Listed house with problems - DH wants it, I'm really scared, WWYD?

[movingangst]

I'm a namechanging regular as the details may identify me.

We've offered on this B-listed house (actually the upper half of a house with 2 flats below) subject to survey. Survey reveals recommended 30K worth of work - some of which would be shared with the other flats. Solicitor says we wouldn't have to do all that work immediately and could just do the minimum every few years. We could ask for a few grand off the asking price but wouldn't get the full amount (especially as our offer was low to start with).

Trouble is, DC2 is due in the spring and I'll be off work for a while, we're already maxing out financially if we get this house, so after doing a few grand's worth of work, we'd have no more money. And what if something else needed doing down the line? Plus I don't want to be always negotiating with new neighbours over their share of costs. I'm just overwhelmed by the potential for this to become a nightmare.

DH lurves this house and wants it so much; I can see it's nice and meets our needs but it isns't perfect and doesn't set my heart racing so much, so I really would like to walk away at this stage. We can't agree. Would love any advice.

Thank you all so much. DH has read the thread. (And the insulting bits made him laugh and so did your "fantasy bank account tiles" mmrsceptic )

Much discussion has ensued and it's tough and painful for him, but I think he is coming round to the reality a bit more. Interestingly he still thinks we can make it work financially , but he does take more seriously the point about the hassle, stress and uncertainty of actually having the work done and me being the one to bear the brunt of it when I'm in no fit state to. He has said he can see it's not realistic and we have discussed some other properties.

So, while it's not all sorted yet and we will still, assuming we do, have to go through the unpleasant task of withdrawing our offer, I think I'm getting somewhere and I'm beginning to let myself feel relieved that this doesn't have to happen.

YOur dh sounds like a good bloke (you can let him read that if it won't make him conceited ) - glad you've talked and things are becoming clearer.

Northern's right, your dh does sound a decent sort. Easy to be swayed by a house he's fallen in love with and shut his eyes to the cold, hard reality. But you are right, far too big a risk especially as you haven't even had a full structural survey done AND you are pregnant so would be juggling baby + builders...

I adore period properties and the listed status wouldn't worry me too much. BUT I would not chose to live in an upper conversion with young children.