What do you think of this studio flat?

[Spring025]

We're going to view this flat with DS at the weekend. It's tiny but in a good spot for him due to being close to a nice town centre and easy to get to work - and all he can afford.
He's currently paying £800 pound a month rent for a room in a house with no access to a proper kitchen (only microwave and fridge) and a shared bathroom so is keen to be putting that money into his own place.
I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on it, thanks!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159386981#/?channel=RES_BUY

You can see from the floor plan that his flat's door opens to the left-hand side of the hallway. The stairs at the end of the hallway will go up as normal, to the next flat.

This thread seems to be populated by people who've never even seen a conversion flat, let alone lived in one 😂

For those worried about heating - new electric panel heaters are much more ergonomic than before. They have timers, thermostats and energy-efficient fillings. If that one doesn't, there are always oil-filled rads, which work very well at reasonable cost. The kitchen's so tiny that it could be heated by one of those little £40 radiant heaters that just plug into a wall socket (and also have timers).

Oh @sashh, I love your revolving TV solution!

Apologies if already posted. I personally would usually avoid buying a studio. I would prefer this very run down but super spacious 2 bed - provided the building wasn't actually falling down or about to be declared full of asbestos https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159302777#/?channel=RES_BUY

That’s a genius idea

I'd be trying to stretch to a 1 bedroom. If he ends up living there long term, having a separate bedroom would be much more sustainable in my view. I live in a 1 bedder happily; I could never live in a studio aside from as a stop gap.

My first flat was smaller than that (no hall, door opened into living area, and the kitchenette was half that size) but I was renting. I was ok for about 18 months but would have hated living there long-term. If there are realistic expectations that he might afford better in a couple of years then I wouldn't think it's a good idea to buy this as you tend to lose money if you buy and sell over such a short period. If there's no realistic expectation of him improving his income level in the foreseeable future then either try to find a way to stretch to a 1-bed rather than a studio or help him find a better rental

Our first home was a studio flat, we lived in an expensive city, we lived there about 18mths before we bought somewhere bigger. I would say, it will get your son on the ladder. He could have a pull down bed installed or a good quality sofa bed(buy the most expensive he can afford) if the location suits him I would go for it, hopefully he can get it for a good price.

That is an auction, and has an undisclosed reserve price. There's no way you will get it for that amount of money.

And is in Andover and not Newbury and OP said her son doesn't drive.

It's all well and good saying 'id want a garden ' etc but that's not the price range he's at.

From what I remember of Newbury it's not really a bedsit/studio kind of place so I doubt many options at this price point come up.

I'd set up the bed nearest the bay window (where the wardrobe is) and have some low drawers in the bay. You can get hung divider screens that still allow light through if he really wanted but for one I wouldn't bother.

I'd put a small sofa next to it on the entrance wall, perhaps with a small lift up coffee table in front of it so it would double for eating at (I got one that lifts them folds out to make a full sized dining table - it's great and compact when down)

TV on chimney breast so can watch from sofa or bed.

Desk/ gaming equipment in the dead space alcove the opposite side behind the door.

Much prefer purpose built flats, lived in so many converted houses and noise is bad, gaps everywhere so open to mice and other pests. Just generally not the greatest

Lovely sunny living room with what looks like decent, built-in storage, proper kitchen with a window that you can close the door on, well-located bathroom and loo (by the entrance and off the hallway so away from main living space). For people saying it's small, I live in Paris where lots of young people live in studios much smaller and more poorly laid out and appointed than this one! And from what you've said, it sounds like a studio might well suit your son - I would definitely consider one of those mezzanine beds you linked to if that appeals to him. It's probably not going to be much cheaper than the rent he's paying now once you factor in service charges and council tax, but he'll have his own bathroom, a proper kitchen and be paying towards what will hopefully be an appreciating asset.

The two flats above it on rightmove at £130k have both been reduced, one in January and the other in February, might be worth considering them if you can get the price reduced further ?

Thanks everyone. DS definitely doesn't want a garden, he would see it as a major hassle and never use it. He currently happily lives in one room that is smaller that this so I don't think it would quickly feel claustrophobic or anything to him - although he would definitely need to streamline his lego collection which is currently at our house!

He's a bit different from most people (including me!). He likes the idea of a studio because he can't see the need to have a separate bedroom/living room because he has always 'lived' in one room. I don't remember him ever sitting on the sofa at home and he'd happily have eaten all his meals in his room on his bed if he was allowed when he lived here. He doesn't have a sofa in his rented room either, just a bed.

Personally I think he needs a bed and sofa because I'd like somewhere proper to sit when I go round, I don't want to perch on his bed and I don't think it's great for him to be doing everything from bed! Not sure if I'm being controlling there or just normal and sensible.

I know most people wouldn't want to live in a small studio long term, but he probably will because he doesn't really want the things most people want like a partner, family, outdoor space, a house.

I don't think the 2 other flats for sale for £130,000 are in quite the same place as this one, they seem to be on London Rd which is a bigger busier road I think. That probably wouldn't bother DS though.

My DS is currently in a similar set up to this but hes renting. His rental is a bathroom, utility, lounge/bedroom and kitchen. He's been there 6 years in part with a girlfriend too.

Main disadvantages....

His stuff outgrew it about a year ago.

He doesn't have the room for a study area, lounge and bed so had to compromise and chose study/wfh area and bed and TV on wall.

He's just bought a home of his own - moves in on Friday - and buying it as a FTB has stamp duty advantages, cost advantages and ease of moving advantages which are lost once you already own somewhere and need to move. In particular, he was able to wait until the right property came along to offer on and wasn't tied to buying quickly once he had sold a place.

@Spring025 if he does go for it, do you have one of those JYSK stores near you?

My relative has tiny flat I recently helped them with and it was best place I found for low priced smaller furniture. Compact armchairs etc. Agree, he needs a sofa or chair for family visitors at least.

Conversions are a potential nightmare because of sound issues- no sound insultation.

I'd not touch it with a bargepole.

Yes, and noise from above. OPs son is autistic, so it's likely noise will hugely affect him when he's trying to relax or WFH.

Sound is a potential issue, although DS is quite the oblivious sort and not sensitive to it in the way some people are, he can also sleep through anything. I couldn't cope with it if people were banging about or playing loud music upstairs though so I agree it could be an issue if it was a lot.

He probably won't be working from home because we both agree that it's important for him to go into work as it's the only place he sees and socialises with other people a bit. The rest of his team all go in every day and I think his manager likes them to come in.

This thread is so useful getting all different perspectives, thanks everyone!

I know most people wouldn't want to live in a small studio long term, but he probably will because he doesn't really want the things most people want like a partner, family, outdoor space, a house.

when you're buying somewhere, the resale potential is a huge factor.

Unless there is another young man out there like yours, selling this on could be very hard.

It IS tiny. IMO it's a rental, for someone strapped for cash who needs somewhere short term.

Unless there is some rush to buy I'd suggest you wait and keep looking.

On another topic, I think it's short sighted to imagine his needs and wants won't change as he matures. He may meet someone.
he may have friends who want to see him at home...

even if none of this applies now, he's boxing himself in (literally) to buy somewhere so tiny.

Service charge is too high.

Having looked again OP I think this would be a better bet and far more mortgage too if he needs a mortgageable and much easier to sell too - it is shared ownership but 50% a 2 bedder -and just over £80k and rent and service charges quite low- if he needs a mortgage in total would be similar to what he pays now- if he doesn’t then much cheaper - also allows for changing circumstances and is top floor- so no noise from above.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150884384#/?channel=RES_BUY

A multi function wall bed
https://www.studybed.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy46_BhDOARIsAIvmcwMYxrnDje3UDhqTG2LIRxtxJLOfVN_vD16MeL3fku0y_3u3Hdx4BhEaAiIVEALw_wcB

Yes you're right, resale is a big thing and could be an issue. As there's very little that's cheap around and it's a nice town though he could probably get rid of it if needed. He almost certainly wouldn't want the hassle of renting it out himself though so it's definitely something to consider because as you say he might change as he matures.

In reply to others he won't consider a shared ownership as the rent is just another cost that he can't control from going up. He definitely wouldn't want to pay a mortgage plus £360 rent a month plus another £145 a month in ground rent and service charge - which is £700 a year more than on the studio. I don't like shared ownership either tbh although there are loads of them around for sale at a price he could afford. We do need to find out what the service charge covers though, a lot of people think it's high but I'm not sure it is for the SE at least.

@Spring025 I understand that about shared ownership. However rents and any rises are heavily rate controlled in That sector and it’s likely service charges will be too shortly - I don’t think you can discount the resale aspect- something isn’t necessarily a good investment if it is difficult to resell —however something he might like to think about is if he lost his job or was in difficulties, unless he’s got mountains of savings of £16k plus- shared ownership he would get the rent and service aspect paid for on benefits- he wouldn’t on a mortgage. I guess it’s personal choice but I did really well out of a shared ownership many years ago, sold quickly and had a far nicer place to live in- having 2 beds and parking would be far more appealing to a much wider range of people - don’t forget once he was in it he could probably gradually up his mortgage to buy out the other 50% if he wanted and so effectively would then have no rental aspect - the best value ones in my opinion resales like this one. I think a lot of young people buying think differently these days and wouldnt necessarily go for a cheapish and. Basic studio flat - I know my 26 year old wouldn’t be interested and I think it might be hard to mortgage too and you say he needs a mortgage- many won’t mortgage studio flats - I would get that checked out first and foremost OP

FYI this isn’t correct as it’s dependent of the t&cs of the lease. I own a flat with shared freehold and the ground rent isn’t collected nor is there any service charge now. All dependent on the lease itself, it’s not a blanket rule, some share of freeholds are much better than others!