What to look for in a new flat...

jenberry

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to purchase my first property this year, ideally in or around Glasgow. I have suffered terribly from noisy neighbours in the past (and present) and am looking for some help. I wondered what features of a flat I should look for and what type of flat I should focus my search on (i.e. new build or tenement, top floor etc) in order to minimise noise as much as possible. I have anxiety which seems to be particularly associated with noise, so really looking to reduce this as much as possible. Your insights would be very helpful here!

Thank you,

Jenberry

JoJo1978

Top floor and end of the building will probably be quietest because you'll only have potential noise from below and potentially one internal wall depending on layout. But you may also need to balance how high you want to live (stairs!) and that energy bills will be slightly higher (flats tucked in middle floor middle of block benefit from their neighbour's heating!)

Try to find out layout of flats you are viewing versus neighbours, will that suit your respective lifestyles? For example, will your bedroom be next to theirs, or their lounge? Which will suit you better etc.

Generally speaking older buildings are more solid in terms of thickness of walls. Noise will carry more where there are blinds and stripped floorboards (carpets and curtains muffle sound.) It sounds like double glazing will be important for you so check that it's possible to install if it doesn't have it.

If you book second and third viewings choose different days and times of the day for a better test of what it is really like to live there noise wise. Happy hunting!

jenberry

Wow, thank you JoJo, great comprehensive info! I am definitely looking for top floor and ideally a corner flat, though they are few and far between. The area I've been looking in has suffered a spate of burglaries recently so I've ticked that off my list. At the moment, I live in a garden studio so it's detached from neighbours, but single-glazed and thin walls, so I can hear everything that happens outside! I'd like to avoid this when I buy a property so a high flat would be ideal.

bouicca21

It may seem counterintuitive but top floor flats can be really noisy. Sound from the street can carry upwards so that upper flats are noisier than lower ones.

jenberry

It may seem counterintuitive but top floor flats can be really noisy. Sound from the street can carry upwards so that upper flats are noisier than lower ones.

I actually considered this. I wondered if perhaps a basement flat might be my best bet as a top floor might embrace all the noise whereas a basement would likely have only noise from directly above. Not sure what my logic is there though! Perhaps my best bet would be to find a detached house in the countryside so it's more affordable than the city...