Buying a flat with difficult parking

london21

Some factors are negotiable.
Some are non-negotiable.
If you want to keep your car then this is not the right flat for you.

Marvel1

Look elsewhere, as parking is number 1 for me.

pinkteapot

OP I 100% agree with others that you've made the right decision. The lost money/time due to pulling out of a purchase is frustrating, but be grateful you found out now rather than once it was too late!

As others have said, flats like this are fine for people without a car (my first few years after leaving home I was in a flat and didn't have a car - there's plenty of car-free buyers out there for properties like this). It would have driven you berserk coming home every day not knowing where you'd be able to park. 

There'll be another property out there for you!

MalMonroe

I wouldn't buy that flat because for me it's not just a question of any old parking but where I park. If I can't see my car then anything could happen to it, even if I use it every single day. A lesson I learned the hard way.

Before I moved to my current address (where all the lovely neighbours are!) I owned a property where I had to park on the road parallel because the house was in an unusual setting which meant there was no parking nearby. My car was vandalised more than once and of course, nobody ever saw anything. It was a terrible neighbourhood. 

I ended up having to pay someone in another street for the privilege of using his driveway - I was grateful as he also kept an eye on the car and it was safe then. Thankfully, I was able to move from there.

I need my car and would never settle if it was parked where I couldn't see it. Now it's right outside. Call me daft but vandalism to my vehicles in the past has cost me a lot in insurance claims and no claims discounts and increased premiums. It's important for me to have somewhere safe to leave my car. Not just any old place.

If you can manage without a car, all well and good because they do drain your wallet but I'd not be happy just leaving it anywhere.

My own experience and thoughts, though, obviously. 

Section62

lookstraightahead said:

r4and0mno5 said:

lookstraightahead said:

If you're able to walk a little way, and you don't 'have' to park outside your property (eg for physical reasons), then it might be a step in the right direction (pardon the pun). 

My MIL never had a car and she was as fit as a fiddle.
we've recently got rid of one of our cars to see if we can manage with just one and I'm finding I don't really miss it much (don't have kids at home anymore, have a train line close etc). I did it as part of a get fit thing - and it's worked.

I'm on my feet a lot of the time and very active so that side of things doesn't bother me. It was more the inconvenience/ expense/ resalability

For sure, you have to consider your circumstances. All things being equal, it can work. 

Your circumstances are completely different though - there is no equality here.

You've got rid of a second car, but you still own/have access to one.

When you've got rid of that car as well, or keep it parked half a mile from where you live, then your situation would be more comparable... provided your work needs are the same as the OP's.

If you need a car then not being able to reliably park it close to home is a real problem.  The OP has done the right thing to pass on a property which has clear issues with parking.

youth_leader

I am glad you have reconsidered OP.  I used to have to park in the street adjacent to our house, never managed to park in our street as we were nearest to the railway station.  As a lecturer I nearly always had a mountain of heavy lever arch files and paperwork to carry home, was horrible in the winter. 

I was really glad to buy this bungalow as it has a small drive, although I have already reversed into the low wall and peeled a chunk out of the side of my car.

r4and0mno5

pinkteapot said:

It would have driven you berserk coming home every day not knowing where you'd be able to park.

If the car park didn't work out I think I could be guaranteed a space at the industrial area, but whether it'd still be there or in one piece when I went back to it is another matter! Plus, it might not be too bad in summer, but the thought of returning after midnight in the middle of January and having to walk nearly a mile to get home would wear thin pretty fast.

RobM99

You'll struggle to sell as the market is limited. I wouldn't consider it as I play in a band and have equipment to carry to and from a car. In the rain in February, that's not fun. 

r4and0mno5

MalMonroe said:

I wouldn't buy that flat because for me it's not just a question of any old parking but where I park. If I can't see my car then anything could happen to it, even if I use it every single day. A lesson I learned the hard way.

Before I moved to my current address (where all the lovely neighbours are!) I owned a property where I had to park on the road parallel because the house was in an unusual setting which meant there was no parking nearby. My car was vandalised more than once and of course, nobody ever saw anything. It was a terrible neighbourhood.

I had similar happen and I didn't think the neighbourhood was particularly bad. I think some of it was due to other drivers being careless but there was definitely some vandalism too. I'd be happier in a quiet road with it parked outside if I can afford it.

r4and0mno5

youth_leader said:

I am glad you have reconsidered OP.  I used to have to park in the street adjacent to our house, never managed to park in our street as we were nearest to the railway station.  As a lecturer I nearly always had a mountain of heavy lever arch files and paperwork to carry home, was horrible in the winter. 

I was really glad to buy this bungalow as it has a small drive, although I have already reversed into the low wall and peeled a chunk out of the side of my car.

Ouch, that's annoying.

Yeah, I could foresee times where I would have needed to load large items in and would be cursing the situation. It's for the best I think, just hope I can find something else more suitable.