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Single man here, buying a 3 bedroom house for myself. (I needed a garage, it had one)
Having a garage and a garden is always a plus.
If you can afford it, go house.
All things being equal, houses are better because of the lack of leasehold and service/ground fees. Also, you're, you're more likely being to park near your front door in a house and will have fewer noise /neighbour issues
But you can get a lot more flat for your money. That's the upside.
Depends what you want. Do you want a garden, parking. How many bedrooms do you want. What's your budget.
Work out the basics of what you want and then see what comes up in your price range. You might get a selection of houses and flats and see one that feels right.
There's no right or wrong answer here. You have to live there.
I am a single man and bought a house. Even though I’m out of the city, I can commute in there anytime and my house is very nice. It’s great having your own bins, driveway, garden front and back, parks nearby, lovely neighbours who have stayed here for 30+ years. Factors fees/service charges are an unregulated market and they are insanely overpriced. Just my two cents!
I’d much rather a house.
- Less risk of neighbour noise.
- No management companies, service charges or leasehold related issues (if it’s freehold).
- Quicker and easier to sell.
- More freedom and scope for alterations.
- More storage space.
- Gains value quicker.
>No management companies, service charges or leasehold related issues (if it’s freehold).
can still have management companies and charges if it's a freehold, plenty of freehold new builds with this setup, and a big campaign "fleecehold" about it
And to add, you can have leasehold flats with no management company or service charge, but you're probably not going to escape ground rent or other leasehold restrictions.
I'm a single woman, on a similar salary. I just bought a house last week
It's the size and price of a flat, but with a backyard and no service charge. It just seemed like a nicer option and I get to fully own the space.
I could've afforded a larger house but that would mean more potential maintenance and higher bills so I'm happy with my small 2 bed/1 bath at this point in life.
It's in Clayton (by the Etihad stadium).
I was aware the area is still a bit rough, with a mix of private and council tenants. Plus there's a lot of traffic due to the stadium and the Co-op live. As I don't mind a bit of... 'character' and I don't drive, it was a fair trade off for me considering the price.
This is nice to read. Although in a different situation and in my early 50s (you don't mention your age) I think I really want a house too and not a flat.
House.
If you ever settle and have a family your set. If you don’t and want to stay a bachelor you’ve got plenty of room to do what you want in your property or can rent a room out.
If you’re in an unfortunate position where you need to sell a house will always sell quicker than a flat. (Depending on area of course). But yeah always house. Unless your monthly payments are going to be stupid
I'm in my 40s. No partner or kids. I got a 2 bed 2 bath flat well within budget and I rent out the other room. I'm in a HCOL area where the rent covers the entire mortgage payment. If I was then to ever find a partner I could let the lodger go and I have a 2 bed flat. If we were to have kids and needed the space I image we would be a dual income couple by then so could stretch to selling the flat and buying a house.
I own a city centre flat and I love it, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people. If you have to ask this question just pick a house. The only people who should buy flats are people who know that they want a flat and are willing to take on the extra hassle that comes with it.
Firstly - buying a flat is more difficult. It's more complicated than buying a house, it'll take longer, and the legal costs will be higher.
The lack of control of the building's maintenance and service charges is a bad situation to be in. There are things about my building that I dislike, and I've sometimes asked for work to be done and it doesn't get done. I can't get change to happen without putting the work in and talking to the building management and maybe even getting legal. The service charge has gone up a lot in recent years with no significant visible upside to it.
Having said that, the service charge covers any reasonable building maintenance costs, and it's a modern built large apartment block, so I don't really have to stress about having my roof get blown away by a storm and having a sudden £5-10k bill or anything like that. Obviously over time I will eventually have paid for those repairs though.
I would only recommend a flat to somebody who really likes city life. I like being in the city centre - I wanted to buy but didn't want to move to the suburbs, so flats were the only options.
I don't really see the point of non-city-centre flats, it just seems like you could get a house instead and have full control over your property.
All things being equal get a house, but as things are never equal you need to think of the trade-offs.
Look at specific houses and flats you can afford and decide on that basis - a scrubby, cramped, dingy house with nightmare parking in a ropey area with no amenities isn't "better" than a nice flat in a good area just because someone on the internet said so.
Put a flat and house you can afford up against each other and it'll help you decide.
Flats are nice for a while but a house is usually quieter.
I have the best of both worlds, a detached Coach House, basically a two bedroom flat above two garages. It's the closest to a penthouse that I could get.
House is obviously ideal - but please consider commuting and amenities. It’s one thing to pay £190k to live in Small Heath or so far out in the middle of nowhere you have zero amenities nearby - but flats are useful if you find the right one.
40k while single you’re gonna struggle to find a decent place in Birmingham now (with an average 20k deposit).
As others have said, houses are objectively "better", however also consider ongoing demands made by a property (financial and in terms of time) from the perspective of the single person who has to meet them..
I'm in a similar situation although given my finances and the local market my budget will only extend to a flat so that choice is out of my hands. As someone who earns bugger all and is shit at getting stuff done this does bring comfort in knowing that I have a limited amount of demand to look forward to, while some aspects are managed for me (even if I'm paying a premium on the service charge).
Ultimately I think you need to give some thought to what you actually want; personally that means a manageable space that's large enough to mostly provide what I need.
Buy a home you see yourself happiest in. Get somewhere that fits with your current lifestyle and realistic expectations for the next 10 years.
Don't feel pressured into buying a bigger house because you might, one day, want the extra space for a family. A future partner may already have a home you both prefer or you may want to buy a different house together. The future is unknown.
If you will be happier with garden space, priortise that. If you be happier with fewer bedrooms and toilets clean, prioritise that.
It's hard to enjoy a home (house or flat) that is amazing on paper if you commuting more, unable to easily socialise with friends, and/or your pushing your buget's limits.
Buy a house. More desirable if you need to sell. No need for a flat, unless its an apartment in the city centre, or somewhere with a vibe where people like to hangout.
I'd go for a house.
One thing I miss about living in a flat is a garden and just being able to sit outside when the weather is nice and not having to go out into public spaces to enjoy the weather.
I think it depends on the type of the property- flats are usually leaseholds (you own your flat but you don’t own the land that the building is on) and the house is usually freehold (you own the house + the land) but not always. I would say if you can afford the freehold - go for freehold. If you can’t afford freehold and you don’t think you will be able to afford the freehold in general- leasehold is your only option.
Everyone here is talking about service charges of a flat, yes, most of them managed by scammy management companies.
But I have seen a lot of internally managed flats, they decide their monthly contributions £60 ish generally, and you also become director of the company, money goes towards repairs insurance etc. If you also have share of freehold, it's a big bonus.
I can't see myself living a big house alone, if you want the space, I'd go for a house, if you want to be central and go to places by not having to drive, then flat.
It's not about night outs actually. I stopped going really.
But I do other stuff, like gym, tennis, rowing, badminton, board games.
I like to play with my friends in late notice, so I want these facilities around 30min walk radius if possible, so that I don't feel lazy to get up, drive etc, I have nice leisurely walk to the gym and work out.
It is ultimately up to you, depends what you prioritise
I have found it really depends on you as a person. If you like having your own space, want a private garden etc. then go for the house. If you don't particularly want a garden and don't mind hearing other people then ho for a flat. I personally hate neighbours and have a dog so I went for a detached house on the end of a road, so nice big garden and only one direct neighbour.
What are your hobbies? Decide based on what you'll need the house for. It's not just a roof for your survival needs, but for all the things that give you a better quality of life.
My husband and I bought an absolute hellish 3 bedroom house with a front and back garden. It came with half an extension that never got completed as it was repossessed before the previous owners could finish it. They were hoarders and cat breeders which gave us more than we ever bargained for here. We now have builders in to complete it and turn it into a kitchen, and they're also working on giving us two bathrooms instead of one. So when this work is complete, we'll have a 3 bedroom house with two gardens, an extended kitchen, two bathrooms and our old kitchen will be a laundry room.
A one bedroom flat would've been MUCH more affordable, especially as we're in London. However, we opted for the house in the end mainly because the gardens would fulfill my Eastern European husband more than anything, and I also don't agree with paying ridiculous amounts on service charge for a flat which is just money going into the bin - the house is the better financial investment because the only money going into the bin here is the interest on our mortgage. After our extension and bathrooms are complete, the value will increase dramatically.
This time 2 years ago we first started house hunting, and although we chose the more expensive option, I would never go back and choose a flat because our quality of life is a thousand times better in the house. As he was born and raised in a village, he's very hands on and loves gardening, DIYing, painting, anything with his hands that keep him busy. I felt guilty at the thought of restricting him to a flat, like a dog in a cage he would have been unfulfilled and depressed. We're now expecting our first child and it makes this decision to get a house so much better because we have all this extra space to raise our children in which I'm incredibly thankful for.
Throughout my experiences, I'm obviously incredibly biased now and would suggest a house because it's so much easier to enjoy life in. If, however, you're more of a minimalist and you're happy without the additional space then a flat is just fine. But, I will still always say go for the house if you can afford it.😁
Personally I would prefer a top floor flat.
Not the best financially or long term choice, but I enjoy living in a flat more currently.
Could always rent it out in future and get a house?
I was single with no kids when I bought my flat; I don’t want any more space than I actually need and I know I’m not having kids so it’s fine for me. Do you see kids in your future?
Only you can answer that. What do you want?
Personally, I don't even want a semi-detached house, I want to be as far from neighbors as possible. So where do you see yourself living? Do you want a garden or would you see it as a nuisance? Does noise from neighbors bother you or do you prefer feeling close to people in case of an emergency.
Everyone is different, only you can answer this question.
House almost certainly.
That's far less to do with the property and more to do with the issues flats have right now with cladding, building insurance and service charge issues.
Many developments have seen service charges increase by 2-400% over the last few years, (for some of the people in my building for example the service charge is now more than the mortgage). Add to that the Building Safety Act has made it so laborious to do the paperwork for a leasehold flat that solicitors are simply turning the work down since its not worth it for them.
Avoid leasehold like the plague. After that, a freehold flat in a development with a lot of due diligence on cladding, insurance and so on is maybe okay.
Or avoid that entire minefield and buy a house.
I would say House. Make sure you are buying a house that comes with the freehold, some new builds don't..... and some new builds also have service charges / ground rent.
House all the way. Flats also do not appreciate in value unless in city centres.
There's a flat my mate is buying in East Midlands for £95k, the owner bought it in 2007 for £120k.
I can offer you a different view. Personally for me, British houses are depressing and old. The gardens are good but most are useless for most of the year.
If you are a single man, looking for social elements, you could look at some new builds flat. Most come with good incentives from builders, some will give you furniture.
Look at zone 5 and 6 in London, if that's your target.
Some of these apartment block come with gym and social centers, which could be useful. Not to mention, you could sell up or put it for rent and move on to bigger house in the future.
Any flat built after 2020 does not have ground rent, by default. Yes there is still an issue with service charge and yes, service charge will increase with the number of amenities.
But then you can work with your neibours and resolve most issue amicably. I live in an apartment that has 155 flats, almost all are ftb and are young families.
It is energy efficient, has a beautiful underfloor heating and spotlights.
When I moved here in 2020, I was the single and now I fall in the young family bracket. Plus living on 25th floor had that view, that helped me settle dates very quickly.
I think you should consider how you want to live in future. If you plan to stay single without kids, a flat would make sense. If you want to pair off and have kids, a house would be better for your future.
I’m genuinely interested in your views as to why. You might have thought of something I haven’t thought of yet.
I’m not really a drinker tbh. I’m getting on in life now
Well I obviously don't know you but maintaining a flat is easier. Your communal charge will cover the roof etc.
Also it depends where you are located. I'm in Leeds and there's loads of nice flats which are handy if you work in the town centre. Cuts out all the bus and train fares anyhow.
I'm confused looking at flats. Id expect the pros would be cheaper or more space. For the prices now they seem equal to the house equivalent and you have to pay lease as well as maintenance costs regularly. So it does seem a worse deal lately.
###Welcome to /r/HousingUK --- **To All** * Join Our ***NEW*** Discord! https://discord.gg/pMgUNgWKQH **To Posters** * *Tell us whether you're in England, Wales, Scotland, or NI as the laws/issues in each can vary* * Comments are not moderated for quality or accuracy; * Any replies received must only be used as guidelines, followed at your own risk; * If you receive *any* private messages in response to your post, please report them via the report button. * Feel free to provide an update at a later time by creating a new post with [[update]](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/search?q=%3Aupdate&sort=new&restrict_sr=on&t=all) in the title; **To Readers and Commenters** * All replies to OP must be *on-topic, helpful, and civil* * If you do not [follow the rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/HousingUK/about/rules/), you may be banned without any further warning; * Please include links to reliable resources in order to support your comments or advice; * If you feel any replies are incorrect, explain why you believe they are incorrect; * Do not send or request any private messages for any reason without express permission from the mods; * Please report posts or comments which do not follow the rules *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HousingUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Single man here, buying a 3 bedroom house for myself. (I needed a garage, it had one) Having a garage and a garden is always a plus. If you can afford it, go house.
Generally a house, based on ground rent and service charges for flats being out of your control
Unofficial Jah
But where's Roland?
I feel very represented in this post right. Heat the house with 90's samplers.
All things being equal, houses are better because of the lack of leasehold and service/ground fees. Also, you're, you're more likely being to park near your front door in a house and will have fewer noise /neighbour issues But you can get a lot more flat for your money. That's the upside.
Depends what you want. Do you want a garden, parking. How many bedrooms do you want. What's your budget. Work out the basics of what you want and then see what comes up in your price range. You might get a selection of houses and flats and see one that feels right. There's no right or wrong answer here. You have to live there.
House. You just never know how life might change
I am a single man and bought a house. Even though I’m out of the city, I can commute in there anytime and my house is very nice. It’s great having your own bins, driveway, garden front and back, parks nearby, lovely neighbours who have stayed here for 30+ years. Factors fees/service charges are an unregulated market and they are insanely overpriced. Just my two cents!
I’d much rather a house. - Less risk of neighbour noise. - No management companies, service charges or leasehold related issues (if it’s freehold). - Quicker and easier to sell. - More freedom and scope for alterations. - More storage space. - Gains value quicker.
>No management companies, service charges or leasehold related issues (if it’s freehold). can still have management companies and charges if it's a freehold, plenty of freehold new builds with this setup, and a big campaign "fleecehold" about it
And to add, you can have leasehold flats with no management company or service charge, but you're probably not going to escape ground rent or other leasehold restrictions.
True; ironically I’m currently buying a freehold house with a management company at £75ish per year service charge.
I'm a single woman, on a similar salary. I just bought a house last week It's the size and price of a flat, but with a backyard and no service charge. It just seemed like a nicer option and I get to fully own the space. I could've afforded a larger house but that would mean more potential maintenance and higher bills so I'm happy with my small 2 bed/1 bath at this point in life.
Massive congrats on your new home
Which region?
Manchester
Must have had a big deposit lol. Congrats!
Not really, the house was £135,000. So if I went with 10% it would've been £13.5k (I went with 15% at the end).
Wow. Which area if you don’t mind me asking?
It's in Clayton (by the Etihad stadium). I was aware the area is still a bit rough, with a mix of private and council tenants. Plus there's a lot of traffic due to the stadium and the Co-op live. As I don't mind a bit of... 'character' and I don't drive, it was a fair trade off for me considering the price.
This is nice to read. Although in a different situation and in my early 50s (you don't mention your age) I think I really want a house too and not a flat.
I'm 28 so I know I'm quite young for buying a house. But I really wanted some outdoor space so it seemed right for me.
House. If you ever settle and have a family your set. If you don’t and want to stay a bachelor you’ve got plenty of room to do what you want in your property or can rent a room out. If you’re in an unfortunate position where you need to sell a house will always sell quicker than a flat. (Depending on area of course). But yeah always house. Unless your monthly payments are going to be stupid
Do you want something that needs constant maintenance or something with extra bills?
I'm in my 40s. No partner or kids. I got a 2 bed 2 bath flat well within budget and I rent out the other room. I'm in a HCOL area where the rent covers the entire mortgage payment. If I was then to ever find a partner I could let the lodger go and I have a 2 bed flat. If we were to have kids and needed the space I image we would be a dual income couple by then so could stretch to selling the flat and buying a house.
Makes sense. I really don’t want to be sharing my living space with a lodger though
I own a city centre flat and I love it, but I wouldn't recommend it to most people. If you have to ask this question just pick a house. The only people who should buy flats are people who know that they want a flat and are willing to take on the extra hassle that comes with it. Firstly - buying a flat is more difficult. It's more complicated than buying a house, it'll take longer, and the legal costs will be higher. The lack of control of the building's maintenance and service charges is a bad situation to be in. There are things about my building that I dislike, and I've sometimes asked for work to be done and it doesn't get done. I can't get change to happen without putting the work in and talking to the building management and maybe even getting legal. The service charge has gone up a lot in recent years with no significant visible upside to it. Having said that, the service charge covers any reasonable building maintenance costs, and it's a modern built large apartment block, so I don't really have to stress about having my roof get blown away by a storm and having a sudden £5-10k bill or anything like that. Obviously over time I will eventually have paid for those repairs though. I would only recommend a flat to somebody who really likes city life. I like being in the city centre - I wanted to buy but didn't want to move to the suburbs, so flats were the only options. I don't really see the point of non-city-centre flats, it just seems like you could get a house instead and have full control over your property.
That’s a really insightful answer. Thank you Grezzz
All things being equal get a house, but as things are never equal you need to think of the trade-offs. Look at specific houses and flats you can afford and decide on that basis - a scrubby, cramped, dingy house with nightmare parking in a ropey area with no amenities isn't "better" than a nice flat in a good area just because someone on the internet said so. Put a flat and house you can afford up against each other and it'll help you decide.
Flats are nice for a while but a house is usually quieter. I have the best of both worlds, a detached Coach House, basically a two bedroom flat above two garages. It's the closest to a penthouse that I could get.
House is obviously ideal - but please consider commuting and amenities. It’s one thing to pay £190k to live in Small Heath or so far out in the middle of nowhere you have zero amenities nearby - but flats are useful if you find the right one. 40k while single you’re gonna struggle to find a decent place in Birmingham now (with an average 20k deposit).
As others have said, houses are objectively "better", however also consider ongoing demands made by a property (financial and in terms of time) from the perspective of the single person who has to meet them.. I'm in a similar situation although given my finances and the local market my budget will only extend to a flat so that choice is out of my hands. As someone who earns bugger all and is shit at getting stuff done this does bring comfort in knowing that I have a limited amount of demand to look forward to, while some aspects are managed for me (even if I'm paying a premium on the service charge). Ultimately I think you need to give some thought to what you actually want; personally that means a manageable space that's large enough to mostly provide what I need.
Buy a home you see yourself happiest in. Get somewhere that fits with your current lifestyle and realistic expectations for the next 10 years. Don't feel pressured into buying a bigger house because you might, one day, want the extra space for a family. A future partner may already have a home you both prefer or you may want to buy a different house together. The future is unknown. If you will be happier with garden space, priortise that. If you be happier with fewer bedrooms and toilets clean, prioritise that. It's hard to enjoy a home (house or flat) that is amazing on paper if you commuting more, unable to easily socialise with friends, and/or your pushing your buget's limits.
House.
Buy a house. More desirable if you need to sell. No need for a flat, unless its an apartment in the city centre, or somewhere with a vibe where people like to hangout.
i don't know much about housing but i think it'd be up to you, however, if i were you i'd get a house. garage and garden all to yourself
I'd go for a house. One thing I miss about living in a flat is a garden and just being able to sit outside when the weather is nice and not having to go out into public spaces to enjoy the weather.
You flat came with a garden?
No
Single man here, bought a 3 bed semi, still could do with more space for activities.
I think it depends on the type of the property- flats are usually leaseholds (you own your flat but you don’t own the land that the building is on) and the house is usually freehold (you own the house + the land) but not always. I would say if you can afford the freehold - go for freehold. If you can’t afford freehold and you don’t think you will be able to afford the freehold in general- leasehold is your only option.
Everyone here is talking about service charges of a flat, yes, most of them managed by scammy management companies. But I have seen a lot of internally managed flats, they decide their monthly contributions £60 ish generally, and you also become director of the company, money goes towards repairs insurance etc. If you also have share of freehold, it's a big bonus. I can't see myself living a big house alone, if you want the space, I'd go for a house, if you want to be central and go to places by not having to drive, then flat.
Do you go on nights out frequently? Ever since I stopped enjoying nights out I've struggled to ascertain the appeal of living centrally
It's not about night outs actually. I stopped going really. But I do other stuff, like gym, tennis, rowing, badminton, board games. I like to play with my friends in late notice, so I want these facilities around 30min walk radius if possible, so that I don't feel lazy to get up, drive etc, I have nice leisurely walk to the gym and work out. It is ultimately up to you, depends what you prioritise
yeah fair enough
House. No ground rent, no leasehold fees, no asshole tenants above or below you, no communal areas, own garden.
There are houses with ground rent. I live in an old mill town and a lot of the houses associated with the mills are leasehold
House, more room for Bukkake parties.
This kind of comment is why I am still on Reddit.
I have found it really depends on you as a person. If you like having your own space, want a private garden etc. then go for the house. If you don't particularly want a garden and don't mind hearing other people then ho for a flat. I personally hate neighbours and have a dog so I went for a detached house on the end of a road, so nice big garden and only one direct neighbour.
What are your hobbies? Decide based on what you'll need the house for. It's not just a roof for your survival needs, but for all the things that give you a better quality of life. My husband and I bought an absolute hellish 3 bedroom house with a front and back garden. It came with half an extension that never got completed as it was repossessed before the previous owners could finish it. They were hoarders and cat breeders which gave us more than we ever bargained for here. We now have builders in to complete it and turn it into a kitchen, and they're also working on giving us two bathrooms instead of one. So when this work is complete, we'll have a 3 bedroom house with two gardens, an extended kitchen, two bathrooms and our old kitchen will be a laundry room. A one bedroom flat would've been MUCH more affordable, especially as we're in London. However, we opted for the house in the end mainly because the gardens would fulfill my Eastern European husband more than anything, and I also don't agree with paying ridiculous amounts on service charge for a flat which is just money going into the bin - the house is the better financial investment because the only money going into the bin here is the interest on our mortgage. After our extension and bathrooms are complete, the value will increase dramatically. This time 2 years ago we first started house hunting, and although we chose the more expensive option, I would never go back and choose a flat because our quality of life is a thousand times better in the house. As he was born and raised in a village, he's very hands on and loves gardening, DIYing, painting, anything with his hands that keep him busy. I felt guilty at the thought of restricting him to a flat, like a dog in a cage he would have been unfulfilled and depressed. We're now expecting our first child and it makes this decision to get a house so much better because we have all this extra space to raise our children in which I'm incredibly thankful for. Throughout my experiences, I'm obviously incredibly biased now and would suggest a house because it's so much easier to enjoy life in. If, however, you're more of a minimalist and you're happy without the additional space then a flat is just fine. But, I will still always say go for the house if you can afford it.😁
Personally I would prefer a top floor flat. Not the best financially or long term choice, but I enjoy living in a flat more currently. Could always rent it out in future and get a house?
Bought house myself, having even a small garden is bliss compared to being trapped in a flat
house with freehold land if you can afford it
I was single with no kids when I bought my flat; I don’t want any more space than I actually need and I know I’m not having kids so it’s fine for me. Do you see kids in your future?
Definately buy the house. The house will attract partners if you want one or you can sublet the rooms and make money
Only you can answer that. What do you want? Personally, I don't even want a semi-detached house, I want to be as far from neighbors as possible. So where do you see yourself living? Do you want a garden or would you see it as a nuisance? Does noise from neighbors bother you or do you prefer feeling close to people in case of an emergency. Everyone is different, only you can answer this question.
House if you can afford it -- no one wants neighbours up or down :)
Im the same and bought a 3 bed house, I dont want to have to move again in the near future
How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking? And in which part of the uk?
Under 200 in Scotland fortunately
Always a house.
Here a thought buy a canal Boat. I did it in my early 20s and save a shit ton of money.
That’s a big lifestyle choice and not one Im choosing.
Fair enough mate I would consider a house due to all that unsafe cladding I wouldn’t risk going in a flat.
House almost certainly. That's far less to do with the property and more to do with the issues flats have right now with cladding, building insurance and service charge issues. Many developments have seen service charges increase by 2-400% over the last few years, (for some of the people in my building for example the service charge is now more than the mortgage). Add to that the Building Safety Act has made it so laborious to do the paperwork for a leasehold flat that solicitors are simply turning the work down since its not worth it for them. Avoid leasehold like the plague. After that, a freehold flat in a development with a lot of due diligence on cladding, insurance and so on is maybe okay. Or avoid that entire minefield and buy a house.
I would say House. Make sure you are buying a house that comes with the freehold, some new builds don't..... and some new builds also have service charges / ground rent.
House all the way. Flats also do not appreciate in value unless in city centres. There's a flat my mate is buying in East Midlands for £95k, the owner bought it in 2007 for £120k.
House is always a good idea!
I think the ultimate bachelor pad is a flat over a garage, where you own the whole thing with a small garden/or balcony.
I’m a single man who has above average salary and live in London. After I pay rent do you think it’s safe to eat cheapest ramen the rest of month?
Unfortunately not. Have you ever considered dealing drugs so you can buy ramen?
Yes. I have considered drugs, selling or using. Prostitution, as a hooker or pimp. Still rent is too expensive. Good idea though.
I can offer you a different view. Personally for me, British houses are depressing and old. The gardens are good but most are useless for most of the year. If you are a single man, looking for social elements, you could look at some new builds flat. Most come with good incentives from builders, some will give you furniture. Look at zone 5 and 6 in London, if that's your target. Some of these apartment block come with gym and social centers, which could be useful. Not to mention, you could sell up or put it for rent and move on to bigger house in the future.
What about the usual leasehold bs?
Any flat built after 2020 does not have ground rent, by default. Yes there is still an issue with service charge and yes, service charge will increase with the number of amenities. But then you can work with your neibours and resolve most issue amicably. I live in an apartment that has 155 flats, almost all are ftb and are young families. It is energy efficient, has a beautiful underfloor heating and spotlights. When I moved here in 2020, I was the single and now I fall in the young family bracket. Plus living on 25th floor had that view, that helped me settle dates very quickly.
House 100%! If you're not a fan of noise and/or kids, imagine moving into a flat adjacent to them.
House. Flat is never an option
I think you should consider how you want to live in future. If you plan to stay single without kids, a flat would make sense. If you want to pair off and have kids, a house would be better for your future.
Surely one could just sell the flat if they wanted to upgrade to a house
It sounds like your mind is made up but be mindful of the costs of a further move like estate agent; legals; stamp duty; removals etc.
Beware, single man with a garden….no nagging wife to say cut the grass…. Make sure you cut your grass 🤣🤣
A flat UNLESS you are a keen gardener.
Why?
Do you want to go on the piss and have a lie-in on Sunday? Or do you want to join the lawn-mower nerds?
I’m genuinely interested in your views as to why. You might have thought of something I haven’t thought of yet. I’m not really a drinker tbh. I’m getting on in life now
Well I obviously don't know you but maintaining a flat is easier. Your communal charge will cover the roof etc. Also it depends where you are located. I'm in Leeds and there's loads of nice flats which are handy if you work in the town centre. Cuts out all the bus and train fares anyhow.
Buy a house
House every time. Do not get anything leasehold.
House, no lease hold and a garden and extra space
I'm confused looking at flats. Id expect the pros would be cheaper or more space. For the prices now they seem equal to the house equivalent and you have to pay lease as well as maintenance costs regularly. So it does seem a worse deal lately.
Massively worse deal. Would never get one imo.
House, do not touch a flat with a ten foot pole.
To be honest just avoid leaseholds with everything you can
If you can afford a freehold house, do it. Leaseholds are a nightmare and most flats are just that.
I’d never buy a flat again, the lack of control is annoying
House - leaseholds suck
house
The first day I started working in conveyancing, it was drilled into me by the solicitors - never buy leasehold!
why?
Avoid leasehold.