Dream Houses Dealbreakers?

[Daisrose]

Hi all,

We’re deep in the rollercoaster of trying to move in London - trying to we’re choose between two houses.

House A - period terrace. It needs a kitchen extension (expensive and disruptive), and the biggest downside is its north-facing garden. It’s also a bit of a walk to the Overground, and the area has medium crime stats.

House B - modern, terraced townhouse with a huge west-facing garden, needs no work (other than decorative), and is much closer to the train. The area feels safer and more residential.

We were set on House B until I discovered that an Approved Premises (probation hostel) is just a block away - about a 3-minute walk....

Which would you go for — A, B, or neither?

*in case you didn’t know, like me - An approved premise, also known as an Approved Premises (AP) or probation hostel, is a residential facility that provides intensive supervision and support for high-risk offenders released from prison on license or those on bail or community sentences. These premises serve as a "halfway house" between prison and the community, aiming to support rehabilitation, reduce re-offending, and enhance public safety

For me this would depend on the ages of any children and how long you want to stay in the house. If they’re teens who would be out and about on their own a lot I’d be less keen on the approved premises thing being so close by. On the other hand, the train being close by is better for teens… it’s a tricky one. It sounds like you’re leaning towards option B though so I vote that one

I voted neither. I'd look for another version of B in a better location. It's not something Id choose to live near. The hostel is likely to make the house harder to sell in future. If the houses are similarly priced it may explain why you get more for your money with Option B.

Sadly, no kids for us but I am concerned about resale - why I need other opinions. House A is the more charming house - but I tried to write it objectively 😂Really tricky, I'm so torn. I desperately want a sunny garden or at least partially sunny but we currently live near a half-way house so I was keen to move away from that kind of thing.

House B is quite a bit cheaper, esp taking into account the future needed kitchen extension. Oh man, this is tough

If you are desperate for a sunny garden you need to discount A. Unless it's huge or there's nothing casting shade you will not be satisfied with a north facing space.

You will kick yourself if you go for B and there are any issues with the AP.

I would keep looking. The market tends to slow in Aug so I would expect there will be more new properties coming up in September.

I would say neither as you don't really like house A

I have a west facing garden & the light is lovely. The heat helps in the winter - a bit annoying during the heatwave.

In that case I would seriously consider house A! I have a north facing garden and was concerned when we bought it, but in fact it’s lovely - has a nice cool bit of shade near the house to sit in during heatwaves, but the rest of it still gets plenty of sun all day. Don’t necessarily discount it just because it’s north facing, north facing gardens can be really sunny depending on what’s around them.

I would discount house A on the north facing garden alone.

I voted B - I don't think something a 3 minute walk away is that relevant in London.

Thanks everyone. House A is pretty and charming BUT a north facing when I’ve been dreaming of a sunny garden. I had convinced myself that the townhouse was the practical, head choice but the Approved Premises has thrown me off. I do agree @Twiglets1 that you aren’t far from anything in London! I’m also desperate to make a decision and to stop looking. It’s hard in London as it’s so much money and you don’t get much! It’s hard to know what compromises to make especially as you just get so worn down by the process

A north-facing garden is going to be sad.

As @Twiglets1 says, you're never far from anything in London, and a 3-minute walk is probably more than they can be arsed doing - unless you have a Londis nextdoor with all the smackheads hanging around it, or some other local attraction that would guide them to your doorstep...?

Depends on where exactly this “three minutes away” AP is!

We used to live just off Coldharbour Lane, near Loughborough Junction (not outing , we have since moved). There is a halfway house up the road from the Co-op there - it is 3 mins walk away from our old place, but across a main road and down another side street so I only really became aware it even existed a few years after we moved in when a colleague mentioned it. There was also plenty more random London street stuff going on which diluted any issues from the halfway house.

If it was on the same road as my current quiet suburban house, it would be a lot more obvious and probably more of a concern.

I do think 3 minutes walk in London takes in lots of things. Have you walked it and seen how near it feels?

You don't like A, so that's out.

I'd probably go for B. I'd be installing a higher level of security/surveillance than otherwise, but I wouldn't rule it out for the premises.

FWIW we live (in London) opposite a building for formerly homeless people, also a sort of halfway house. Other than one memorable occasion when a resident tried to steal a parcel that weighed more than him - and I came down on him and his placement manager like a proverbial tonne of bricks - it is no trouble.

I lived on a road with two houses for ex offenders for 8 years. There was one problem resident (shouting in their front garden and fighting his girlfriend) in the whole time and they got removed within a few months.
It wouldn't put me off buying a house if the area was nice generally.

Honestly, unless it’s tiny the north facing garden shouldn’t be a deal breaker. I love gardening and have a north facing garden that I can grow everything i want in. It get loads of sun in summer, it’s a total non-issue.

Maybe. Though most London period terrace houses do have small gardens.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to vote and comment. The house is on a suburban London street, then a main road and the hostel is round the corner so there's no reason for anyone to come down our part of the street - and I do agree that things are always next to you in London. However, it does make me feel uncomfortable but I desperately want to not look at houses anymore 😂

We had a north facing garden in London - it was a decent size and we never had lack of sun. We extended to the back and the extended room was the sunniest in the whole house and it was quite hot in summer days. Depending on the garden size, this wouldn't bother me at all. Can you visit in the afternoon and look around to see what the garden is like at that time of day?

I'm currently sitting in my North facing garden which is covered in sunshine. I wish it had more shade sometimes! So it does depend on the size of the garden and what buildings are around. I'd be put off house A because of the work needed though but I know some people wouldn't mind that. I voted neither. I know it's hard to keep looking but better to find the right house.

House B with the west facing garden would win it for me. I lived next door to a probation hostel many years ago, in a terraced house. No way would I want to repeat that, some residents were noisy and antisocial to put it mildly. However, I’d happily live on the next street along in the circumstances you describe.

@Frikadelle really? Can you tell me more? Do you think it would be ok up a block and round the corner on a main road? Many questions! 😂 Did it massively affect the resale? Thanks!!!

I grew up in a house just around the corner from a halfway house in a city much smaller then London. Never caused any issues other then maybe two incidents of noise in 30years, wasn't even aware of it until I was an adult.

I would go with house b. It's cheaper, bigger garden and close to train, a three minute walk in London will probably encompass an enormous amount of stuff.

Might increase security for peace of mind but that's it.

Hey everyone, thank you so much for your comments - gave me lots to think about. I kept looking and found the perfect house for us so I’m very thankful that I kept looking. So thank you for the push!