3 different types of property - which is best?

benjus

Fraise wrote: »

No, I think it's you whose missed the point. You said location isn't important

I don't think sniggings meant that at all. I think he/she was referring to the TV show "Location, Location, Location" where the participants choose between 3 properties, and making the point that there are plenty of other properties out there to choose from, so maybe the answer is "none of the above, keep looking".

sniggings

Fraise wrote: »

No, I think it's you whose missed the point. You said location isn't important and it didn't matter if you lived on a noisy road: millions would disagree with you. As one of the other posters rightly said, you can change the interior but you can't pick the property up and put it in a different road or area,

Properties are always cheaper on busy roads, much cheaper, and there's a reason for that. People don't want heavy traffic whizzing past every day and night. Besides the awful noise you have the pollution and dirt flying around.

There's absolutely nothing you can do about road noise, but you certainly can with noise from neighbours. It's isn't just flats that can sometimes have noisy neighbours,neither - many houses have people living next door or opposite who make noise and nuisance. There's an ongoing thread about it now, where a man has gypsies living in the house next door causing him misery.

Flats and apartment blocks are built to strict regulations now, and can actually be quieter than some houses. Victorian conversions (done badly), can transmit noise, but people nowadays remedy that by having soundproofing between floors and walls and there's usually clauses in the lease that states upper floors must have floor insulation and impact underlay to prevent noise to flats below.

Laminate flooring is actually banned in certain properties, and I think council properties don't allow it, either. If you do want it you have to have soundproofing fitted under the floorboards or industrial type impact underlay similar to what luxury hotels use. You go to a good hotel almost anywhere in the world and you won't hear a pin drop from above, as they use acoustic and impact underlay on top of their soundproofing,

What you can't soundproof is traffic and lorries rushing past outside. Who wants to live in a place where you can't get some fresh air or sit outside, even if it's just a balcony? Or how about when it's hot and stuffy and you want to open your windows but can't due to the increasing traffic noise and fumes flying up?

Even the vibrb
ation of traffic whizzing past is enough to drive you mad.

nope, never said location didn't matter,and also never said being on a busy road didn't matter either, I said noise from a road can be easier to block out than a noisy flat above.

Flats and apartment blocks are built to strict regulations now

yeah right,still not enough,I live in a new build and I can hear my upstairs neighbor, and a couple of other experiences here for you.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5137559

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5117125

sniggings

benjus wrote: »

I don't think sniggings meant that at all. I think he/she was referring to the TV show "Location, Location, Location" where the participants choose between 3 properties, and making the point that there are plenty of other properties out there to choose from, so maybe the answer is "none of the above, keep looking".

Thank you, exactly.

Kynthia

I've lived in a conversion flat, a new build flat, a semi detached house and a terrace house.


Both flats I could hear noise from the flat above, a little from the flat below (and worried about making noise) but nothing at all from any flats to the side.


In the semi detached house I could hear some noise to the side but it was only occasional load voices.


In the terrace I can't hear any noise from one side as the living areas are opposite. However in the downstairs lounge/diner we can hear the other side very clearly, but it's just that they have young children who are very loud and I'm sure my baby will reciprocate in a couple of years. It's not noise that really bothers me though as it's not late a night or loud music or due to them being inconsiderate and I think the footsteps (surprisingly this can drive you mad) and occasional music from the flats above was much more annoying.

sniggings

Kynthia wrote: »

In the terrace I can't hear any noise from one side as the living areas are opposite. However in the downstairs lounge/diner we can hear the other side very clearly, but it's just that they have young children who are very loud and I'm sure my baby will reciprocate in a couple of years. It's not noise that really bothers me though as it's not late a night or loud music or due to them being inconsiderate and I think the footsteps (surprisingly this can drive you mad) and occasional music from the flats above was much more annoying.

this is my experience too, noise from above is different somehow, I rent so thought I would give GF flat a chance but even with the new soundproofing regs, it's still not enough, like for like I would always go for a top floor or a house if buying.

Fraise

sniggings wrote: »

nope, never said location didn't matter,and also never said being on a busy road didn't matter either, I said noise from a road can be easier to block out than a noisy flat above.




yeah right,still not enough,I live in a new build and I can hear my upstairs neighbor, and a couple of other experiences here for you.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5137559

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5117125

But building regulations insist on noise insulation. Google it and you will see.

Unfortunately, many new build houses and flats are not solid like Victorian or Edwardian houses were built, with their thick brick walls etc. new builds have very thin walls, and for some reason they often have tiny windows I've noticed. They're built with cheap materials, which is why you probably can hear noise, but even so, they still have to adhere to building regs. But if the actual structure is paper thin, there's little you can do except add insulation at your own expense.

It isn't that expensive, actually, and there's many ways of doing it without needing to create lots of disturbance.

Is it impact noise your neighbours are making? Or you can hear music etc?

sniggings

Fraise wrote: »

But building regulations insist on noise insulation. Google it and you will see.

Unfortunately, many new build houses and flats are not solid like Victorian or Edwardian houses were built, with their thick brick walls etc. new builds have very thin walls, and for some reason they often have tiny windows I've noticed. They're built with cheap materials, which is why you probably can hear noise, but even so, they still have to adhere to building regs. But if the actual structure is paper thin, there's little you can do except add insulation at your own expense.

It isn't that expensive, actually, and there's many ways of doing it without needing to create lots of disturbance.

Is it impact noise your neighbours are making? Or you can hear music etc?

exactly, like for like top floor or house would reduce your risk.

Not easy or cheap to reduce impact noise, the cheapest way is going at it from the flat causing the problem., if on friendly terms.
Why risk it tho, just buy a top floor. It's not like lower floors are cheaper.

I can hear impact noise, footsteps and squeaky boards on the floor in one room, no TV noise tho

benjus

sniggings wrote: »

Why risk it tho, just buy a top floor. It's not like lower floors are cheaper.

It's not that simple though, is it? Between a top floor flat that I quite like and a non-top-floor flat that I love, I'd go for the latter every time. Top floor flats involve more stair climbing or waiting for lifts. Also, a lot of people like flats with direct access to a private or shared garden, which is unlikely with a top floor flat, unless there are only 2 storeys in the building.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Are you signed up with any local agents? They should be able to advise on typical future buyers and ease of resale for different property types in the area. If you're just looking online, you need to visit these places and see how they feel.

penguine

Assuming you think you would feel safe and happy living in the neighbourhood, I would go for option 3. You eliminate the headache of living in a leasehold property with someone else making decisions about how the building will be maintained (and the risk that your freeholder may just go AWOL, which happened to us for several years). Plus with a house you have the option of extending out back or into the loft to increase space and add value.