Nervous in a house rather than a flat?

Neighbours make a huge difference wherever you live. Our flats are just a vertical village. We're all very friendly and feel safe and secure. Our annual garden party is a fixture as are all sorts of friendly gatherings throughout the year. We have a large beautiful garden maintained by the caretaker and its well used with benches in sunny spots. Smug? Glad we moved here? You bet!!

I also think that feeling secure depends very much on the area.
I live in a house set back from the road with large gardens but have never felt afraid, I intend to stay here forever.
The stairs are very steep but I'm sure it keeps me fit, going up and down all day and if it ever comes to the stage were I can't manage the stairs, I'll get a stairlift.
I couldn't stand to live in a flat, I visit friends who have a beautiful apartment but I'm always out on the balconies as I feel too hemmed in.
Anyway most burglars get in by open windows and not through smashing down doors. They don't like to make noise and attract attention.

Factfinder
Then don't. You have presented enough reasons why a house, let alone a detached one, is not for you.Renting a house is an option which will give insight as to whether you will feel secure enough before you waste money on buying only to find it is not for you.Good luck.

I have opposite feelings in that I would be afraid of living in a Flat unless it had 24 hour Concierge service and I couldn't afford the monthly charge for that.I don't like the feeling of being enclosed by people I don't know.
For me location is so important and also a detached property gives me peace of mind.

Thank you for the replies re 'Bungalow knees' . Will bear this in mind. I imagine many of us will have difficulties with mobility no matter where you live. We decided to stay in our house as we are near everything, all the retirement places don't have a bus service anywhere near. If our mobility becomes problematic we will get a stair lift put in. My previous neighbour did this very sucessfully and it worked fine. It enabled her to live in her home and she said it was the best thing she did. I find so many bungalows or retirement places are away in the middle of nowhere. I don't know why they build these in these isolated locations at a time you need more facilities not less. Bungalows are really scarce where I live and would be way,way beyond our pocket.

my thoughts are that a burglar is less likely to break into a bungalow because he/she would not know which room was occupied and by whom.
I agree. I've been thinking of moving to a bungalow for a while and practically all the ones I've looked at online have 'bedrooms' that can be swapped with living rooms, or used as dining rooms, workrooms etc.

In the end it’s where you feel comfortable and safe. No one else can tell you which is best.

Lancslass unfortunately "bubgkalows knees " are real. We lived in a large bungalowfor 8 years with a large garden so was very active. But when we moved to a house abroad I found climbing the stairs very difficult and still hate them.

Fiachna50
Bungalow knees are apparently (according to a friend ) what I will get because I am not getting enough exercise going up and down stairs because I live in a bungalow.
I get enough exercise by doing the garden I reckon .

I've never felt unsafe at home, perhaps because we've always had dogs. If I did, I'd get a good, visible security system with cameras.

I don't equate having close neighbours with safety, though. A lot of local burglaries are down to a family here. I think I'm safe as I'm (surface) friendly with them and their kids!

Small ?!

We put in a very fancy alarm system that was supposed to be connected to the police. It once went off accidentally and DH rushed home from work as I was at the vet with small at. Nothing at all happened. No response from anyone. DH phoned the alarm company who just shrugged their shoulders. We'd paid a fortune for it and a monthly fee for 'monitoring'. Glad we've moved to a flat.

Can depend on location. I lived alone in a large detached house 5 minutes away from the flat I live in now. This is a low crime area but because the house was quite isolated there were several attempts to break in. I had a security system put in but it sometimes went off in the night which was terrifying even though it was connected to a centre and they would ring me. I feel very safe in my little flat now

Sorry to be off topic, though it is in this thread. What are 'bungalow knees' ?

I've lived in a house for many years, until recently a terraced house. I don't have any issues about feeling nervous.
My son lives in a block of flats with an entrance front and back. He has been broken into and is away from a road so no passing traffic. I think he is much less secure than me at home.

There are things you can do to make a house feel more secure. We had an alarm system put in with different settings - one of which is a night-time setting, just for the outside doors, but we are still free to walk around inside. A neighbour got a dog when her husband died - only a little chihuahua but he is an amazing watchdog! Also, you could get an alarm button by the side of your bed? Would all this help or just make you feel more nervous? Personally, I'd stay in the flat. We're planning to move to one in the near future (fingers crossed).

I had no idea this was an issue. I have never worried...I live in a house. Get a decent security system.

thank you @Davidhs, renting sounds a good idea.

I have just looked at the Police Crime map someone suggested, it is brilliant, where we have a house in the UK in Cumbria, it is the lowest crime rate in any county, which makes me feel better as I am often in that house, a semi,on my own and have always been scared at night, this has given me more peace of mind.Logically why should anyone break in when there is someone in the house, when they could do that when it is empty.We leave nothing valuable there anyway.I must try and be calm at night, but am too old to change my ways now. Good Luck Factfinder

@Tillybelle thanks for such a detailed and nice reply - you're right, the house hunting should be fun and I'm probably getting myself in too much of a twist about things. Just need to sit down and think through it sensibly as suggested.

Wow @sandelf thanks for that, never knew it existed!

NotSpaghetti. You have my deepest sympathy. Unfortunately although my house is detached. it isn't detached enough and one of the neighbours on one side revealed herself to be a neighbour from hell just over 2 years ago and has consistently frightened me since. I believe she probably has a personality disorder of the kind that likes to hurt people and the Senior Policeman did say her act were a hate-crime and I am old, widowed and disabled.

I think that whatever you decide initially, Davidhs' advice to rent at first is very sound

Peace of mind is priceless stay put.
Also a friend of mine had a very expensive alarm and she was burgled so it doesn`t always deter those thieving gits.

sorry! should say 'sweat of fear'