How long could a small three-bed flat work for our family?

[brbttyl]

How long realistically do you think we can live in this flat for?

I'm buying a flat to have kids in. It's 3 bed and 80 square meters so a very small 3 bed. It's also the biggest that we can afford as we live in an expensive area.

Both DP and I freelance from home. The living and bathroom are big family size and everything else is on the small side.

We want two kids and will start TTC next August.

Kids start local school age 5 years here. It's so oversubscribed that siblings are not prioritised unless they're in the catchment area. So if you move, your younger child likely wont get in.

So we can either move within catchment which next step up for a home would be extra £300k as they are so in demand and really its just a larger three bedroom in a better decorated building. Or move out of catchment.

This primary school is great. It would mean we would need to live in the flat for about 9 years to get two kids into catchment. Assuming the kids are 2/3 years apart and we live in the flat for 2 years before the birth.

How long realistically do you think we can live in this flat for?

@ElegantlyDressing we each need a private space for calls but both rooms could fit a desk, chair, wardrobe and single bed - just nothign else. So we could technically have two rooms. DP and I both work late into the night. I can take my laptop anywhere but he needs a monitor for his work.

Let's say we had a 2 and 5 year old. Could one share a room/office with me and the other with DP? DP is silent. could he work from his office while the DC sleeps int he same room or will this jsut not work?

No, you can't really work in a room while they sleep maybe apart from daytime naps as babies, the monitor light would make it impossible at night and the movement would disturb them even if it is only the sound of a keyboard. You would also need to take great care not to leave trailing cables when you leave the room as they are a strangulation hazard, they all need do be hidden/secured/removed.

My error - we dont have 1400 sq ft!! But the other points stand.

I had two DCs in a flat about the same size (though with only two bedrooms) until they were 10
and 8, and DH and I both freelanced from home. Covid was tricky, as I was homeschooling as well, but we managed. I loved that flat, and the area - and for me it was worth sacrificing space for convenience in everything else (including an outstanding primary school.) DH loved it less. The DC didn’t know any different. The posters saying that it’s impossible mean that it would be impossible for them. But anything is theoretically doable.

My 3 bed semi detached is only 75 square meters. One bathroom. 2 DC, both DH and I WFH.

It all depends on the layout. But it’s not too small. Our home is smaller and we’ve managed for 20 years!

Our flat before this was bigger in terms of square metres but wasn’t flexible in terms of room layouts.

You do realize there are many households 'managing' in such spaces?

That’s ridiculous!
No chance? It might not be a dream ideal but they will be housed and have a bed sleep in.

A 3 bed flat for a couple and 2 kids is perfectly fine, especially as it has shared outdoor space. But if you're sacrificing one of the bedrooms for a home office, then it will only work as long as the kids have a room big enough to share, are reasonable sleepers and ideally would have a plan to move by secondary age so they have privacy and place for homework. If moving isn't possible then, you could look at alternatives like fold away desk in the lounge, desk in your bedroom etc.

But you're thinking too far ahead with the school catchment as lot can happen in the 6-8 years you have before the theoretical youngest child would start - smaller schools in London are closing for example.

You get the keys in a couple of weeks, enjoy moving in and making it your own and stay there as long as it suits you.

Planning to make both theoretical children share a bedroom with your and DH's workspace is a bit nuts.
Make your own room one of the workspaces. Look into shared workspaces. But neither child is here yet so you have some tine to figure this out!

@brbttylit depends on your priorities and lifestyle (hobbies, work requirements). It’s of course doable (most things are) it’ll just come down to how unbearable and high stress it’ll be.

Personally, having lived in an apartment and with a family of 2 DCs, I wouldn’t want to do it as I don’t believe the benefits outweigh the substantial negatives.

our bedroom sadly can't double as a work space due to awkward shape, weird boiler cupboard, and build in wardrobes. we can just about fit a next to be crib

Gosh just reading your post made me exhausted. Get the flat and breath. Nothing is guaranteed with pregnancies; babies and children. Youll work it all out when things happen.

Planning to work in a bedroom whilst a child sleeps?

You are in LaLa land.

You cannot work from home if you have young babies / children that you are simultaneously caring for.

@Kirys I don't have children so I am informed gathering and exploring solutions

Maybe just go for one child? And fingers crossed you don’t have a multiple birth.

100% this! You're 2 years away from even having a child (that's assuming you can even conceive) so 7 years away from them starting school. Schools change in that time as do catchment boundaries.

Typical new build 3 beds will be same size
It is fine
You can get decent gardn
storage sheds event a wfh pod.
Or rent storage nearby or a wework space
Location location

you can while they sleep.
this is one of the great advantages to WFH. You can tie up a few things in the evening once kids in bed.
OP will I assume use paid for childcare or work things out with her partner (they are both freelance so I imagine lots of flexibility).

800sq ft to live, work, be pregnant in, have a new born in, have a baby and be pregnant in, have a toddler and a newborn all while working in…. I think you should stop thinking that this could work as a long term plan. Your whole family could crack under this pressure even if everything goes as smoothly as possible, as I think you might find once you have your first baby. It’ll be fine for now and maybe with first baby. You’ll need something different as soon as the baby starts walking and talking. Easiest may be to keep it as your home only and find a workspace.

My Nana raised three daughters to adulthood in a three bed, one bathroom house. When I was young we lived in a three bed, we converted the attic room into a bedroom so sold it as four bedroom when I was 11. Tbh I don't know anyone who lived/lives in a flat with children but each to their own.

the great thing is, you’re planning ahead. I’d look at those wall beds that pull down, they have proper mattresses and look like wardrobes when not in use.

We had a baby and toddler in a 65m2 for a while it was actually really easy to keep clean and tidy as long as you aren’t into having loads of stuff it would be fine. We have 110m2 now and we don’t actually use the upstairs in a day to day basis in our duplex. So kids share a bedroom age 3&4 years and husband and I take the other downstairs bedroom. We have an office and bedroom upstairs that rarely get used. I think it’s a myth you need a four bed house for a family of four.

Yes I agree that you can tie up a few ends once they are in bed - but the OP said that most of their work for both of them is in the evenings and they need to do calls - as well as work in the room the baby / child is sleeping in. Totally unrealistic.

Oh, I missed where OP said their work would be in the evening.
Still, if they are able to alternate when they work it’s not impossible.

Fret not. You have years to resite a boiler cupboard so that your kids don't have to sleep to the sound of your DH on a Teams call saying "Bob you're still on mute".