two-bed to have more options and a decent spare room.

NicoleSkidman · 08/10/2024 08:09

Those saying you can’t if you WFH obviously don’t live in London. Most people who work from home in London don’t have the luxury of a spare room to use as an office. It’s fine so long as it’s only one of you working from home, or you alternate the days that you work from home so you’re not both at home on the same days.

I would opt for which ever flat is in the nicest neighbourhood. Somewhere you want to spend time in with nice cafes, shops, etc.

ihaterain2024 · 08/10/2024 08:11

Talking from my experience and buying a 2 bed flat in zone 3. If i had my time back i would buy 1 bed somewhere nicer and closer , walkable to more pleces, cheaper bill, less money and time spend on transport ( we can't work from home).

exprecis · 08/10/2024 08:11

@NicoleSkidman I do live in London

And I know because I have done it that you don't need a spare room to WFH in, but it would change the balance for me - if you WFH you're not benefitting as much from the shorter commute and you spend more time at home so more space is nicer

CheeseWisely · 08/10/2024 08:11

We've lived in a (small) one bedroom flat for 5 years and are only moving now a baby has come along. It's been fine. Like you we are in a very very expensive area and I wasn't prepared to spend more than necessary in order to accommodate the occasional guest. If ever we've needed a breather then one of us retreats to the bedroom and one in the lounge. We do have a separate kitchen which is nice.

We live in a very touristy area so has also avoided the common MN problem of people inviting themselves to stay. Nope, sorry, no room, but I can recommend X and Y hotels nearby.

MechanicalDancingDoll · 08/10/2024 08:19

We lived in one in central London, very happily, for years, including with a baby, and only left when we left London.

LoquaciousPineapple · 08/10/2024 08:25

Personally, I couldn't. I like having the option of a second bedroom for illness, one of us having an early start, having guests over etc. Or even just the extra storage space, which is already at a premium if you're in a flat and don't have a garden/attic etc.

I also wouldn’t personally buy a one bed flat, even if I could live in one. My friends with flats have found they are harder to sell, and I imagine one bed flats are even harder. So I’d maybe rent a one bedroom flat, but never commit to buying one.

Dutchhouse14 · 08/10/2024 08:28

It's classic location over size of property dilemma.
Only you can answer which is more important to you.
Obviously 2 people can live in a one bed flat, how comfortably depends on room size, storage, if they ever WFH, have frequent guests etc
How long term depends on if you are planning to start a family or start to climb the walls as you don't have enough space.
I think storage and room size is key to the decision.
I don't think a 2 bed flat would have significantly more running costs unless ground rent is a lot more.
Obviously travel time and cost is a consideration.
But ultimately go with your heart!

Original poster
gollee · 08/10/2024 08:28

The big thing in London is that once you leave some of the more central Boroughs, council tax gets a lot more expensive.

OP posts:
TeaAndCakeFTW · 08/10/2024 08:31

No, I need a garden. A ground floor wouldn't work for me because of people above. But I could live in a small property, as long as it was functional to fit my needs.

But if given the option, I'd always go for more space. A zone 3 commute is fuck all.

CuteOrangeElephant · 08/10/2024 08:33

I would choose the 1 bed, it would save you so much money in the long run if you can walk to work. Only if the 1 bed is a decent size though.

Lulubellamozarella · 08/10/2024 08:38

If you don't need an extra bedroom for anything (guests/office/storage) then absolutely. I would take not over stretching yourself and having more available income for other stuff over a bigger property any day. And a shorter commute to work too? It would be a no brainer for me. The shorter commute and the extra money and less financial stress would win hands down. But then I am quite a simple person in that way. DH and I could afford a much bigger house than we have but we like to live well within our means and enjoy the extra income that goes on nights out, breaks away, nice holidays and not getting into financial difficulty or debt. Think what your priorities are and go with your gut.

PersephoneAgrees · 08/10/2024 08:38

One bed flat in zone 1/2 would be ideal. No commute and living centrally would be fantastic.

BanksysSprayCan · 08/10/2024 08:38

Depends on your lifestyle. Do you have people to sleep over? Do you have hobbies and interests that generate physical stuff to store?

And it depends on layout and dimensions. Features such as a larger living space, plenty of storage, maybe a shared laundry facility, space outside for bike storage, will make a big difference.

Cobblersorchard · 08/10/2024 08:39

Me personally? No. Couldn’t bear it because I need lots of space and DH and I have separate rooms. But plenty of people do.

When I was single I insisted on a 2 bed house as I wanted a spare room, garden and minimal neighbour noise.

But we moved from a big house to a small cottage to get a better location, so I do understand that side. Location first, property second.

Karmatime · 08/10/2024 08:48

I did for over 10 years, it was fine, it was a reasonable size for a one bed, about 650 sq ft and quite good storage - that makes a big difference especially with 2 of you.
It was in London zone 2 and I could walk to work.
The only downside is they can be difficult to sell if there’s no direct access to some private outside space. Look out for lease length and service charges too.

TheFlis · 08/10/2024 08:51

We lived in a one bed flat in zone 2 for 3 years. It was tight but fine until we both started regularly wfh. Now we live in a 3 bed in zone 6 and are so much happier!

fussychica · 08/10/2024 10:11

DS and his partner have lived in a 1 bed rented flat in zone 6 for the last 8 years. Good size lounge and bedroom plus a small garden. They've been very happy there but are now in the process of buying somewhere much bigger with an eye to the future. They can't wait to have more space. They both have extended their commute to afford it as larger properties in their current area are significantly above their budget.

GasPanic · 08/10/2024 10:51

Depends a lot also on your lifestyle.

If the place is just a place to sleep and you are out at night and away at the weekends less of an issue. If you are there 24/7 wfh it is.

Also depends on whether you have a vast amount of stuff, or the kind of person that wishes to accumulate vast amounts of stuff.

And ultimately, there are 1 bed flats and 1 bed flats. Some are tiny, and some are huge.

In property downturns flats seem to lose value a lot more than houses. But since your choice is between a flat and a flat that isn't really a consideration.

I think most people as a couple would be likely to buy a one bed flat for a relatively short timescale. If you do that and need or want to move in 5 years time, is that flat likely to be a savvy investment, or a millstone round your neck ?

And remember, the days when its easy to just rent it out are long gone.

Really you should not only be looking at what you want now, but where you might want to get to in 5 years time.

darkchocolatemint123 · 08/10/2024 10:55

Personally I quite like living in small spaces as it stops me accumulating pointless stuff. Agree a separate kitchen would be ideal in this scenario but yes why not.