One Bedroom / Two Children

Caroline_a

If the girls are pre-secondary school they won't be much affected by the move, in fact they will probably think it's a huge adventure. However, 3 people in a one bed flat sounds dreadful. I would re-think.

onlyroz

Can you take in a lodger or two so that you can stay in your current house?

tanith

Caroline_a wrote: »

If the girls are pre-secondary school they won't be much affected by the move, in fact they will probably think it's a huge adventure. However, 3 people in a one bed flat sounds dreadful. I would re-think.

It might sound dreadful but many people manage it

pollyanna24

onlyroz wrote: »

Can you take in a lodger or two so that you can stay in your current house?

I can afford the mortgage on my house by myself, but it's the equity that my brother will need out of it.

There are a couple of two beds around that I may be able to afford.

And if I moved out to Bedfordshire, I might be able to get a 3bed, but that would mean a longer commute and changing girls school.

My girls are 5 and 3 (coming up to 6 and 4).

Brighton_belle

Start browsing minimalist family blogs - there's loads out there, and see if you can get into owning less stuff (especially clothes) . They might inspire you over the next year: Having much less stuff does open up possibilities for coping with less space.


In our 40's, we spent 5 years putting up a be every night in our sitting room so we could rent a room out to a lodger. It's good to think creatively like you are doing.

peachyprice

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I'm sorry but I really don't think buying a one bed is a good idea. Especially a flat. The girls are only going to get bigger, I think this sounds like a rubbish way to live.

But a better way to live than the uncertainty of private renting.

If the girls are young and of a similar age and it's the only way you can give them a secure home at this moment in time, go for it.

People have lived in far worse conditions and survived, private renting with the possibility of having to move from house to house every year is no life for a child, I'm sure they would rather have one small place to call home than a multitude of houses.

pollyanna24

Thank you. I do realise it's not ideal and hadn't even thought of it until today, but it is something to think about if I have to.

My mum said I can move in with her and dad, which is great and really kind of her. But again, I think I would have to move the girls school and then if my situation improves, move them back again which I don't want to do. I want them as stable as possible. I like the area I live in which is where me and ex decided to move to and start a family. Just unfortunate (ha, is that the right word) that he decide to up and leave me.

Savvy_Sue

Given how young the girls are, moving schools wouldn't be the end of the world IMO. You probably need to make lists of pros and cons, wants and needs, and maybe 'weight' some things over others, eg is a garden worth more or less than not changing schools?

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Had a thought. Where will all my clothes go? Arggh!

You hope for a large bedroom which will take your clothes as well as theirs. When you go to bed, you hang anything you're going to wear again on the back of chair until you can get into the bedroom (or you train them to be deep sleepers who aren't disturbed by you pottering after you're in bed ...)

But really it depends on the layout of any new flat. We've had houses with large landings and hallways, so have used them as extra storage spaces. If it's a conversion, you may get something like that.

19lottie82 wrote: »

Really, 3 people in a 1 bed flat sounds rotten. Maybe it would be doable for six months or so as a short term solution, but long term? No way.

We had six of us in a 3 bed house for a while: me and DH in one bedroom, adult friend in another, 3 boys in the third. The boys were 7, 9 and 12. There was one loo, in the bathroom, and I couldn't run the washing machine late at night or in the mornings as it disturbed the friend. I couldn't run washing machine and tumble drier at the same time as it blew the fuses.

It wasn't fun, mainly because the youngest wasn't getting enough sleep. But it was do-able. I think the ages of the girls does make it do-able, in the right flat.

19lottie82 wrote: »

What about property auctions (not sure how these work in terms of mortgages tho)?

I'm sure there will be stuff about auctions on the house buying board, but if you're going to consider this, go to a few auctions before you're ready to bid and watch how it works. Bear in mind that you'll be expected to have your mortgage in place on the day, to pay a deposit which will be larger than you expect because of fees, and that you won't be able to change your mind. I'm pretty sure you won't be able to bid on the day unless you register your interest as a buyer, so no fear of being carried away by mistake ...

And watch a few issues of Homes under the Hammer ...

Buzzybee90

peachyprice wrote: »

But a better way to live than the uncertainty of private renting.

If the girls are young and of a similar age and it's the only way you can give them a secure home at this moment in time, go for it.

People have lived in far worse conditions and survived, private renting with the possibility of having to move from house to house every year is no life for a child, I'm sure they would rather have one small place to call home than a multitude of houses.

I don't think we will agree on this, I cannot fathom my parent not having a bedroom, it's ridiculous.

Clothes? possible relationships? Privacy? Illness? Pull out bed? Children have no where else to go but their room. If I had a choice of no bedroom or moving every year (most renters don't actually do this) and living in a bigger place, I'd choose the bigger place every time.

I live in a one bed flat at the moment, it's quite a big one but I feel claustrophobic and like I have nowhere to escape to relax or do something different, I cannot imagine doing this with two young children. It would be a bit awkward for them when their friends came round.

Also the "some people have to live like this" argument isn't one here are OP lives in a house she part owns London so is hardly breadline Britain.

moomoomama27

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I don't think we will agree on this, I cannot fathom my parent not having a bedroom, it's ridiculous.

Clothes? possible relationships? Privacy? Illness? Pull out bed? Children have no where else to go but their room. If I had a choice of no bedroom or moving every year (most renters don't actually do this) and living in a bigger place, I'd choose the bigger place every time.

I live in a one bed flat at the moment, it's quite a big one but I feel claustrophobic and like I have nowhere to escape to relax or do something different, I cannot imagine doing this with two young children. It would be a bit awkward for them when their friends came round.

Also the "some people have to live like this" argument isn't one here are OP lives in a house she part owns London so is hardly breadline Britain.

No it is NOT ridiculous, thats just insulting and offensive.

Some people have no choice but to use a living room as a bedroom, some people have to share rooms with their children.

Social housing isn;t for, or available to everyone. So Sometimes you have to be creative. Maximise space, establish private time etc..

With low wages, lack of social housing, high rent and housing prices, it's not always possible for low income families, or families working/living ine xpensive areas to always have optimum housing.

I personally don't think it's a terrible idea. I think you just need to be quite selective over the property type and use the space avaiable as creativley as possible.
High ceilings
walk in wardrobes
extra shelving
storage beds/bunk beds
room dividers
Wall hooks

All can make your living space alot bigger. I have seen some huge 1 bedroom flats/houses, and the bedroom can be easily split into 2.

Good luck in whatever you decide, most things are doable.