House to flat coping without a garden

Hate to be obvious but aim for a ground floor flat with a garden, which I have - failing that at least a balcony.

Same here, large balcony or ground floor with the back garden.

I’ve lived in flats with no outside space in the past and wouldn't do it again.

South facing balcony with room to seat four round a table, lots of different coloured leafy shrubs for all year round colour. Depending on the rules of the block of flats, hanging baskets and pots clipped onto barriers facing in to plant flowers that train down as well as stand upright and a bird feeder. I am very lucky because I have a railway line in front of me, which isn’t very busy and doesn’t run at night, therefore I am not overlooked and there are trees along the track so I feel I am in a park when I am sitting out.

Thanks, I live in London suburbs and ideally a ground floor flat is one answer if I can find one they are few and far between in my price range it’s nice to hear that others have managed after giving up a garden.

When I was househunting in Devon tanith I put an offer in on a first floor flat - it was rejected.

I am so glad now, but was disappointed at the time. As I stayed in the NE I had just enough for this bungalow, and sit in the garden with my cat and my morning coffee.

Whereabouts are you? Do any of the flats in your area have balconies?

We lived in a ground floor flat when we were first married. There were communal gardens which I could take my daughter out to play in or sit in the sun.
The only downside was upstairs neighbours clunking about and making a fair bit of noise.

I moved to a second floor flat just before Covid. I was looking for a ground floor flat but none I liked came on the market. I do miss my garden very much. There is a communal garden but no one uses it, it’s not very private, right beside the car park! I don’t have a balcony, just lots of indoor plants. I am lucky to have four parks within walking distance so I use them a lot, and I like to visit other gardens, either in the immediate area or by local coach trips. I try not to dwell on what I am missing but concentrate on the plus sides of my new home, handy for all amenities, especially public transport to get out and about exploring.
Hope you find somewhere you’ll love.

tanith I know how you feel- I do not think I could live anywhere without a small garden. I am no gardener but I do like to hang my washing out and that is not really an option when living in a flat.

To find somewhere you could afford and like, you may have to move out of your comfort zone, especially if at present you live close to family.

Good point about hanging the washing out Charleygirl5. My bungalow has a dreadful condensation problem and I hang the washing out until nearly dry, then bring it in and use the dehumidifer on 'laundry'.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I’ve had this decision hanging over me for some years now and I just don’t seem to move forward with a plan. I’ve always been able to just walk out into my garden whenever I want and drink a cuppa and listen to the birds, in a flat I feel ill be surrounded by people and noise. I wish someone else would make the decision for me ?

Try not to buy one in a house that has been converted into flats because they aren’t soundproofed as well as a modern flat.

mokryna

Try not to buy one in a house that has been converted into flats because they aren’t soundproofed as well as a modern flat.

So true !
Really good advice Mokryna.

But do you have to move tanith ?

We have a decent sized garden and I love sitting out, gardening, being able to hang out my washing, BBQs - all the usual things a garden offers. My son has a terraced house with a tiny front garden and paved back yard; I could cope with that too - still able to sit out, have BBQs etc. I couldn't cope with no outside area at all; it would have to be either a ground floor flat with access to an outside area or try and stretch finances to a small terraced house.

Oopsadaisy1

Same here, large balcony or ground floor with the back garden.

I’ve lived in flats with no outside space in the past and wouldn't do it again.

I lived in a first floor flat some years ago and I hated it. Apart from creating car parking the developers had created grass areas out of all the free space, no flowers, no shrubs......nothing, it was so depressing! No of the flats had balconies or window boxes.
Laundry had to dried indoors as there was no 'hanging space' outdoors.

Bluebell no I don’t have to move but I have several reasons why I probably should to make my life easier as I age, I’m 73 and don’t want to leave things till it becomes necessary due to mobility issues and my street isn’t the same quiet friendly place it was when I moved in 20+ yrs ago, overdeveloping houses, parking, traffic etc all come in to it.
I go over all these things again and again and then put it all on the back burner and think blow this I’ll just carry as I am and I’m frustrated with myself and my procrastination.

There's no obligation to sell if you have your house valued tanith. You could invite three estate agents and take the average of the values they give you.

I'm younger than you and found it very hard moving, definitely sooner rather than later.

Go with your instincts, tanith. As you say, it’s better not to leave things until they become a necessity.

I was lucky to find my bungalow but I told myself that if it it came to it I would swap a garden for a top floor flat with a balcony and a decent view. With a lift of course.

If it’s not a matter of urgency, take your time and enjoy the search. You may find just what you’re looking for when you least expect it.

Tanith
Can you tell us why you have to move: is it the stairs?
I’m assuming your bathroom is upstairs.
Thankfully we live in a bungalow but I think if I was in your situation I would do everything I could to stay there.
My sitting room would become a bed sit ( no kitchen ?)
My bed would be double up as a settee ( think small single bed)
I would ( if possible) pinch some of the kitchen for small shower/toilet.
You’d be amazed how small a space you need for a ‘bathroom’

Sometimes, when large old houses are divided up into flats, the ground floor will come with the garden. I knew some people who bought into such a set up and had a lovely walled garden, which is the perfect solution, wanting to live on one level and still have outside space. I have also seen purpose built flats with access to communal grounds, but often set up with its own personal area.

are all your family there?

I suppose it's obvious that you would get something nicer outside of London so you have most probably considered this anyway. I think I would miss some sort of outside space, I suppose most people do

I could not live without outdoor space, a small garden and patio at the very least. Tanith consider spreading your wings away from where you live now, it is an adventure and adventures should not be just for the younger ones. I bought a new build house at 71, it was physically and mentally stressful until the contracts were exchanged. New build has very good insulation and is cheap to keep warm, also has the 10 year guarantee. A house never phased me, the stairs are good for exercise and are wide enough, should I ever need a stair lift

Tanith

When I moved to Essex to live with my now husband I moved into his second floor flat without a balcony or private garden.
When I was working it didn't bother me, it does now.
We have quite a large communal garden with seating but I very rarely sit out there. During lockdown I found it quite hard not having outside space of my own.
We are lucky in that we live two minutes from the beach but it is not the same as having your own outside space.
I would love to move to somewhere with a small garden but it is not something we can afford to do.
Really think about it and weigh up the pros and cons.
I wish you luck x

Wouldn't bother me, my second home was a second floor flat.
My present house has plastic lawns and patio pots for flowers, everything is low maintenance arranged deliberately as health deteriorated.