Parents want to move into flat, from detached house, why??

Legacy_user

Has anyone who has experience living in a detached house with lovely garden, vs a "luxury" average sized flat, what would they prefer? I'm telling them that in the flat, they'll have no garden and have to deal with neighbours more closely. Detached house is surely betteR?

JuicyJesus

The flat may be cheaper. They may not care about a garden or consider it too much hassle. Depending on how "luxury" the flat is, the neighbours might not be too bad.

Personally I'd prefer the house, but then I'm not your parents...

ValHaller

Don't press them too hard about how they run their lives if they think they know best. They might run away and join a circus.

Besides they might have good reasons like downsizing to pay off debt which you don't need to know about.

seven-day-weekend

Maybe they don't want the garden any more?
Maybe they don't want to bother with external repairs?
Maybe they don't want stairs?
Maybe they want to lock it up in the winter and go to the Costa del Sol for six months?
Maybe they fancy a change of scenery?
Maybe they just fancy living in a flat for a while?

My son is only in his 30s and he prefers a flat to a house. Surely it is up to them where they live?

Werdnal

Are they looking to release equity for something?

Are they looking long-term to when the garden etc will be too much for them to care for?

Are they lonely and looking for the company of neighbours in a community block? The flat I let out has a great community - regular barbecues and other social events going on and everyone gets on really well.

They may resent you from interfering, so may be best to let them go ahead and prove that you told them so if it doesn't work out!

Lagoon

I'd prefer a flat to a house. If I lived on my own, I'd definitely choose a luxury flat over a house, but OH prefers houses and when we have a family the house would definitely be the more practical option.

DevilsAdvocate1

I've seen quite a few of my parent's friends so this. From what I can gather the reasons are mainly to do with staying independent as long as possible. They buy a flat in a central area. If its not a ground floor flat then it has a lift. They are close to amenities, so if they have to stop driving they can still visit shops, the doctors etc. They are on one level, so no worries about stairs.

I think it can be a good thing.

Fraise

Sometimes older people feel a large house is too much for them, things like cleaning, maintenance, gardens, stairs to climb etc. Plus they can feel isolated in a detached house whereas in a lovely luxury flat they are close to people, which can be reassuring, they have no problems with maintenance, and if they fancy going on a cruise or long holiday they don't need to worry about the gardens overgrowing etc. Also, flats (luxury ones) are harder to burgle or get into if there's security/porterage so older people feel safer to. Some luxury flats are amazing.

System

Their situation is currently, own house £200k, £150k left on mortgage, combined gross income £40k plus £15k pension (for rest of their lives)

they want to sell house, and rent flat for £1k per month. I'm telling them not to be so stupid as when you rent, you will never see the money again!

seven-day-weekend

Ah, now you didn't say in their first post that they wanted to rent,that is a totally different kettle of fish.

Have they said why? Maybe they just want rid of the mortgage?

macilroy

Your parents will be considerably older than you, so will have years of experience to call upon.
Myself and Hubby are in the same position, we are getting to the stage where we cannot keep the garden as tidy as we would like and the up keep of the house is worrying.
Where as with a flat, we would be FREE to do what we want, when we want without worrying, and if we feel like gardening we will go round to our off springs and help them.:j