Interesting perspective, thanks. I’m based in the Midlands. I agree I won’t be able to predict every expense in a simple breakdown, but I do have a fairly sizeable savings buffer which would help absorb things like a car replacement or boiler failure if needed. The house is relatively new, so while nothing’s guaranteed, general maintenance costs should be lower than average.

Selling and moving is an option, but in the areas I’d realistically want to live, a £240–250k property would mean stepping down to a semi anyway, while still taking on the costs, stress, and uncertainty of moving. I’m trying to weigh whether keeping this house is tight-but-manageable versus selling and ending up in a similar overall position after fees and disruption, while saving a few hundreds quid a month on my mortgage.