We downsized from a 100-year-old home to a new build - here's why it was the right move

Suzanne Miller, 64, and her husband, Gary, 65, lived in a 100-year-old house for more than 40 years. 

The couple, who work as bus drivers and have six children and seven grandchildren, purchased their old three-bed semi-detached house in Hayes, Kent, in 1985. 

Suzanne told This is Money the couple spent more than £200,000 making improvements to the house, including £75,000 spent on garden landscaping. 

The couple had an extension and conservatory added, and fitted a new kitchen and bathrooms. Years later they had an outdoor cabin built. 

'We paid the mortgage off on the house 14 years ago,' Suzanne added. 

The couple loved living in the house but felt it was time to downsize. 

'We just weren't using all the rooms in our old house any more,' Suzanne said. 

A couple of years ago Suzanne's husband said he wanted to move. Suzanne was less certain but the couple started looking for a new home. 

Right at home: Suzanne and Gary Miller in their new-build downsizer home in Kent 

The couple, who never thought they would go for a new-build home, bought a three-bed detached house in Kent via Croudace Homes for £479,500. 

They were able to buy the house outright with no mortgage. 

Suzanne said: 'We sold our old house to first-time buyers, so there was no chain. 

'The old house sold for nearly £700,000 more than we paid for it in 1985. The developer paid half our stamp duty, so we paid £7,000.'  

Suzanne added: 'The new house, which we moved into in October 2025, is about 20 per cent smaller than our old one. 

'The kitchen is a fair bit smaller. We like the area and I enjoy walking the dog in the surrounding countryside. There's also a great pub nearby and there's free parking everywhere.

'There's over 20 of us when the family gets together, so the garden in the new house is great. 

'Inside is a bit tighter than our old house though. It'll be ideal for when we get older as the new house is a manageable size.'

Suzanne said she found it 'challenging' to move from the house she had lived in for 40 years, but her husband found the process easier. 

Suzanne said: 'On the day we were moving, I was wondering whether we were doing the right thing. 

'We had all our children there, and I feel like women are more affected by a move like this after such a long time.

'We had to get rid of loads of stuff, including sofas, pans, integrated appliances, as they wouldn't fit in the new house. 

'We spent about six months decluttering our old loft, so at least the kids don't have do deal with that when we pop our clogs.'

Suzanne said she still often drives past her old house and that 'it holds a lot of memories'.

Suzanne added: 'One of our grown-up sons who'd moved out was so upset about our old house being sold that he didn't speak to us for a little while. 

'He absolutely loved the house and took the move very badly. It took him a while to come round.'

Suzanne said the new house meant there was less cleaning and maintenance for her to do. 

Her husband is a dab hand at garden landscaping, saving the couple a fortune as they've been sprucing up the place. 

The couple's new house has solar panels and in theory, their energy bills should be cheaper than at their old house – but there is a major reason why they've actually gone up.

Family fun: Gary Miller is a dab hand at garden landscaping and the couple love entertaining outdoors

Unexpected: Suzanne Miller told This is Money she never expected to move into a new-build

Time for a swim? Suzanne Miller and her husband purchased a £26,000 swim spa 

Suzanne said: 'We purchased a swim spa for the new house for £26,000, and we'll be doing a bar shed soon. 

'Because we have to have the swim spa running at about 37 degrees Celsius all the time, I'd say our energy bills are about 20 per cent higher than in our old house. 

'The new-build house itself is more energy efficient, but our swim spa isn't!' 

Suzanne said she believed it should be left up to people to decide if they want to downsize or not but was generally in favour of it. 

She added: 'I think it's a great idea for older people to downsize as they get older. 

'Why become a slave to cleaning when you don't have to? We're in our home for life now.' 

Rebecca Maeers, head of residential property at Freeths, said: 'Downsizing after 40 years or more in the same home is rarely just a property transaction. 

'A house lived in for that length of time can hold decades of memories, and deciding what to take, sell, give away or leave behind can make the move both emotionally and practically demanding. 

'There is also a tendency to underestimate how different the next property needs to be.

'Downsizers should think beyond simply buying somewhere smaller and consider how the home will work for them in the longer term: accessibility, stairs, maintenance, energy efficiency, proximity to family and amenities, parking, storage and ongoing service charges or estate charges can all be important.'

How to handle downsizing if you have been in a home for a long time

Many people feel emotionally attached to a home if they have lived in it for a long time. 

Decluttering after being in the same home for so long can also be a drawn-out and difficult affair. 

Freecycle is a website which lets you give away items you no longer want or need for free. 

And people come to collect the items from your home, so you do not have to transport them anywhere. 

Also ask family and friends if they want any of your furniture or furnishings you will not be able to fit into your new home. 

Many charity shops also come and collect large unwanted items of furniture that are in good condition. 

If you plan a major decluttering, you can hire a house clearance firm to take your items away. 

This service can be very expensive though, sometimes costing thousands of pounds. 

For clothes and smaller items, consider selling your items via platforms like eBay and Vinted. 

You can make a bit of money from the sales. 

Nick Woolridge, a property finder at Stacks Property Search, told This is Money: 'The two main challenges for people moving to a new home after living in their old one for 40 years are the loss of familiarity and reduced space.'

He added: 'In my experience, it's usually the adult children telling the elderly parents that it's time to move. 

'That can be a tricky conversation for different reasons: the parents might think that the children are being avaricious.

'Whichever side triggers the conversation, it should be handled sensitively and with mutual respect. 

'The children should support their parents' decision and understand that it is probably for the best because mum and dad can no longer look after a big house, or it has become unsuitable for their specific needs. 

'The parents should recognize the attachment that their children can have to their childhood home and try to explain their decision. 

'In all cases, it's probably best to start the conversation early, so that nothing comes as a surprise.

'Be brutal! If belongings haven't been used for a long while then dispose of them; offer them to the family, charity or freecycle, but be firm about getting rid. 

'Think sensibly about what to keep – the dining table that seats 12 will be of little practical use in a bungalow. Use dispassionate third-party assistance if necessary. 

'And start the process early, so that decisions are not having to be made just before the removals lorry arrives.'

How to find a new mortgage

Mortgage rates have jumped as conflict with Iran has driven up inflation expectations and dashed hopes of interest rate cuts.

If you need a mortgage because you are buying a home, or your current fixed rate deal is due to end, you should explore your options as soon as possible.  

This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with expert mortgage advice.

Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs.

Or use L&C’s online Mortgage Finder to search thousands of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage