House to flat coping without a garden

I moved from my house at end of 2019 into flat.

I do have a largish balcony here, triangular shaped, with a low wall. So, it is pretty private.

I absolutely love it. Never enjoyed gardening, and in the last couple of years at the house had to pay out for a gardener, I have lots of lovely (mainly faux) pots of flowers on my balcony. Plant just a few with real flowers twice a year. Cheap and easy to run, have relaxing garden chairs and side tables there, and when the sun is up, I can just go direct from my Living room and sit there and relax,. Wonderful!!!

Occasionally, I slightly (very slightly) miss being able to hang out washing in good weather - although that was quite a chore, putting it out, bringing it in. I have a good heat pump tumble dryer, although usually most washing (there is only me), dries happily and cost effectively, on an airer in my spare bedroom, with the window open there.

I absolutely love living on one level. As I am on first floor, i do try to use the stairs up and down when I feel I can, but know the lift is there for those other times. By the time I moved (aged 78 yrs), I detested the stairs in my house, even two and half years later, I am daily enjoying not having those to worry about, either in going up and down or cleaning.

I live in the upstairs of a house conversion, and like many, downstairs has a bathroom extension - my big balcony, or terrace as my estate agent friend calls it.

I’ve probably written all this before so if I’m boring you ignore me lol. For those of you with fresh eyes here goes.

3 children my son lives abroad my eldest daughter lives with one of her sons and partner having had a stroke 3 yrs ago although she’s mostly recovered now, they are moving out of London but not too far later this year. My other daughter lives 10 mins walk away and I see her all the time we are close, she has epilepsy and doesn’t drive although well controlled so I’d like to stay within at least a bus ride from her in case I can no longer drive and I know she would be hands on if I needed her to be in the future.
Problem comes that within that area bungalows are very scarce as are garden flats and very near to being out of my price range even if I could find one so it’s flats in blocks. My older daughter works for a local estate agent so I know roughly my house price and that it would sell quickly.
My house isn’t adaptable to have a downstairs loo/bathroom and the stairs are awkward for any stair lift.
Maybe I can’t see the wood for the trees or maybe I just can’t bear the thought of all the decisions.
I’ll go and sit in my garden now with a cuppa and listen to the birds

It is a lovely garden

I can understand you wanting to be near your daughter, I need to be near mine too.

I do think you need to look at somewhere more suitable though if you can't have a stairlift fitted etc. It is a dilemma isn't it?

We are in a four bedroom detached house which is too big now for us. We were considering moving when the birds flew the nest but are too lazy to contemplate the hassle. We have a large garden which I had adapted for my needs with a raised veg patch and a nice sun house.
Getting up stairs is a pain because of arthritis and I do struggle somewhat but I cope. We will muddle on if we had to we would adapt the house according to our needs if possible. Enjoy your tea and think what’s best for you pros and cons. Have you had anyone in to look to see what interior alteration could be made.

I’d look at asking an architect to see if a downstairs wet room could be accommodated in your present house. Their initial advice should be free and a basic design a few hundred pounds, without going as far as directly applying for building regs etc.
There may be a solution that works out cheaper than moving and let’s you keep your garden.

Tanith You are lucky to have a DD on the inside. If you have seen somewhere that you wold like to live, to move things on faster, post a letter saying you are interested, or a notice in the local shop/ Facebook. Don’t move into something if you are not 100% happy. Good luck.

Just moved back to a house to live with family but lived happily in a 3rd floor flat the previous 5 years.

It had a large balcony. I had long containers attached to the balcony and many pots on the balcony floor. You can grow climbing plants in grow bags . I still felt I had a garden, there was room for garden chairs and a coffee table and I had a fabulous view being 3 floors up

twiceasnice, I am just wondering how you could get rid of used compost

To get of used compost put a reasonable amount in a bag to carry and empty in the nearby woods/ countryside ?

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202204/medium-717804-pxl-20220408-160842257.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202204/medium-61571-pxl-20220408-160833252.jpg%3C/span%3E

I live in a ground floor flat with no garden as such. There is a parking space which I have filled with tubs, which is enough to keep me occupied.

mokryna, do you mean fly tipping?

Tanith get a free survey for a Stair lift, the stairs might look awkward to you, but you never know they might be able to fit something for you.

Having moved from a large garden, with additional 18.5m x 5m vegetable patch, we now live in a four-unit complex with communal gardens and tiny area in front of the property, which actually has a vine growing along the wall. It takes a little getting used to but we wouldn't go back to slaving week in, week out, digging, mowing, weeding etc. etc. Now free to walk every day in the countryside hereabouts.

My daughter has just bought a second floor flat, it has a private terrace that is the full width of the flat so about 30ft long, totally private apart from people above looking down from their balconies. She has lots of pots, a seating area and room for a big clothes airer to dry her washing.
She moved at the end of last year after living with us and said that, after two lockdowns, she wasn't going to risk being trapped with no outdoor space.
It's also above Sainsburys so they get any repairs done quickly as Sainsburys have expensive lawyers who 'nudge' the management company into acting promptly. There are a lot of older people living in the block as it's so convenient for shops, the library and buses plus has parking included too.

mokryna

To get of used compost put a reasonable amount in a bag to carry and empty in the nearby woods/ countryside ?

This is illegal and classed as fly tipping. It can harm the environment as it may contain chemical residue or pests such as vine weevil.

Spent compost should always be taken to a registered tip or re used as a mulch in the garden.

I gave up a garden for a ground floor new flat. I really miss it so if I had my time again, I would prefer a 2nd floor flat with a balcony and a view.

Think seriously before giving up your garden. I miss mine especially at this time of the year but no house affordable with a garden in this area. I moved to be near to my daughter and good job I did after last year's operation! The only thing that is seriously missed is the linen line. I know I am weird.

The pros are that I love being near the city and my daughter. Beautiful flat, all insulated and sound proofed. The cons are above. I have a lot of time to fill without a garden and losing my dog. The small garden I have is in the shade with rubbish drainage, consequently a nightmare to try and grow anything.

It is a real dilemma tannith and it took me some time to make up my mind so totally understand your predicament. However, as I said, it was the right thing for me to do in the big scheme of my life.

Thanks everyone lots of food for thought, I spend so much time in my garden pottering, reading, laundry and just sitting even till late at night stargazing in Summer and I wonder how I would fill all those hours without it.
I’m taking my time and then some ?

I couldn't live in a property with no outside space. Currently I can't do much in the way of gardening but I get by with help. I have already installed a downstairs shower room and already had a downstairs loo. I need a stair lift but I'm adamant the longer I can struggle up the stairs the better for me. My stairs are very awkward, quite wide but two hairpin bends. I've had two quotes of 6k. so possible but expensive and those quotes were a couple of years ago. I did consider looking for a Bungalow but even with my very healthy budget a Bungalow would be beyond my reach as mostly they need a lot of work and are very expensive in my area. So I have no plans to move. My house is in very good nick so no intention of moving and then bringing somewhere else up to scratch. I do know my house would sell very quickly for an extraordinary amount but I'm not tempted.

Have you thought about a Stiltz "beam me up Scottie" lift? Takes up very little space and maybe you could exit into a spare bedroom?

Hi Tanith. What I am getting is you are wondering what you might do if you can’t manage any more? My advice is look around to see what might be available for older people. You might find you don’t have to buy? You
Might get a place you can rent from age related housing associations that has
Exactly what you are looking for?

I moved last year into a place, against my husband’s wishes, it is fabulous and I have a huge garden I can do as much as I want or not - whatever I choose. Grass is cut for me. Got lots of plants outside also. When/if it comes I can’t tend flowers then they will still be looked after.

So you have to think to future! First and foremost Why are you thinking you need to move? Once you know what you want, look around.

karmalady

mokryna, do you mean fly tipping?

Oh is spreading good soil fly tipping? Sorry ? thought it was bio and doing good.to the environment.

Moved to a ground floor flat with a south facing patio a year ago. Lots of pots although I'm not a gardener. Table and chairs where I drink coffee and sometimes eat. It's a quiet street and the neighbours stop to chat, so I've met most of them. There are gardens across the road which belong to some of the houses, so I can watch the seasons change but don't have to do the work. I love it.
It's an old house conversion and there is a bit of noise from the upstairs flats but it's nothing compared with the noise my teenage DCs used to make. I also know it's the man upstairs and I don't lie awake wondering if there is someone in the attic or if the roof's blowing off.!

Tanith, Acorn say they can fit a stairlift anywhere. 2 firms refused me, saying our stairs were too narrow, but Acorn fitted one. Granted there`s not a lot of knee room, but it gets me upn and down stairs.

Thanks for all the suggestions i don't need it yet thank goodness.