3rd floor flat, no lift. Too high?

silvercar

Interested in opinions on whether you consider a 3 bed flat is on too high a floor to live in without a lift.
It is a new build and is the top floor.

pro: better views/ more natural light

cons: painful with shopping/ bin emptying etc

Do you think it would effect resale, in terms of price or attractiveness?

ACG

From a mortgage point of view - it should be fine.

From a practical point of view - depends on the market. If its younger people shouldnt be a problem. If its family or older people then its not going to be practical i wouldnt have though. Can you not sort out some pully system over the side? :P

DTDfanBoy

I have no doubt that the same property with a lift would always command a premium

silvercar

DTDfanBoy wrote: »

I have no doubt that the same property with a lift would always command a premium

Interesting you say that, there is an adjacent block that is made to a higher spec - granite worktops, underground parking and security gate and a lift jumps the price from £287k to £317k. So £30k ~ 10% more.

goosander

Not necessarily - When looking for a flat recently, I discounted any property with a lift because they always have exorbitant service charges.

For older people, I agree it would probably be preferred though.

dimbo61

Will the management costs be more as lift maintenance, underground car park etc to consider?
I would go for the lift and car parking if in a city!!!

silvercar

I should have been clearer, the smarter block with the lift has underground parking, the block without the lift has parking but it is not underground or secured.

lostinrates

I lived on a fourth of fifth floor walk up as a mobility aid user, at the top of a very big hill. The hill was more of a problem than the stairs, because I could, take my time, was inside, safe and dry out of the weather.

My next door neighbour in adjoining flat was a (hard of hearing judging by her radio!) woman in her seventies or eighties....it was difficult to tell. My guess is the stairs kept her as wonderfully spry as she was. Didn't do much for her ears though!

Age being an issue really depends on the person. A fit older person might find the stairs keep them fit and spry, and frankly, many houses have three flights of stairs that might be in daily use. Especially if its part of a staged retirement to something else in later years.

witchy1066

I agree with lostinrates,
stairs are a great way of keeping fit , pretend its a 3 story house
and enjoy the views, also a bonus being on the top floor , no noisy neighbours running around above you ,

lvm

My family have a block of flats (holiday lets) with 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. Personally, I have no problem with walking up to the second floor but the 3rd lot is a killer - and is the source of many complaints from guests!

I wouldn't do a 3rd floor myself - and I'm in my twenties, non smoker - not the fittest but not a complete couch potato.

Kynthia

goosander wrote: »

Not necessarily - When looking for a flat recently, I discounted any property with a lift because they always have exorbitant service charges..

I agree, a lift can add a lot to service charges. I tended to avoid blocks with lifts when I was a FTB. I currently live in a new build block that is four stories without a lift, it hasn't stopped people buying and renting here.