Flat floor preferences?

anaspiringhobbit

I know, I know, no one wants to live in a flat, they’d rather live in a bush, or have their eyes pecked out by crows.

Unfortunately though, not everyone has the option for not-a-flat, and it’s an uncomfortable, but realistic gun barrel that I’m staring down right now.

Having never previously been a flat-dweller, through circumstance rather than anti-flat sentiments, I wondered which would be your preference, if there were no obvious benefits such as off-street parking/outdoor space etc.?

A 2 storey building - ground floor, or 1st floor?
A 3 storey building - ground floor, 1st floor, or 2nd floor?

And why?

Jaybee_16

My experience of flat living has always been on the ground floor. Given a preference after years of noise from above, I would go for the highest floor.

Gavin83

I'd rent a flat but I certainly wouldn't buy one. I'd rather carry on saving until I could afford a house than buy a flat.

In answer to your question if I was to rent a flat my preference would be top floor every time. Number of floors doesn't really matter, although the 3 floor building is potentially more likely to be a purpose built complex than a house conversion (which is important) and is more likely to have a lift. You might also get better views. However all of these are potentials so it'll depend on the building.

SavingPennies_2

Top floor every time for me as noise from above tends to be worse than noise from below. Also less footfall outside your door (depending on the layout of course) from other tenants coming and going. Some people prefer ground if it means better access to outdoor space or have mobility issues / not wanting to climb stairs. 

Also the type of building can make a difference, I've lived in 60/70s flats with concrete floors and found them a lot quieter. Newer build flats can be noisier, but I don't have a lot of experience with those. I wouldnt go for a converted house as the floors are not designed to insulate noise given they were never designed as separate flats.

user1977

Top, then bottom as second preference. Not sandwiched between other flats (same principle for any party walls if that's relevant). Bear in mind you'll also (typically) have a bit more light as you go higher up.

pinkshoes

I've only ever lived in top floor flats, and preferably ones where you have no one next door either!

I rented one which was a block of 6 flats, 2 on each floor, but with the corridor in the middle, so none of the flats had adjacent walls. The people below were very quiet.

The flat I bought was also top (2nd) floor. The sound insulation was excellent (purpose built) so I didn't really hear too much noise from neighbours. 

A friend lived in a ground floor flat (she liked having a garden) but the flat above had 2 kids who made so much noise running about!

I guess you have to learn to be tolerant with noise when living in flats. 

MovingForwards

My requirements when looking at flats were:
Top floor, small building

End building
Lounge to lounge with the attached side
Private garden
Water and mountain views

Parking
Shower room

Shops and public transport within easy walking distance.

Based on my rental experiences if my bedroom was at the end of the building, I'd get sleep if the attached neighbours were noisy a-holes.

I physically can't get up past the first floor due to being disabled, but ground floor was ruled out due to a previous rental having the main door clanging every time it closed.

I wanted views for when I'm unable to get down stairs and a private garden to provide a place to potter and enjoy the weather.

My home doesn't have onsite parking and I'm in the middle, everything else on my list I got. I didn't even care the flat is on a main road, as it has a village feel and the views are breathtaking.

I still feel I got a huge bargain when flats without the views and a shared garden cost £30k+ more.

eddddy

This doesn't override the other factors that others have mentioned, but...

Depending on the construction of the building, being enclosed by other flats (including above and below) might reduce your heating bills.

You might benefit a bit from the heating in the flat below you, and you might lose less heat through the ceiling, if there's a warm flat above you.

(The same is true for centrally positioned flats vs end/corner flats. Less outside wall will probably mean less heat loss.)


In one particular flat (in a building which wasn't well insulated), it was noticeable when the flat below was empty and unheated - the flat was quite a bit colder.

Skylon

I’d go against the grain of most people and say I’d choose a flat over a house almost every time.  In fact I’ve just done that - I sold a two bed cottage and could have bought a two bed house in a nice town, but went for a two bed flat in a great spot in the same nice town!  The flat is a duplex and is bigger than most three bed houses, so don’t be put off flats. 

As mentioned above, the layout of any adjoining flats really can make a huge difference. 

I would go for top floor assuming it’s not high rise. I’m on the top two floors in my block (third and fourth floors), and I get barely any neighbour noise - in fact much less noise than the house I moved out from earlier this year. 

I’ve lived in a ground/basement level too, and although the noise wasn’t bad I felt like there was a bit more noise than top floor.  

newlywed

If you are looking at any ground floor flats… push the main door and any back door open relatively hard and see if they slam against the wall of the flat… also see how loud the door slams shut…. Then imagine that at various hours of the night when others may have had a drink or two.

We live in a ground floor purpose built flat. Front door bangs open hitting onto our bedroom wall, both fire doors opening hit onto the kitchen door, as does the back entrance door.  Really not a great architect or designer!

We pretty much know exactly who is in or out of the block though!!

newlywed

Oh and the postman, courier and fast food deliveries will pretty much always ring the bottom flat to get access to the building.