Ground Floor apartment - yes or no?

msb89

Hi,

I am considering purchasing a ground floor apartment which has an entrance street side (there is a little terrace between the pavement and the actual apartment, with a metal fence) rather than having to through a communal area to get to the front door. The street is part of a development which is quiet from what I can see and the front of the apartment can be seen from apartments blocks all around it.

I am planning to let it out, what are people's opinion on this, is it a no go area, would I potentially receive less rent for it being on the ground floor?

Thanks in advance!

ognum

msb89 wrote: »

Hi,

I am considering purchasing a ground floor apartment which has an entrance street side (there is a little terrace between the pavement and the actual apartment, with a metal fence) rather than having to through a communal area to get to the front door. The street is part of a development which is quiet from what I can see and the front of the apartment can be seen from apartments blocks all around it.

I am planning to let it out, what are people's opinion on this, is it a no go area, would I potentially receive less rent for it being on the ground floor?

Thanks in advance!

I don't think it is clear cut good or bad.

Many young women will not choose to live in a ground floor apartment but other will. Older people prefer no stairs, pet owners don't want internal corridors.

My worry would be open windows at night in the summer, if there was a way to make the flat secure and still have a bedroom window open I would be happy to rent on the ground floor.

Look on rightmove on flats to rent in your area and do a comparison on ground floor and upper floor rents that way you will get the facts in your area.

breadlinebetty

Some people actively seek out ground floor flats for various reasons: either they're elderly, or have walking problems and can't manage stairs carrying heavy shopping and all that, or they have young children etc....there's a whole host of reasons why some would want a ground floor flat.

Fire safety is another issue for some people - it's usually safer on the ground floor if there is a fire.

Having its own street door is a BIG plus, and it sounds like they
re could be room to add a few tubs/plants too - which some people love to do.

As for sfaety re people being able to enter at night - it's just as easy for someone to climb up a drainpipe and get into a second floor window of a house. If it is hot at night and you like to sleep with the window open, all you need do is fit locks (suitable for your windows) that stops them from opening too wide - childproof locks for example. Being ground floor you could even get a loud growly dog!:D

princeofpounds

Again not a problem as long as the area is pleasant enough. Sometimes it is a good idea to have a way of securing the windows (metal shutter or similar).

Funny how some people freak out about ground floor flats but are happy enough to live in a house which is ground-floor exposed!

niceguyed

I'd disagree with some on here and say a ground floor apartment is less secure. It is quicker and easier for a burglar to gain access and also exit with goods. From a rental perspective the flat I let (1st floor) receives the same income as the ground floor ones so that wouldn't worry me.

I'd agree some people like the convenience of ground floor. No stairs or lifts to bother with. Some people like the privacy of being higher up. So some pros and cons. But it wouldn't overly concern me to invest in a ground floor flat. I'd be more worried by the asking price, what other flats in the area let for, yield, service charge/ground rent, management company. Good luck.

bobula

"Funny how some people freak out about ground floor flats but are happy enough to live in a house which is ground-floor exposed! "

nail and head i think.

ive lived on the top of a 3 story block and on the ground floor of a 2 story.

the top floor was good for sitting by the window just watching the world go by inconspicuosly and for keeping bicycles on the landing (meaning my hall stays empty) - it had security entry but it was useless as folks would let anyone that buzzed in and the service button always let you in after midnight !

the ground floor was much better for everything. ability to clean my bike without leaving it sat unguarded for 10 minutes till i got a bucket of water. Like wise for loading/unloading the car - you dont have to leave stuff unguarded for so long. and having your own street entrance is a huge bonus for me as being in a close or entry way gives thieves pretty much free reign to break in your front door without being seen !

think of it as people pay a premium to have a bungalow - whats the difference here ?

lilac_lady

I think the fact that the flat has it's own door without having to go through a common entrance would be a big asset.

J_i_m

I've lived in a ground floor flat, I chose ground because I wanted to minimise noise that I myself might produce via my rowing machine, I knew you could hear it through the floorboards etc.

The main disadvantage of a ground floor flat especially on a street though is every Tom !!!!!! or Harry can see in through your windows and you do feel your privacy is threatened.

dimbo61

Nice silver blinds up at the windows to stop passing people looking in.
Selling/renting plus point

Jellybean_Jo

I'm in the process of buying a ground floor flat. I looked at others and decided that I actually quite like the idea of being on the ground floor. I have a lovely little patio area outside with French doors and have direct access to the shared garden which is evidently rarely used. I have street access through the garden to my parking space, it's so convenient.
I'm not worried about privacy even though it has numerous huge windows because Venetian blinds solve that problem straight away!
The fact that the lease forbids anything other that carpet is a bonus as I won't have to worry about the upstairs neighbours tapping about all day. That is maybe something to keep in mind, I've previously had upstairs neighbours with laminate floor and a yappy Jack Russell...nightmare!!
I'm also a woman living alone, and the security issue isn't an issue for me, although I'm aware everyone is different in that respect.

olly300

niceguyed wrote: »

I'd disagree with some on here and say a ground floor apartment is less secure. It is quicker and easier for a burglar to gain access and also exit with goods. From a rental perspective the flat I let (1st floor) receives the same income as the ground floor ones so that wouldn't worry me.

The only flat I've lived in that has been burgled before was one that was on the top floor. (I wasn't living there at the time.)

The burglar went through the hatch in the middle of the top-floor corridor, came through the ceilings and burgled both flats on the top floor for passports, money and laptops then left unseen.

If he had tried to burglar the ground floor flats for similar items he would have had to break down the doors and he would have been heard. If he had tried to go through the windows he would have been spotted by someone on the street.

If you buy/rent a ground floor flat you need to ensure that both the front and back accesses are in public view so no tall hedges or bushes or tall walls. Being seen deters burglars as they don't want to be recognised.