House hunting hell

Your bungalow sounds lovely and considering the price and bother of moving etc. I would extend upwards if you want to sleep upstairs with an en suit. For security reasons, fit bi-folding shutters, like they have in hot counties. Not those plantation ones.
I live in a flat with electric wall oil filled radiators, each rooms’ sq m is worked out as to size of radiator needed, like that in houses.
I live in a residence that doesn’t allow washing to be hung out if it can be seen by others, so I use a low clotheshorse hidden behind the bushes on my balcony. However, some flats have special ground level areas. I do have a dryer but I haven’t used it since the children left. I don’t use the community garden much but I am very pleased with my balcony.

lots of younger people prefer that kind of kitchen, so they can talk to their friends as they prepare food.
have you looked online, OP?

My daughter lives with her partner in a 2 bedroom coach flat but they named their place ‘ The Coach House’. It is a detached flat with 3 garages underneath.

She likes it there because it very quiet and peaceful . She has no more problems with noisy neighbours and she can play her piano to her heart content.

Their flat comes with gas central heating and they have a small strip of garden behind and at the side of the flat, they hang their clothes in the back garden when the weather permits.

The only downside: the kitchen is not a separate room but at one end of the living room.

I live in a two bedroomed flat in Torquay. It's a block that was converted from an Edwardian villa and there are seven flats. Being an older property, the soundproofing is excellent and I have good neighbours, all of them younger than me, including two little girls who are delightful.

I dry washing indoors on an airer quite easily because the flat is warm, either due to thermal gain (it faces South West) or the gas CH with radiators which heats it in the Winter. Luckily, I live near parks and cliff top gardens so don't miss having a garden of my own.

Have a look on Rightmove for properties in the area you fancy and see what is available. You could be in for a surprise. Good luck!

What bout 4 in a block flat....My son lives in one . It has GCH, 2 bedrooms....Also has own backgarden with drying area and room for garden furniture. Bins kept in communal area....There is a huge cupboard at his front door for garden equipment and garden furniture.. Its quite a new build and rooms are large...My hubby and I love it and would buy one if our house became to much upkeep for us

Ask Kirsty and Phil!
Seriously, it sounds like you're just writing off all sorts of places. We live in a flat. It's all electric but we've got special eco radiators on timers. Washing goes in a washer dryer and has a final dry off on a clothes horse. We have a lovely garden which we can work in if we want to but don't have to. Plus friendly nieghbours. Great move!

Thank you for commenting Franbern I have seen your threads and am delighted you have found your forever home.

You are right I am going to do a for and against and see if I can compromise. It is so hard as you age as there are other factors like having to be near Shops, Drs, etc. Decisions Decisions.

I am just south of the midlands.

yes some local authority housing usually built 1975-2000 inner london, have large terraces, which is like a paved garden, either flats or maisonettes.
roughly what region are you looking for.

Yes, as karmalady says, it costs about £20000 to move. Apart from the financial part, can you imagine all the hassle of moving and the energy needed? But I fully understand your reasons for wanting to move. My only advice is, the sooner the better …..

Hi Oopsadaisy - did read this thread, but did not think I could add much to it. My flat is fortunate in that we do have gas for central heating and water. Must agree with OP, I did not like it that so many flats are electric only. However, this will apply more and more in the future.

One of my great joys is being able to leave windows open at night, and when I am out , being on the first floor. My only (minor) regret is NOT being able to hang washing out of doors - however, in the terms of everything I have got by moving to this flat, think this is such a small detail. Anyway, only few weeks in the year that was possible due to weather.

I purchased a good quality Heat pump tumble dryer when I came here, but that is just a standby. The spare bedroom is warm and sun shines in there, so washing is usually dried on airer in that room - leaving windows wide open.

My only advice to the OP is to make a list of Fors and Against of moving. Include everything. Also a list of Absolute MUSTS in any new property, alongside another column showing PREFERRED and a third column with WOULD LIKE.

It is an enormous decision, even if moving within same area, people need to be very sure as to what theya re doing before investing so much money, stress and time.

Thanks everyone

Electric wall, heaters, if the right ones are installed will easily keep a house warm.

Their downside is that heating a flat using peak electricity is very expensive. Modern electric storage heaters are both less bulky and more efficient than the older kind.

What you need to do is start by looking at the range of properties available in your area and in your price range. and then adjust your needs to what is available. You cannot conjure up property that doesn't exist in an area.

I would think, much as Welbeck suggests, you need to look for houses that have been converted into flats. Everyone I know who has had a flat in a house conversion has had a garden or outdoor space. It is very unusual for purpose built flats to have individual gardens.

The other alternative is ex-council flats, as these often have communal drying areas with washing lines supplied. DD's first flat was an ex-council flat and came with all kinds of extras she would not have got with a commercially built flat, including a drying space.

I know of one lady on GN who has a lovely flat with a large terrace. She is delighted with it.

I’m sure she will be on here soon.

my brother lives in an upstairs flat but has a small garden, just big enough for a rotary drier and a couple of well-chosen gnomes to guard it.#
the flat is the top half of a semi-detached house which was converted long ago.
the person on the ground floor is the freeholder.
you could have a small paved area of garden.
rotary driers are v useful and can be sited either in soil/concrete or on paved. some people even have them on balconies, but there may be restrictions about hanging washing there. it is common in urban areas, where bicycles are also visible on balconies.
i too value being able to hang out washing.
he has electric storage heaters, but i don't think he's choose them now. they were already there.

Could you look at end of terrace or semi detached houses with just a yard and a decent drive that you could extend a bedroom into should the need arise? Then at least you’d have the option of gas central heating and if you’re lucky a wood burner for those in between times.
This is currently what I am looking at as can’t find anything within my budget that is bigger than 50 square metres, which is just too small.

Midgey, a coach flat is a flat over garages mainly seen on new build estates.

Karmalady not able to do this to this property

Thanks for your reply. I don't like the look of window grills reminds me of a prison cell. Hate open plan also.

A 2 bed 2 bath would be ideal with an area to put washing out preferably paved.

I think with the market moving so quickly where we live has not helped.

Would love to hear from other flat dwellers how they manage with laundry heating etc

It costs about £20k to move. Might that be better spent by building a bedroom and en suite in your loft?

I have never heard of a coach flat, please could you enlighten me.

I think you need to give more details about what you are looking for. It sounds like you want a small, but larger than you’ve got now house. How many rooms? Also where about in the country. Maybe you won’t be comfortable giving these details, but without then few suggestions can be made.
As far as the security of open windows, you could fit window grills that allow the windows to remain open, while the grill covers the opening.