Flat on the Ground floor

tomstickland

My only bedroom is at the front of the block, right by the front door. I did wonder if this might be a problem, but it's not (for me anyway). I sleep with the window open. I have been woken up in the morning by people going to work, but it still doesn't bother me anyway.

clutton_2

ground floor flats are often more expensive to buy, when they are new. developers will often "sell" the upper floors security, and downgrade the ground floor as not having privacy.

ginger_nuts

LouLouHelen wrote:

Hi Ginger - is it a new flat/building or an older building?

aprox 30 year old purpose built .But the flat above had wooden /laminate floors .

lynzpower

I live in a ground floor flat ( purchased)

the advantages over the upper flats are
a) it was bigger
b) its got its own garden ( albeit a little overlooked but thats london for you!)
c) big tescos shop doesnt have to be carted up & down stairs
d) whne you have appliances delivered etc, you dnt have to pay a premium for delivery for being on an upper floor :money:
e) we have got very good security down here, 2 code doors then my front door, its like fort knox

Uptairs flats have been broken into but touch wood weve always been fine

Molanole

I rent in a first floor flat. When we were looking there were so many nice ground floor flats that we ruled out as they did not feel secure, they had bedrooms next to the main entrance and so on.

Yes, it would be nice to have open space but to be honest, where I live even if we were to have communal gardens they are so overlooked by all the other flats you wouldn't want to sit out there unless you enjoyed being noseyed at by all the curtain twitchers.

JennyW_2

we've just moved into a ground flat and it's great :T

No access problems with deliveries, no stairs to lug heavy things up, lovely french doors opening to our garden (so no problem for our dogs) and I certainly don't feel any less secure than when I was in my house. Cant see why having windows open on a ground floor flat is more of a risk than having downstairs windows open in a house Plus there is a main front door leading to a porch before accessing our front door - both having mortice locks. I certainly dont feel any less secure.

Imelda

Hi Loulouhelen,

I have a ground floor flat and love it! As it has already been mentioned moving in/ out is so much easier, getting shopping in is easier, if you forget something as you leave there is no hassle going back for it. Saying that I only share a communal hall with one other flat so don't have any problems hearing others come and go. I do get quite a bit of noise from the flat above but unless you live on the top floor I guess you will always have some noise pollution. Security wise I have never had any problems, I guess it would be the same in a house, I have just made sure I have window locks and strong locks on the door. I prefer the ground floor too as I have a fear of fire (had a house fire when I was young) and feel comfortable knowing that I could escape easily. Also, don't know if it applies in your block, I pay less maintenance since I only use a small part of the communal area, whereas those on the top floor use 4 flights of stairs and so pay more.

littlesaint

As a tenant the main disadvantages of ground floor flats:

1. Security
2. Noise of people walking above you - make sure the people above you have carpets!

Advantages:

1. possibility of a garden
2. You just get noise from one way - no one below you. Worst case scenario is when you are the filling in the sandwich.

Personally, I prefer top floor flats.