Ground floor flat

outlaw777

Hi I'm thinking about buying a ground floor flat however people are telling me not to as they are more than likely to get robbed due to being on the ground floor and they are also very noisy, please advise?

marksoton

Whilst a generalisation both points are quite often true.

In other words a generalisation that does hold weight.

pathtofreedom

I'm scared of flats just due to leasehold and management fee's but if you have your eye on one I guess it all depends on the area and type.

Is it just a house split in two or a block? If it is a block is it near communal bins or anything, or have a shared entrance near you flat (doors banging all night like in a hotel near the lift). If you check the post code what is the crime rate like for the area, is it well lit, is there cctv, is there a concierge? Could it flood? Do you need parking?

davidmcn

Not sure if anybody's got reliable stats, but top floor flats are meant to be more risky burglary-wise. You're more likely to be spotted breaking into a ground floor flat because everyone is walking past the front door / window - but that can be a cause of noise too. Lots depends on area / design / construction etc though.

Saves lots of walking up and down stairs!

AnotherJoe

outlaw777 wrote: »

Hi I'm thinking about buying a ground floor flat however people are telling me not to as they are more than likely to get robbed due to being on the ground floor and they are also very noisy, please advise?

Well, seems obvious a ground floor flat is more likely to be broken into than a higher floor, but a ground floor flat would also be less vulnerable than a house as a house has more points of entry, So can I presume you'll never buy a house either ?

I'd suggest you look in an area where levels of theft aren't an issue.

J_i_m

marksoton wrote: »

Whilst a generalisation both points are quite often true.

In other words a generalisation that does hold weight.

Generalisation or not, there's little harm in at least viewing the flat and assessing it on its actual merits not what's simply on paper.

anna42hmr

all flats have their positives and negatives, reference security though the met police state:


Once inside they will often go straight to the top floor flats first, as there is less likelihood of passers by seeing them whilst they break in.

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Flats-and-apartments/1400010715304/1400010715304

another advantage of a ground floor can be ease of escape in event of a fire.

Not to mention if you live in a house half of that would be on the ground floor so just as many if not more access points to the property (front and back doors, windows, side garages if connected with an internal door etc)

Owain_Moneysaver

outlaw777 wrote: »

Hi I'm thinking about buying a ground floor flat however people are telling me not to as they are more than likely to get robbed due to being on the ground floor and they are also very noisy, please advise?

Depends on the building and the area.

Are the flats enclosed by a communal garden (and communal to how many flats or blocks) or are they set in local council 'amenity land'?

If amenity land then you may have children playing, dogs making mess, litter etc right outside your windows and be able to do nothing about it. This affects your privacy as well as security.

On the other hand, ground floor access to a nice secure well-maintained communal garden would be a bonus.

always_sunny

outlaw777 wrote: »

Hi I'm thinking about buying a ground floor flat however people are telling me not to as they are more than likely to get robbed due to being on the ground floor and they are also very noisy, please advise?

depending on the flat, I don't mind GF... wouldn't a proper door/windows prevent the issue?
In Europe most flats have proper (armoured) doors, I wonder why they haven't caught up here and they look the same!

bouicca21

Well it depends doesn't it? Is it a high risk area? Is it on a noisy street? Are there crowds of teenagers playing loud music?

I have a ground floor flat. Not noisy, though fortunately the kid upstairs does not practise piano as often as she should ... (Noisiest neighbours I ever had were when I lived in a house). Safe area but I installed a burglar alarm anyway (been burgled before, also in a house, hence never living anywhere without a burglar alarm, needed or not). Direct access to a huge garden, part of which is all mine.

I did once look at a flat in a tower block, way up in the sky. It was amazingly noisy - as the sound of traffic on a busy road was worse the higher you went.

Do you like the place? Would you like living there? Those are the really important questions.

Irratus_Rusticus

Once viewed nice ground floor. Saw windows screwed down so walked away.

Ground floor can get wet from above. On other hand, ground floor won't damage flat below. On other hand, if shared soil stack and sewer backs up, ground floor will have interesting bathroom.

Upstairs might feel safer but not good if break leg or worse. And further to jump in fire. And plane crash or tree falling will statistically hit the upstairs first.

On other hand, upstairs might benefit from accessible loft to quietly store stuff in. On other hand, if loft full of header tanks or communal aerials, neighbours, landlord and squirrels might want access.

Noise works down but smells work up. Know neighbour driven crazy by smoker below - could never find the source hole in fire stopping and opening window, if one open below, was hell.

On other hand, if open-plan site with paths outside, neighbours & cold callers can't stare in upstairs windows unless opposite at same height or above.

On other hand, blinds or nets aren't expensive.

Tough call.