Ground floor or first floor?

CathA

Thanks for the opinions, keep them coming! Never thought about the shopping issue to be honest. She doesn't have children but she has a small dog, running her up and down the stairs might be an issue tho.
Both of them are in nice areas. The first floor flat needs some work ( cue me and her dad doing lots of work!) so getting stuff up and down the stairs needs to be thought about. Both are purpose built flats built relatively recently but the downstairs one is lovely! I'd buy it. Need more opinions please. Thanks.

Slinky

Does the lease allow pets?

goodwithsaving

Leasehold -
Ask seller for copies of accounts
Sink fund?
Any major works planned?
Gas in building? If not - does the heating need updating?
Parking arrangements?
Does the lease stipulate no sky dishes, no washing hung out etc (it's good if it does imo - less messy)
What's the ground rent? When does it next increase?
What's the service charge?
What's the construction?

CathA

Both buildings allow pets, first thing she checked, although the finer details need a proper look. We've got copies of the leases I'm looking through and compiling a list of the things to ask.
Sink funds and accounts are on the list. I've not thought about major works in the offing so thanks for that. One has gas, the other is electric. One has a parking space but the other doesn't although there is parking just behind it. Washing lines in both, she doesn't have sky.. I'm checking the lease re increases in charges, questions all ready're that. Both brick built purpose built flats, not a conversion. One is half the cost in ground rent etc than the other (ground floor one) That also has a longer lease by miles, so we've been told but I don't have the lease for that to double check until tomorrow.
The ground floor flat is much better in many ways; decoratively, lease length, service charges etc but is more expensive, which is a consideration. Decisions, decisions!

Amy more thoughts? And thanks again everyone.

Planet_Switzerland

When I was looking I only considered first floor mainly for security reasons.


Whilst you're never completely secure, the only way you can access my flat or many other first floor flats round here is through the front door. If it was somewhere with rear access though you'd probably be no more secure in a first floor flat.


I do recall viewing both a ground and first floor flat in the same building for renting many years ago. I didn't take either, but recall the ground floor had so many access points that I wouldn't have felt comfortable living there.

Roland_Sausage

Planet_Switzerland wrote: »

I do recall viewing both a ground and first floor flat in the same building for renting many years ago. I didn't take either, but recall the ground floor had so many access points that I wouldn't have felt comfortable living there.

Surely it was no less secure than the average house though? One could argue it was in fact safer in the event of a fire.

CathA

The ground floor flat has its own entrance from outside, i.e. like a front door on a house. The first floor one is off the first floor landing, with other flats doors also leading off the landing, can't remember how many there are. There's a main entrance door downstairs, with a number of individual flats leading off the hall downstairs.

Never having lived in a flat I'm surprised how many people appear to favour first floor. Good reasons for both, although it seems the noise from people above seems to be a particular issue. Any further thoughts anyone? Thanks so much for your input so far.

Kynthia

A lot depends on the individual layout of the building. For example many first floor flats aren't the top floor so will still potentially suffer noise from above and some flats have the front doirs set away from the communal stairwell so the ground floor shouldn't experience anymore noise in the communal area than any other floor. Some some advantages and disadvantages are not always the case. However here some thoughts I have based on having lived on both the ground floor and first floor.

Ground floor was easy when bringing in shopping and having deliveries. Garden access was great but I didn't like to leave windows open in other rooms at night so I couldn't get a through draft when it was very hot. Hated hearing footsteps above me. Elderly relatives and those with mobility issues could easily visit, as my grandmother was unable to visit my siblings' homes for this reason and now my MIL cannot manage any stairs.

First floor was a pain for carrying up the weekly shop. I worried about being too heavy footed for my downstairs neighbour. Better views and easier to sleep with windows open throughout. I worried about visiting children falling from the balcony/windows and about escaping in a fire.

TBagpuss

Roland_Sausage wrote: »

Surely it was no less secure than the average house though? One could argue it was in fact safer in the event of a fire.

I think it depends a bit. If you are thinking solely about the possibility o being burgled when the place is empty then yes, the risk is similar as for a house. However, if you think about other risks, such as someone breaking in a t night while you're in bed, it is a little different. I wouldn't ever go to bed leaving my ground floor windows open, but generally leave the bedroom window open a little over night - I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that if I were sleeping on the ground floor. Similarly in a house you are more likely to b in a position to hear if someone breaks in downstairs, and you are upstairs, and to have time to call for help.

I think some of it is about whether you feel as safe, as well as whether you / your property actually are as secure., and that will always be a personal thing!

In relation t the original question, I'd always pick a flat where mine was the top flat over one where I was living underneath someone else. The potential for noise would be a big issue for me.

I'd also feel more secure on the first floor.

If the ground floor flat had private access to a garden and was well insulated for sound that *might* affect my decision, but I suspect that it wouldn't be enough to swing it!

I agree that if you have any mobility issues, whether they are physical or situational (e.g. having small children) that is a factor to consider.

anna42hmr

I personally looked at a number of flats and all had positives and negatives, i ended up buying a ground floor flat (better lay out, larger rooms, nicer gardens, own garage etc. It was more expensive than the others, but this was outweighed by the benefits)

some considerations for you -

security on a ground floor is no different to a traditional house/bungalow as they too have windows/doors on ground floor. Indeed as a prior poster has mentioned, many police force actually confirm that top floor flats are more at risk statistically as those are ones that are targeted more as less chance of being discovered (i.e potentially more coming and going on lower floors whereas less coming and going on top floor, i.e. only the resident themselves etc).

My ground floor lease allows me to have wooden floors though out if i wish, where as the ones above the lease states carpeting only (because of noise from above).
I do note you suggest that one flat has gas, you may want to consider that electric heating is more expensive than gas, and as such if has central heating too, may well work out cheaper in the long run (that said i always am slightly dubious about the safety of gas in a block of flats)

it is easier generally to get deliveries into the ground floor flat (i.e for bigger/heavier furniture etc).

longer lease = easier to sell in the long term.

are the leaseholding companies external companies/individuals or are either of them right to manage (i.e where you get a share of the leasehold).

how well do the properties look managed?

If you've viewed now in the autumn, when a lot of leaves are down, would you have obstructive view/reduced light in the summer when trees for example have all their leaves.

what is the parking situation like, for the one that does not have allocated parking, are you able to park on the road nearby for example if someone else is near by.

Is there any forecast for increase in service charges or planned works on the way requiring a levy to be called.

Ground floor flats can also appeal to people with mobility issues, older people, or younger families as easier access so may be easier to sell down the line.