Removed for privacy

katerobbins2

lincroft1710 said:

That place is just TOO narrow to begin with! I personally wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Doing a full width extension would be costly and you would still end up with a long narrow house. The house has been overextended as it is, ideally it should have had only a full width ground floor kitchen extension, so there would have been a reasonable size living room downstairs with a bedroom and a bathroom (in place of middle bedroom) upstairs.

Does the location and current price (415) mean it could still be worth doing up though? I totally agree that they shouldn't have extended it in the way they did. Really unfortunate. As I mentioned, the plan was always to have a loft extension, so without that we are a bit worried about resale potential... 

katerobbins2

zagubov said:

Lots of posters here would give you the same advice, that if you take in a lodger, your contract needs to include, in addition to the usual ones about deposit, shared facilities, locks, noise, smoking, pets,  guests and other visitors, cleaning, etc. very clear rules about notice and deadlines for rent, plus of course no mention of words like tenant/tenancy).

Plus no exceptions for "mates" or family whatsoever; they would need the strictest rules as they're the ones who'll misunderstand their status in the house.

Thank you! We've been very fortunate to never have an issue with our lodgers, but we know of lots of people in London who have had major dramas... Eek. 

gwynlas

Knowing that style of house it is possible that the stairs have been turned at some point to create the open plan room downstairs.
I would run them between reception and dining room boarding current stairwell as corridor to access shower room created from part of back bedroom thus leaving 10 x6 foot single bedroom

lincroft1710

katerobbins2 said:

lincroft1710 said:

That place is just TOO narrow to begin with! I personally wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Doing a full width extension would be costly and you would still end up with a long narrow house. The house has been overextended as it is, ideally it should have had only a full width ground floor kitchen extension, so there would have been a reasonable size living room downstairs with a bedroom and a bathroom (in place of middle bedroom) upstairs.

Does the location and current price (415) mean it could still be worth doing up though? I totally agree that they shouldn't have extended it in the way they did. Really unfortunate. As I mentioned, the plan was always to have a loft extension, so without that we are a bit worried about resale potential... 

I presume you haven't exchanged contracts yet. If this is the case and it won't work for you as it stands, I would think very, very carefully about possibly withdrawing from this purchase. I think you would make very little money (if any)  by extending and re-purposing. I notice you mentioned spiral staircase, but some planners are very anti these

Competsoph

I’m absolutely shocked at the prices that some houses in some areas go for. You could build a 5 bed detached, with garage, drive and possibly a swimming pool in my area! Wow, just wow! 😂

[Deleted User]

Sorry but I just wouldn't buy it with the needs you have.  However much something is a bargain, its still a wasteful spend if it won't meet your needs.  Have you looked at the costs of an extension and sell value with the extension done?  Is it going to increase in value enough over the next couple of years to cover legal fees/EA fees and a move?  Can you not find a way to get a longer term home?

katerobbins2

lincroft1710 said:

I presume you haven't exchanged contracts yet. If this is the case and it won't work for you as it stands, I would think very, very carefully about possibly withdrawing from this purchase. I think you would make very little money (if any)  by extending and re-purposing. I notice you mentioned spiral staircase, but some planners are very anti these

I hadn't heard about people being anti-spirals at all! That seems really odd, but I'm sure there's a logical reason...

Competsoph said:

I’m absolutely shocked at the prices that some houses in some areas go for. You could build a 5 bed detached, with garage, drive and possibly a swimming pool in my area! Wow, just wow! 😂

This potential house actually costs less than some of our friend's leasehold flats... London's crazy like that. 

deannatrois said:

Have you looked at the costs of an extension and sell value with the extension done?  Is it going to increase in value enough over the next couple of years to cover legal fees/EA fees and a move?  Can you not find a way to get a longer term home?

Looking into costs now. We would definitely be happy in that house for a few years, but we're looking to use a small doer-upper as a step to a more longer term one. Probably doesn't make sense outside of London, however I can't see a way of staying in my hometown (E17) otherwise!

getmore4less

gwynlas said:

Knowing that style of house it is possible that the stairs have been turned at some point to create the open plan room downstairs.
I would run them between reception and dining room boarding current stairwell as corridor to access shower room created from part of back bedroom thus leaving 10 x6 foot single bedroom

I thought the staircase may have been moved but looking at others they look like they were  2 beds with the stairs as they are now, the extension turned a bedroom into a corridor.

comeandgo

I could never leave the bathroom where it is.  It's coming directly off the kitchen, three adults trying to do morning ablutions when breakfast being prepared, no thanks.

hazyjo

To add to the spiral staircase debate, I wouldn't touch a house with one. A holiday home, fine. But I don't like them and would never take out a staircase to install one.

Hard to get furniture up and down, and they just don't make a house feel 'solid' and just make me think the house is really small (which unfortunately this is, although I agree a good price). An ex used to have one in a rental in a tiny little house. Also had one in a duplex holiday let. Not for me.