Maisonette in nice location with toddler (and potentially another child)

[Portugal1987]

Hi all,
We’re seriously considering buying a 2-bed first-floor maisonette in zone 6 London, and would love some perspective from parents who’ve done similar.

It’s around 75 sqm, with a private garden and a loft that already has stairs up (previous planning permission was granted to convert it into a third bedroom and bathroom, though that would need renewing). The price is around £475k, which feels reasonable for the space and location.

It’s about a 10-minute walk to the station and high street, and then roughly 40 mins into Central London, which works well for us commuting-wise as we mostly work from home anyway. The area is lovely and family-friendly with great primary schools nearby, lots of parks. The lady below (share of freehold) has lived there for 20 years.

We have a 1-year-old and are hoping to have another baby in the next couple of years. I’d love to hear from other parents who’ve lived in similar properties with toddlers:

• How manageable are stairs in a first-floor maisonette day-to-day with babies/toddlers?

• Would we likely outgrow a 2-bed with loft potential fairly quickly once there are two children?

• Has anyone regretted going for a maisonette over a house?

We love the area and the space works for now, but just trying to think long-term before making the leap. We wouldn’t be able to otherwise buy anything in that specific area, and we love it. Any thoughts or experiences would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks! 😊

Yea we rent now and we have a lovely living room with doors to the garden, it’s amazing. I totally get the limitations with stairs.

Also depends on your lifestyle op. I live alone in a two bed flat and I couldn't cope with less space. Second bedroom is for my desk, exercise equipment, drying washing... Not everyone needs loads of space but I don't how the families in my block do it!

So we currently rent a ground-floor two-bedroom. I work in the kitchen/reception (very doable with my line of work), my DH works in the master bedroom (big room - also very doable), and my little one has his own room (small bedroom), plus we have a nice garden.

We absolutely can keep living here with a small family, but the maintenance/landlord is starting to irritate us, rent is going up soon again, plus we're looking to have another baby in a year or so (if we can) and looking at schools. We cannot buy in this area, so hoping to move before we apply for primaries.

So we def don't need loads of space, but I guess if we're spending 500k it should be at least worth it. We're used to the city lifestyle and small spaces, and it doesn't bother us, we know loads of families with apartments only, and happy as can be as there are loads of parks around, and an amazing amount of stuff to do.

But a house would be amazing! Or even a split level!

My son and partner have been looking and doing the sums and came up with Woking (smaller house) or Farnborough. Similar needs, slightly smaller budget than you.

My kids shared until they were 8 and 10, they had a bunk bed built for us by a carpenter to fit in with all bits and pieces we wanted. For instance he bottom bed was for my son who was younger and shorter so the bottom end of his bed was made into a shelf.
You will be fine in it with 2 kids in a maisonette for a few years, access to garden was important for me and you will have it. Previous people might have decided not to extend due to the costs involved.
Go for it!

I think if you can find somewhere with mkre space in SW then go for it, but I also know how little you can get SW for the money and how moving out or in even a few miles changes the vibe alot. I lived in Surbiton and Hampton crt area for years and moved after having a kiddo temporarily, looking to go back the prices are about what you say and its so hard to get anything for less than 500k that's a proper house :( It sounds like you've found a compromise to enable you to stay in area you want and be near family, which is fair.

Too expensive for a flat, perhaps catchment area to great state secondary?

There are great state primary/juniors nearby, state is good but I think most will go for private (not us). So yes, I do think that's factored into the price.

Yea I shared a room for ages with my big sister. Although I hoped they won't have to - since we are looking for 3-bed/lof conversion. Thanks for the encouragement @timestressed !

A key concern for me is that with two small children you will become “the noisy neighbour” to your downstairs neighbour and that can be quite stressful.

I had my kids sharing because I employed an au pair. When she left my daughter moved to the 3rd bedroom. I actually wanted them to be together to strengthen their relationship. It worked for us. They still remember HP books and others they listened to together on tapes in the evening. I think that the most important fornus was distance to their school, parking and a secure garden where I dried all washing and they had their little swing and a slide.

This is good advice.

I also think Chessington is massively underrated. The housing stock isn't all beautiful, but it would be so easy to improve it. There's gorgeous countryside on your doorstep with Ashtead Common, local shops, schools have very good reputations, two train stations, very affordable housing. There's loads for families to do with Horton Country Park and Hobbledown Farm and Chessington World of Adventures nearby, riding stables, go karting etc as they get older.

A house like this one could add so much value. Enough space for OSP at the front; enough garden to do a big kitchen extension with utility etc, over time. Three beds.

I think you would be hard pushed to find somewhere decent in that price range now that has a 3rd bedroom

epsom does have some nice 2 bedroom terrabce houses for under 500k in catchment of the schools you would want though

Chessington isn’t that great though in terms of train access and getting into London? Walking distance to a train is needed

Prices in the Epsom area have shot up - in 1999 my parents got their 3 bedroom semi detached for 189k, we bought our 2 bed maisonette 20 years ago for 185k now they are 650 and 400!

What about a ground floor 3 bed? https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164057585#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162222326#/?channel=RES_BUY

Chessington is easy for London. Two trains an hour - 35 mins to Waterloo or change at Wimbledon or Vauxhall for tube

Primary schools don't matter much, secondary is what makes the difference for unis applications.

But you also have the 15 minute walk on which is a pain!

That was the very first thing I thought. Especially as share of freehold is a nightmare if one of the freeholders is uncooperative.

It may be also be an ex-council property and then they undertake all repairs

It’s not ex council.

Both freeholders (including seller) have been living there for over 20 years. The maisonette had previous planning permission granted for loft conversion, but we just found out that she didn’t have the cash to actually convert.

So that seems like a green flag. Although I’m also concerned about noise (from us). Our little one is a firecracker