What are your thoughts on purchasing Flats vs Houses these days?

IAMIAM

A lot of city centres are now new builds for rental only, coupled with cladding scandals....are flats over?
Albeit, I find maintenance of houses to be costly...

Flugelhorn

I have one of each - the house costs are all ours to pay but, because it is modern, are not huge, the flat is a conversion of a grand old building with grounds ++ - costs a packet in management charge but they sort everything out and no gardening to do!
. pros and cons of each -

hazyjo

Not everyone can afford a house either. Many of us start off with flats, so of course there will always be a demand for them.

propertyhunter

I personally wouldn't go for a leasehold property versus a freehold property if I could afford it (like many people). The cladding scandal is enough to put anyone off. The law protects freeholders from costs that they should be responsible for, and leaseholders are instead made to pick up the bill - which can bankrupt some people. The government needs to reform the leasehold system, but will that happen? They suggested earlier this year that it's coming, but this government doesn't fill me with hope - and recent sleaze and corruption stories don't fill me with confidence that they care about doing the right thing. 

Markneath

I live in a old house which swallows money, one of my btl properties is a flat in a local marina with sea views I am
seriously thinking of moving into this myself in a few years. The flat is hassle free and the location is great, charges are about 1950 per year though which is a pain.

The house is freehold but theres always something that needs fixing and the garden is starting to become an inconvenience.

rexmedorum

Are flats "done"? No not as long as people will need plavces to live and we don't build anywhere near enough. Also they make a lot of sense for certain people. Especially if you wnat to be in a city.

Would I rent one if I was looking to rent? Sure, suited me as student and new grad for sure. 
However the whole leashold system is offputting with regards to buying, not to mention the cladding disaster, so currently I wouldn't buy onnot in England anyway.

Gavin83

There is nothing that could convince me to buy a flat at the moment. I’d happily rent one but there are far too many issues to buy.

lookstraightahead

Gavin83 said:

There is nothing that could convince me to buy a flat at the moment. I’d happily rent one but there are far too many issues to buy.

I agree with this.
i actually prefer living in a flat to a house.
I bought this year and the choice in our budget what a huge apartment in a beautiful old Victorian house, truly stunning. Or an average sized old house - lovely but not as big or as grand. We went for the house because of the current risks and the leasehold issues. Shame because there's lots to be said about apartment living.

lookstraightahead

Markneath said:

I live in a old house which swallows money, one of my btl properties is a flat in a local marina with sea views I am
seriously thinking of moving into this myself in a few years. The flat is hassle free and the location is great, charges are about 1950 per year though which is a pain.

The house is freehold but theres always something that needs fixing and the garden is starting to become an inconvenience.

I agree with a lot of your thoughts. For some reason people think you move 'up' to a house, when in fact living in a flat/apartment can be much nicer, depending on your lifestyle.

Scotbot

I would never buy a flat as I have a dog and  I don't like listening to other people's tv, music or arguments. I do like listening to my own music at a volume that suuts me and bothers my neighbors.   This has restricted my choice of locations  as I love cities. I have lived in inner city terraces which don't have the issues of leases restricting pets but do have the noise issues. Now I choose to live in a detached house in the burbs. Characterless and dull but peaceful.

RumbleRobot

I would always get a house over a flat if possible because there is less chance of noises from neighors by having them all around you and it's always nice to have some outdoor space to use.

I also much prefer to be in charge of my own maintenance and upkeep and organise that accordingly rather than pay a lump of money each month for someone to do it for me like you would in a flat.