Moving from a detached with parking to terrace with parking permit

[Theleftflipflop]

Would you do this? I currently live in a detached house, garden, with a large driveway for around 3-4 cars, in a village with lots of fields for dog walking and safe for the kids to go out and play.

However, the school catchment for 2ndary schools is pretty bad / shocking (the main schools near us have been in the news as they are so awful - I'm talking prolific drug use, attempted stabbings, regular physical bullying of the kids etc). There are 2 Outstanding / good schools in the town nearby, and we would need to move within the catchments for those schools (they are always oversubscribed, so you have to be living within that area, or have a military parent / be fostered etc, to get in if you live outside the catchment area).

So... with one of my DC's in year 5 currently, my DH and I are looking at houses within the town (we have never lived in a town before - we are rural folk!). One house that appeals is a 3 bed terrace which has been upgraded and looks stunning. It has a long garden, and no back garden access for the other houses. Parking out front is permit only (we have 2 cars). There is only a tiny garden area at the front, which would not allow for it to be turned into a driveway.

Would this appeal to you?

No.

Is there plenty of parking if you have permits? And can you get more than one permit per house? (I lived in a London borough that only allowed one).
If yes to both I would have a good look.
Permits in my street mean that parking is generally more available than it was without as commuters don't park here now.

Well you know where the area is. Case it and find out how bad the parking situation actually is. You can do it at different times, eg the weekend and weekday nights. If there is a different car outside your prospective house every night you can be pretty sure musical cars is going on.

Will you be able to get more that one permit ? Is it musical cars and parking wars even with the permits in place ?

Are you chilled about the idea that you might get home and find someone in the space outside your house and have to park 2 streets away ?

I personally wouldn’t.

I did move from a detached to a terrace with permit parking and 90% of the time I’m parked within 20m of my house if not right out front. London.
But I find it odd that a lovely village has awful schools - aren’t these kids from that village?
But as to the house question the parking wouldn’t bother me (though I only have one car). Living cheek by jowl with your neighbours - I rarely hear mine as the walls are good but this is a Victorian terrace - goes the sound in your perspective new house? Your neighbours will affect your quality of life. Mine are great; it makes a difference

That will be the problem. The catchment secondaries aren't in the village.

I wouldn’t be able to cope without a driveway for cars as I’m used to it now. If I had to I would want to make sure there is adequate on street parking for everyone’s cars on the road.

I mean if it was between my kids being bullied/possible violence v occasional parking faff, I know which way I'd jump!

We have always been in a terrace with on street parking.

Never known any different, so unbothered by it.

I can see if you are used to a drive it might feel annoying.

A further consideration though, is that you might find your life a lot less car-orientated if you live in a city/town. We rarely drive so ease of access to a car isn’t very important.

We can walk to school, nursery, activities, park, supermarket, doctor etc etc

I would visit at different times eg 6/7pm, 9am, to see how easy it is to find a parking space on your road. Talk to the neighbours, if possible.

Do not underestimate how much of a hassle parking can be when you haven't got a drive or your own designated space.

Of course. Education, education, education. 100% of the time.

If the schools where you are now are as bad as you say, your choice to stay would affect your children's life chances.

@mondaytosunday the 2 bad secondary schools have huge catchments, the 2 good ones have tiny catchments which you need to be IN in order to get a place at those schools (it is well known around here that you can appeal, but you won't get in - I have called myself and asked, and the response was the same). The 2 bad schools have a huge selection of kids from different backgrounds, but there are just so, so many issues (kids walking out of lessons, teachers being verbally and physically assaulted etc). I was hoping that if we move, we can get into a better area, but obviously the schools with the good catchment areas are £££ (one estate agent I spoke to said you are looking at an extra £100k for a house in one of the good catchment areas).

My neighbours where I currently am are great. That's another consideration isn't it, s we could move and the neighbours could be awful.

No.

Honestly I would rent out my house and rent in town. Then return once in the school- ethical, probably not but if I'd had children that is what I would have done

I’d rent out your current home and move into rented for the duration of the application process. Then review at that point.

@MidnightPatrol unfortunately we would need two cars as husband is away and I care for my parents who live an hour away, as well as getting to work and my DC would stay at the same village primary.

The house we are looking at does look sooo beautiful (I am still waiting for the agent to get back to me to arrange a viewing) but I will definitely scout out the area with my husband to check out parking.

Would you plan to move again, because it is also difficult with no parking when your kids learn to drive.

This is totally normal for me (in London).

I'd be fine with the parking but do check what it's like at different times of day. We have res park in the afternoons but not the morning, so if I need to park in the morning it may be in a different street to the one my house is in.

I'd probably care more about the move from detached to terrace and the possibility of noise. Worth thinking about build quality and who the neighbours are, whether the neighbouring houses have been divided into flats etc.

How much would it cost you to move? How much do you love where you are now? Did you see your current house as your forever home? Would you move again after they’ve moved on?

They are only in school for a few short years. Work out what you would spend moving now and how much to move again when they’re done. You might find it cheaper and less stressful and disruptive long term to pay for a private school if that’s an option.

no back garden access for the other houses

So would you have any access to your own back garden or ONLY via going through the house? Is there a back lane etc?
Have you checked the cost to get a parking permit? Some areas are bringing in CO2 based parking chargers. In a previous property, my parking permit went from £188 per year to £478!
Are there no other houses within the catchment which aren't terrace?

It’s a different mindset.

That house sounds better than most I have lived in as it has Controlled Parking.

I read all the ‘driveway obsessed’ posts on MN and think how car-centric and territorial it sounds but for the last 40 years I have lived in a city.

It’s a different view of community: none of us own the street, our cars are fine 75m away, we probably chat to / see a neighbour every time we leave the house (yes! Here in London!)

My Dc were brought up in our urban environment, semi detached and terrace houses. We did camping, coastal, mountain stuff at weekends.

Towns tend to be better for teens. Friends close by, they can be independent and less need for Taxi Mum and Dad. More to do - splashing happily in puddles at primary age can turn to sitting in bus shelter smoking weed for teens. (All my family live in rural / coastal areas)

Education is a top priority, so IF you think you can make the mindset jump and really enjoy a beautifully done up house, make the best of being in a town , go for it!

If you will always see living in a terrace as a bit infra dig and constantly fretting about parking, maybe not.

But I wouldn’t prioritise parking over my kids’ education

It would depend on -

1. How much parking is available, ie can you guarantee parking on your street or might you be several streets away?
2. How precious are you about your cars? They will likely get scratched.
3. What are your other options?? If you need to be in town for the catchment then is off street parking even an option within your budget? If not then to be honest 1 and 2 don't matter. You just need to suck it up.

Live in a terrace, it was great for years due to nice neighbours. New neighbours moved in and they've totally ruined my home. The noise is unreal and they use their back garden to pile rubbish, it stinks and the rats came back. Had to put in a complaint in to council and it was all cleared just before xmas. Looked fab but lasted 2 weeks. They put their rubbish out once, I've had to report them to the council again as it's now almost as bad as it was before.

You are totally reliant on neighbours living in a terrace. I'd go elsewhere if able, as shit neighbours would mean parking is nothing in comparison.

And plenty of local authorities don’t allow this if you own a house locally.

School admissions check council tax and electoral roll history.

Both of those things would change to new rental house? Don't see the issue, if that's where the OP lives, that's where she lives.

But all that would move - electoral roll, council tax would all be at the rented house.

They don't allow it short term but for the longer game they can't stop it. It isn't where you own it is where you live. But you have to live there, but move now, register for council tax, electoral role, move all bills etc and they would be fine.