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

sb03
Posts: 24 Forumite

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.
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.
1
Comments
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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.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.16 -
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.
Isn't it hard finding rented accommodation with pets? And there isn't much coming onto the rental market as is.1 -
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.
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?7 -
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.2 -
Where's the Mum going to live?!!
2 -
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.
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?. 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?1 -
Money isn’t everything. Not paying 14K for a theoretical operation is not the same thing as getting rid of a (presumably) much loved pet to give more housing options.
Each to their own, but anyone wanting me to prioritise money over my dog will get prioritised out of the door.You do need to separate the issues though. Having concerns about the property you are buying needs considering in its own right, cat issues aside,
Renting with pets can be harder so I’m told (not had to do it) but most of the rented houses in my street have pets so not impossible. A cat might be less concerning to a landlord than a dog though - slightly less damage potential,All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.6 -
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.0 -
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.4 -
NameUnavailable said:Where's the Mum going to live?!!0
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