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Would it be silly to buy an imperfect property when we could live rent free, just because of my cat?

Hi Everyone, 

Me and my boyfriend have to move house soon as the place we are currently living at (My mums house), is very likely to be repossessed,.. though we have no idea when.

We have been looking at houses since April and only one property has come on since then that has ticked all our boxes (and in hindsight wish we would have offered more on to secure it) , so we have realised we need to make some compromises. We recently placed an offer on a house that ticked most of the boxes, however as time goes by I have realised these compromises are bothering me more than I thought they would. The major issue I have is the parking situation. I was told at our viewing that the parking situation wasn't normally as bad as it was that day, and we didn't have chance to arrange another viewing prior to our offer as it went to best and final the day after; Yet when I have visited the area since, it has been just as bad and the off road parking towards the back of the house is extremely tight to get too, with neighbours often putting their bins down that street which makes it pretty much impossible to go down. We also recently received the survey back which reported a majority of condition rating 3's, with a couple of things we are quite worried will turn out to be immediate costly repairs (We will be getting a builder in to double check these things this week).

We are worried about pulling out and waiting for a better property that may never come. I also feel guilty about pulling out, even though the vendor has yet to find an onward purchase. 

The alternative is that we go live at my dad's house, as I have been made aware that my step sister will be moving out into a new build by the end of the year, so we would be able to move in there, rent and bills free. We could save about £14k a year doing this but the only issue is that I would have to rehome my cat, as my mother in law currently has a 12 year old cat that hates other animals near 'his' house, and will try to attack them. The logical part of my brain is saying that if I didn't have my cat I would definitely move in to his house, but the emotional side of me can't stand to think of getting rid of her.

We could rent, but that would cost around £200 more a month than the mortgage (eliminating any saving potential), and we may run into similar issues with landlords not allowing pets.

I know this is a lot, but I would appreciate some advice. 
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Comments

  • sb03
    sb03 Posts: 24 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    elsien said:
    I would not give up a pet for the sake of a house.
    If you are not happy with the property you have offered on, you have a third option of renting somewhere instead.
    It won’t save you 14K but for me my pet comes way at the top of the list. 
    Yes I feel the same way, she is family to me. My boyfriend, friends and family seem to think it's a silly decision financially though! 

    Isn't it hard finding rented accommodation with pets? And there isn't much coming onto the rental market as is.
  • FaceHead
    FaceHead Posts: 737 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    If your cat was sick and needed a 14k operation each year to keep it otherwise fit and well, would you pay, or would you have it put down. 

    In this case the cat doesn't even get put down - it might end up at a great home. 
  • Where's the Mum going to live?!!
  • sb03
    sb03 Posts: 24 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    AdrianC said:
    sb03 said:

    Me and my boyfriend have to move house soon as the place we are currently living at (My mums house), is very likely to be repossessed,.. though we have no idea when.
    Maybe it's me, but I'm spotting an optimal solution here...

    Help your mother prevent the place from being repossessed.
    Then stay there.

    Whether you buy it from her, or whether you stay living in her house and simply cover the mortgage (which I guess you aren't currently doing...?) is another question.
    The alternative is that we go live at my dad's house, as I have been made aware that my step sister will be moving out into a new build by the end of the year, so we would be able to move in there, rent and bills free.
    And if your current property is repossessed before your stepsister moves out?
    Unfortunately it's not a case of the mortgage not being paid... it is quite a unfortunate situation. Essentially there are criminal proceedings against my mum which means that the house is being sold to recover monies owed, we are talking hundreds of thousands :/. Plus I don't want to live with her anymore as our relationship is a mess to say the least. 

    I have no idea when it will be repossessed due to the nature of the situation, but if that happens then I guess I would have to rent until she did?
  • SpiderLegs
    SpiderLegs Posts: 1,914 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 28 July 2021 pm31 7:40PM
    Prioritising a cat over 14k is a choice I wouldn’t make, but I can understand that some would.

    Buying a property with nightmare parking is also a choice I wouldn’t make, and I suspect one that won’t end well for those that do.

    However, not pulling out of a purchase because you feel guilty about the vendor or might not find anything else, I find utterly bizarre.
  • sb03
    sb03 Posts: 24 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    FaceHead said:
    If your cat was sick and needed a 14k operation each year to keep it otherwise fit and well, would you pay, or would you have it put down. 

    In this case the cat doesn't even get put down - it might end up at a great home. 
    Good job I have pet insurance so I don’t have to worry about this hypothetical situation! 
  • sb03
    sb03 Posts: 24 Forumite
    10 Posts Name Dropper
    Where's the Mum going to live?!!
    No idea! Hopefully not in a prison cell and hopefully not with me...
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