House hunting for a modern home in the UK is impossible
Discussion
I want to move house from my current 80sqm Victorian terrace to a new home. I live on my own and what I really want is a very modern home that fits my needs but they don’t exist in the UK. All the house builders still build as though it’s 1930. I see my only solution being to buy a larger old home and try and make it work. I considered building but my understanding is build costs have rocketed making this unfeasible.
This isn’t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I’m going to end up having to buy a house that’s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
This isn’t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I’m going to end up having to buy a house that’s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
Depending on where you are in the country, there are a variety of prefabricated kit homes available. Some manufacturers even offer "all-in" prices where they will do the groundworks and external skill on a turn key approach. You just provide the money and the land and the planning permission (and some will even sort the latter).
Often, these homes fall into the sustainable / eco camp, so are air tight with all that entails...
Have a look at the BOPAS website for all the non-traditional manufacturers that they accredit (for the purpose of securing a mortgage on non-traditional construction).
Often, these homes fall into the sustainable / eco camp, so are air tight with all that entails...
Have a look at the BOPAS website for all the non-traditional manufacturers that they accredit (for the purpose of securing a mortgage on non-traditional construction).
dxg said:
Depending on where you are in the country, there are a variety of prefabricated kit homes available.
I’m in south Wales. I have a £600k budget and did want to be inner city (for work reasons) but the housing stock doesn’t fit my true needs. I’m not sure this budget is really viable for self build now.Matt.. said:
I want to move house from my current 80sqm Victorian terrace to a new home. I live on my own and what I really want is a very modern home that fits my needs but they don t exist in the UK. All the house builders still build as though it s 1930. I see my only solution being to buy a larger old home and try and make it work. I considered building but my understanding is build costs have rocketed making this unfeasible.
This isn t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I m going to end up having to buy a house that s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
But what are your needs actually?This isn t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I m going to end up having to buy a house that s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
They do make small modern homes. Infact many would say, too small.
If you step out of the UK you'll find single people in Europe usually live in bright spacious apartments instead of silly little house-lets.
dan98 said:
But what are your needs actually?
They do make small modern homes. Infact many would say, too small.
I want a very contemporary looking home with a lot of light, high ceilings, open, highly insulated, highly efficient, highly practical. What every house builder seems to build is almost the opposite of this.They do make small modern homes. Infact many would say, too small.
Matt.. said:
I want to move house from my current 80sqm Victorian terrace to a new home. I live on my own and what I really want is a very modern home that fits my needs but they don t exist in the UK. All the house builders still build as though it s 1930. I see my only solution being to buy a larger old home and try and make it work. I considered building but my understanding is build costs have rocketed making this unfeasible.
This isn t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I m going to end up having to buy a house that s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
What is it that you 'need' from a home that you can't get?This isn t more than a mild vent on our outdated highly traditional housing stock I m going to end up having to buy a house that s too big for one person simply so I can make it work for me.
I agree house builders knock out a lot of pastiches of 1930's houses, but it's like cars, the market is driven by what people will pay the 'new home premium' for.
As with cars, boats etc anything 'one -off', unique or bespoke is expensive. And mostly loses a lot of value on re-sale.
What do you see as 'modern'?
I quite like various things that have been considered 'modern architecture' in various periods ranging from 1920s through the 70s/80s to current.
I can see the point
I'm mid fifties and single (widowed), two kids still living at home. We did talk about moving when we lost Mum but they were against it, No1 was only three when we moved here and No2 not born yet so they don't know any other family home.
So, in maybe five/six years time when they are hopefully established in their own homes I will probably want to move. No one in my life now, maybe there will be one day but after eight years minimum of effectively living on my own by then I don't know if I would want to buy a house with someone.
What does the sixty-ish gent with a few quid (but not loads) buy
2 good size beds (one ensuite) and another bathroom.
Decent size living room
Big Kitchen diner
Small garden (hate gardens and gardening but nice to have a little outside space
Couple of off road parking spaces (EV one day perhaps)
Big single garage or maybe a double
Detached but doesn't have to be remote (I don't follow the Pistonheads form of hating the idea of neighbours, the ones I have are lovely)
Budget like the OP but near Bristol/Bath
Doesn't exist as far as I can see.
I'm mid fifties and single (widowed), two kids still living at home. We did talk about moving when we lost Mum but they were against it, No1 was only three when we moved here and No2 not born yet so they don't know any other family home.
So, in maybe five/six years time when they are hopefully established in their own homes I will probably want to move. No one in my life now, maybe there will be one day but after eight years minimum of effectively living on my own by then I don't know if I would want to buy a house with someone.
What does the sixty-ish gent with a few quid (but not loads) buy
2 good size beds (one ensuite) and another bathroom.
Decent size living room
Big Kitchen diner
Small garden (hate gardens and gardening but nice to have a little outside space
Couple of off road parking spaces (EV one day perhaps)
Big single garage or maybe a double
Detached but doesn't have to be remote (I don't follow the Pistonheads form of hating the idea of neighbours, the ones I have are lovely)
Budget like the OP but near Bristol/Bath
Doesn't exist as far as I can see.
Matt.. said:
I want a very contemporary looking home with a lot of light, high ceilings, open, highly insulated, highly efficient, highly practical. What every house builder seems to build is almost the opposite of this.
You can get all of these things from a newly designed apartment, even right in the middle of the city.eg.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166761896
Matt.. said:
I want a very contemporary looking home with a lot of light, high ceilings, open, highly insulated, highly efficient, highly practical. What every house builder seems to build is almost the opposite of this.
Is 'open with high ceilings' really efficient and practical? Harder to heat, cooking smells everywhere.If you can't find or build what you want for the rather good budget of £600K then Sir will have to moderate his dreams to what's available and what he can afford, like everyone else does. That's why I don't live in a small stately home with a few servants and a deer park. Life is so unfair!
dan98 said:
You can get all of these things from a newly designed apartment, even right in the middle of the city.
eg.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166761896
I want a house. I have no interest in apartments anymore, I do agree that apartments can often have far better layouts than houses with numerous small rooms.eg.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166761896
Edited by Matt.. on Sunday 5th October 12:42
OutInTheShed said:
the market is driven by what people will pay the 'new home premium' for.
This is simply because almost every new home built in the UK for many, many decades has looked extremely similar. All the terraced houses are basically the same, and all the new build estates are the same. The differences in new builds often simply comes down to number of bedrooms and bathrooms but layout and style is basically the same as it's been for 80 years.Simpo Two said:
If you can't find or build what you want for the rather good budget of £600K then Sir will have to moderate his dreams to what's available and what he can afford, like everyone else does. That's why I don't live in a small stately home with a few servants and a deer park. Life is so unfair!
I believe what I'll end up with is a terraced house that's larger than I really need as it's the only way to really make it work. If it's possible to build I'd definitely like to explore that option but my initial thought would be a house that cost £200k to build 5 years ago is probably £400k now with cost of resources.Matt.. said:
I believe what I'll end up with is a terraced house that's larger than I really need as it's the only way to really make it work. If it's possible to build I'd definitely like to explore that option but my initial thought would be a house that cost £200k to build 5 years ago is probably £400k now with cost of resources.
Can you post a photo or sketch of the sort of thing that you are hoping to buy? Matt.. said:
I want a house. I have no interest in apartments anymore.
You didn't specify that as part of your 'true needs'. But yes the UK is obsessed with the Empire days, to the detriment of all else.
The bright, modern style of house is in abundance abroad. Even in Poland you can get a beautiful new house for very little. As a bonus you get proper summers too.
If you can't stand apartments, don't want to self build, but want to occupy a whole house with only one person, I think yes you're going to be compromised one way or the other.
Matt.. said:
I want a very contemporary looking home with a lot of light, high ceilings, open, highly insulated, highly efficient, highly practical. What every house builder seems to build is almost the opposite of this.
The problem is that s not what most people want, the volume builders aren t going to build what most people don t wantI like new builds, but there s not a single one I can find that caters to someone like me, I want a separate kitchen, a dinning room, a lounge and 2 bedrooms, most are open plan kitchen dinners because that s what families love, and then people seem to be obsessed with it s a 4 bed despite being 900swft with 2 box rooms
Redrow are the only builder in south wales (I m in Monmouthshire/ Newport) that sell anything remotely like what I want
Their lifestyle range are nice, they lose the 4th bedroom in favour of a larger master with a nice en-suite and a dressing area.
They have got a “Windsor” which is an open plan kitchen, dinner and living room with a integral garage, utility room and 4 bedrooms which are nice, it’s on the smaller side of 4 beds but higher ceilings, big bifolds at the back etc
Ceilings are higher too and in nice settings, they are arts and crafts inspired though, but the sites they have in plasdwr garden village are more modern looking
The only places in south wales I see smaller builders doing bespoke places with a bit of wow factor are Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire
Edited by Quattr04. on Sunday 5th October 12:49
Matt.. said:
This is simply because almost every new home built in the UK for many, many decades has looked extremely similar. All the terraced houses are basically the same, and all the new build estates are the same. The differences in new builds often simply comes down to number of bedrooms and bathrooms but layout and style is basically the same as it's been for 80 years.
The layout is practical, though.Entrance hall, with doors to living rooms and kitchen (and possibly toilet), stairs leading to bedrooms on the upper floor.
Some houses are more open plan, to varying degrees.
The typical household has long been a family. It has changed a little in recent years, but house builders need to sell their houses.
Quattr04. said:
I like new builds, but there s not a single one I can find that caters to someone like me, I want a separate kitchen, a dinning room, a lounge and 2 bedrooms, most are open plan kitchen dinners because that s what families love, and then people seem to be obsessed with it s a 4 bed despite being 900swft with 2 box rooms
Box rooms can be handy for WFH if you don't need them as a bedroom. We have an older house that was extended. We have two box rooms that we use as WFH offices (and one can become a guest room) plus three full sized bedrooms. A new house would be less solidly built, but more insulated. We have a semi open plan kitchen & living/dining room with a separate living room, utility room, integral garage, storage in the roof space etc. For two parents and two teenagers, all bases are covered. I rarely see new houses that appeal to me. Edited by MC Bodge on Sunday 5th October 13:14
Matt.. said:
I m in south Wales. I have a £600k budget and did want to be inner city (for work reasons) but the housing stock doesn t fit my true needs. I m not sure this budget is really viable for self build now.
Really?I self built - checkout https://www.artichouse.co.uk - If you can find a plot, they make a fab self design/build.
Mine was just valued and it's now worth nearly three times what it cost to build 19 years ago.
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