2 bed ground floor apartment with external doors in both bedrooms??

noisysandwich · 18-09-2023 8:05pm #1

I'm in the process of buying a 2 bed apt but haven't signed contracts yet. Buying off plans too which can be tricky when there's no show house to view. On the brochure the EA sent originally, there were 3 external doors, 1 being in one of the bedrooms which led to a private patio. I thought this was a bit strange so decided I would have that bedroom - I'm a single Mum to an almost 4 year old so security is obviously a big concern for me.

When they sent the contracts the layout had changed somewhat to include an external door in the 2nd bedroom as well. Fair enough, things can change with plans...but this seems a bit excessive to have 2 externals doors from the bedrooms PLUS the 2 separate side doors that access the main kitchen/living room?

The other thing that I find a bit odd is the fact that both bedrooms lead out to private patio areas, but it looks like only one of these will be fitted with a side gate - and even with that, the EA said that the builder wasn't going to originally fit it, the owners would have to do it themselves. But seemingly they have 'convinced' the builder to do it as it's unreasonable to have that open space leading out on to the path. The second bedroom, the one which didn't have the external door on the original plans, also has the little patio outside which then leads out on to the public path.

It's hard to explain so I've included a screenshot of the plans and numbered where the doors are. The red arrow outlines where the public footpath is and where the bedroom door is. Maybe I'm missing something. Personally, I find the EA to be a bit useless as they don't seem to know what the situation is. I would like to try and talk to the builder directly and might pop down to the site this week. I just find this a bit odd, it doesn't make sense to me at all to have ground floor bedrooms so easily accessible to the public? So I just keep these locked all the time? Is this normal to anyone else??

Screenshot_20230918_194913_Samsung Notes.jpg

C3PO · 19-09-2023 9:59am

Personally, I would be delighted to be able to access the private amenity space from the bedrooms but each to their own! What would you hope to achieve from the builder OP?

spaceHopper · 19-09-2023 10:01am

If it was me I'd change the door to window so that you canventelare the room at night and I'd install a wooden or iron gate where the red arrow is. It's not a big deal, ask for site meeting, being a large box if the IKEA biscuits and get on the good side of the foreman

auris00 · 19-09-2023 10:02am

Wait, so it doesn't have a regular apartment door where you enter into the hallway, but you are supposed to enter your apartment from the bedrooms or the living room? It's really strange, how on earth did they design this?

Chris_5339762 · 19-09-2023 10:32am

Access to the outside from the bedroom is something I had for a while and hated it. Its always in the back of your mind that someone can just hop a fence and walk in.

goingnowhere · 19-09-2023 10:43am

Hmm, new reduced fire safety design, no protected hallway so this presumably is requiring external access to all habitable rooms?

wildwillow · 19-09-2023 11:03am

I think goingnowhere is correct in the fire safety aspect.

Security would be my main problem too. Would definitely install retractable security screens inside those windows. I'd be nervous sleeping otherwise.

Ezeoul · 19-09-2023 12:18pm

Which door is supposed to be your "front" door? !?

Personally I would hate access directly into the living area like that and not having a proper hall - somewhere to take of wet or muddy shoes or hang coats.

The security aspects would give me pause too.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121128839#Comment_121128839

I suppose just some reassurance that there will be a gate on at least one of the sides and then the option for me to install another gate or something on the other side. Single FTB so really just don't have a clue about any of this, just really anxious doing it by myself and having a young child too.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121128846#Comment_121128846

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, is that easy enough to do? As in, change the door to a window? This is it here, and the room in question that wasn't originally supposed to have an external door.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121128851#Comment_121128851

It's a small footprint I guess and there isn't a hallway, the main door (no. 1 in the picture) opens into the kitchen/living space. Does seem strange that there's also another door adjacent to that and then then a door for each bedroom as well.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121128980#Comment_121128980

Yeah, it's something that you don't really think about when you're buying off plans either until you can actually see the setup and how it has actually been built.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121129020#Comment_121129020

Great to know, thank you! Do you know if that means i can't alter that? As in, couldn't turn one of those bedroom into just a window if it's about fire safety?

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121129100#Comment_121129100

Great idea, thanks! I was thinking of ways to make it somewhat safer.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121129431#Comment_121129431

Door no. 1 on the plans is the 'front' door - agreed, it's just a case of figuring out what I can afford that's within my support circle and not too far away for the 2 days in town for work. When I look at the price that houses went for even 5 years ago, I want to cry!

clairek6 · 19-09-2023 8:52pm

Sounds very like my ground floor apartment. Both my bedrooms have exit doors but no patio area just leads to outside. It was for wheelchair access and fire.

noisysandwich · 19-09-2023 8:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121131601#Comment_121131601

Oh really? How w close are they to the public access footpath? Do you keep the doors locked?

Mrs OBumble · 19-09-2023 11:51pm

I'm not sure that windows which could function as fire escapes would be any more secure in reality: they may feel more secure, but both would need to be kept locked when not directly supervised.

C3PO · 20-09-2023 6:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121131412#Comment_121131412

Nobody is going to "walk" in through this door unless it's unlocked! Fairly serious effort required to break in. I personally would have no serious security concerns with the set up. With a gate on the yard you could make a nice indoor/outdoor space imo.

noisysandwich · 20-09-2023 8:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121132457#Comment_121132457

You're probably right, if the builder doesn't include a gate then I will definitely have one fitted. I just hate the idea of someone having such easy access to my Son's bedroom from the footpath.

goingnowhere · 20-09-2023 10:00am

One simple solution is to ensure there is no door furniture on the outside, so no handle, keyhole etc. Dramatically improves security but thats a factory option really

There is clearly a fire safety/accessibility issue here as the normal regs a window which has sufficient opening is sufficient as a method of exit (and entry for someone in full fire fighting gear and tank)

noisysandwich · 20-09-2023 10:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121132875#Comment_121132875

But it's not a concern is it? As in, there needs to be a door as the window does not open wide enough / is not big enough for someone to climb out of?

CollyFlower · 20-09-2023 11:30am

As mentioned above retractable Security grill, along window film on the glass, it will give some daytime privacy but at night time when light is on you can see inside.

noisysandwich · 20-09-2023 1:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121133316#Comment_121133316

That's great, thanks. Wouldn't mind so much at nighttime because will have a blind/curtain.

wildwillow · 20-09-2023 3:35pm

Maybe windows are more secure with triple glazing but I know of several break ins where the patio door was smashed in the corner with a heavy iron bar and it shattered. Most had triple locks and an extra bolt to prevent sliding open when forced. Safety glass so it shatters and allows intruder pass through safely.

That is why I recommend security screens. I presume the doors will also be connected to an alarm.

Victor · 20-09-2023 3:39pm

Which is the front door?

irelandrover · 20-09-2023 3:41pm

If you put a locked gate in the area where the red arrows are what exactly is the security concern? There wouldn't be direct access from the outside to your sons room.

You could even cover over that area and it would act like a hall into the house.