Any advice on what size house to buy?

If you are having doubts about the flat now,if you buy you will find you will come to regret it . Speak from experience!

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If you are going to make use of the extra space then yes or look at it as an investment as in my book space sells.

I think I'd go for the second bedroom if possible, so you can have GC to stay and maybe the occasional visitor, or room for hobbies? I think a yard or patio with plant pots would be preferable to a garden with grass because of maintenance while you are away (and when you're there!)

Think about storage , where will you store your hoover, ironing board/ do your ironing. What happens if one of you becomes I'll and you need extra space for equipment or sleeping arrangements ?
Where to dry your washing if it has to be indoors ? Personally for the extra £20-30k I'd pick the terrace.

Flat with the garden in that case!

Yes, we had to get rid of a sofa bed for the same reason lancs

I'm trying not to sound mean here, and I am grateful for the advice, as it is useful, but I've twice said that the issue is that the house wouldn't have a garden (just a small courtyard) and the flat, though smaller HAS got a garden. Please read what I typed.

The extra space and garden. The house for me!

If it is a second home I would go for the flat with a garden.
Are you likely to spend as much time there as in your main home?
It doesn't seem like it .
Since it is to be situated near to your daughter I wouldn't worry about having an extra room in case people came to stay.
We used to have a sofa bed for that reason.
We had to get rid of it as it was so uncomfortable

A house would be a much better investment in the long run IMO, who ever is left to! Personally outside space would be crucial for me. A second bedroom would be very handy.

Are you considering turning your second home into your primary home at some point?

If so a bigger property might be advisable.

The day might come when two bedrooms are an advantage.

That said, a flat is much easier to run than a house, but if you have never lived in a flat you need to consider such things as noisy neighbours.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I would go for the Victorian house any time - absolutely no contest. Maintenance costs can increase as others have said; a relalative has just been greeted with the news that her service charges are to double, and there is no redress. A tiny garden can be made pretty with pots and gravel, and can be almost maintenace free. I would hate a flat with the close proximity of others, but again we are all different. My friend loves her flat as she like to think of having people above, below, and next to her. It's hard to advise anyone else!

thank you everybody. It's given me plenty to think about

The house every time!..It gives you flexibility as you have room to have grandchildren or other visitors to stay.

The maintenance issue re. garden could be covered by a gardener or better still, artificial grass or even attractive paving perhaps with a pond/large planters.

I understand the attraction of the flat in as much as it would be easy to maintain but the house offers so much more.

A flat also means you will be unable to do exactly as you want: the exterior will be painted to a schedule and not when you think it should. You will have to agree with other owners on gardeners, window cleaners, maintenance of communal areas etc., so if you have the funds, buy the house and be free!

The service charges for the flat could be used towards a fortnightly gardener at the house.

Wishing you well with whatever decision you make.

I think it will depend on how long you will be living there, will it just be the odd weekend? 6 months of the year? If the flat is compact now, once you get some bits and bobs in there you might feel it’s too tiny.
If you can afford extra why not go for the larger property, if you are spending lots of time there? You can always close the doors on rooms you don’t use.

If you think you are ever going to move nearer to your daughter and family permanently, it might be a good idea to consider something with a second bedroom (and second bath/shower room, or at least a second w.c.) so that if either of you have health problems or disabilities in the future it is possible for a carer to stay overnight. You can then retain your independence for longer while still being near to your nearest and dearest. And if you choose a flat, make sure there is a lift! Friends of mine who bought a third floor apartment without one years ago are now having difficulty getting in and out of their home.

The flat will be leasehold of course, and can cause no end of problems you have no control over. Also service charges are extremely cost.
Personally I would go for a suitable freehold house or bungalow.
Enjoy ?

WE are all so different, with different priorities - so very hard to advise someone without knowing that person. For me/us- a small SW facing garden will always be a priority. Large living kitchen and no dining-room. The huge draw-back with flats in the UK- is that there is no storage space at all apart from wardrobes- so would have to rent storage nearby.

How is your fitness for going up and downstairs? I assume the Victorian Terrace would have stairs. If you are fine then I would go for the freedom of the larger property!

What are you hobbies. Do you need an office? The maintained garden and no repairs sounds marvellous but can they put up the annual amount each year?

The garden is a useful outdoor space, but however small it is it will need maintaining, and as you get older you may not want to spend time in your second home doing gardening chores. Unless the garden is included in the maintenance fee, I would restrict it to a patio with a few containers.

Remember, maintenance fees can rise without any warning or discussion.

Are you likely to have grandchildren to sleep over in the future, in which case a second bedroom would be more convenient?

Unless you are going to be in the second home a lot of the time a bigger place may be a burden eg maintenance, gardening. If all you want is your own accommodation to stay in whilst visiting then the small flat sounds ideal.

Yes, but very low (£300pa)