Flat floor preferences?

Emmia

sheramber said:

My son went for top floor for security- less chance of  intruders.

In our building, it is the upper floors that have had break ins - fewer people go past when entering the building on the upper floor.

Spendless

There's flats and flats. When I first started dating my now husband he lived on the first floor of a 3 story. 2 flats each level. No joined on neighbours as they were separated by the landing and stairs that went through the middle. No noise despite being in the middle due to the downstairs being elderly occupants and the upstairs someone who only lived there for half the year. It had a communal garden he never used and wasn't allowed to hang washing out (often commonplace). 

Then there was the LA flat my Grandmother was allocated. These 1960s  purpose built flats look from the outside like a link detached house, but are actually a ground and first floor flat. They all have their own front door and the 'link' bit is actually a sort of outhouse which also once housed the coalhouse and leads to the flats  back garden, which everyone has their own with no restrictions about washing etc on it.

The first flat would not be suitable to us at various points in our life. The second would have been.  

Tahlullah.H

I have owned and lived in a flat and I would prefer the 1st floor.   It was a purpose built block 5 high so noise between floors was minimal from footfall, but not the all night music.  The ground floor was subject to all and sundry making noise in the middle of the night, knocking on doors, etc.  Just general poor behaviour around the doors and the gardens, however well tended were covered with litter, be it blown in or people launching it out of windows because they were too lazy to walk downstairs. 

And I learnt to never park the car near the block - an entire Sunday joint went off the balcony and hit a car below.

The top floor was ok for privacy - not sure about the neighbours, but once the lift was out of commission, with bags, it was a pain in the arrse - single parent with child in buggy and shopping - which one do you leave downstairs whilst walking up and down?

And finally, in the event of fire, you can jump from a first floor without too much injury!

Murphybear

Agree with the others, top floor every time.  We lived in a 2 floor flat in a converted house with one flat above us.  The tenant above us started tap dancing.   . You’ve never heard anything like it.

Fortunately when we spoke to her she apologised profusely and found somewhere else to practise. 

Jimmithecat

I agree with Tahlullah - first floor in a small purpose built block  for me also 

Gers

Seems that the experience of living in a flat can be made or ruined by the neighbours.  My DM's first floor tenement flat was wonderful and her neighbours all very courteous and aware of noises.  A long-gone downstairs owner was a musician and played his piano every day, clearly heard in DM's flat - she never minded as he had been a professional player, and actually enjoyed it. 

Two years ago new neighbours moved into the flat on the right (Glasgow...left and right flats) who did a brilliant job of renovating what had been a beautiful though not modern space.  Laid a new wooden floor with all the correct insulation / sound proofing yet the irrational person downstairs swore he could hear them walking in their stocking soles.  They moved.  The new owners are now being upset by this downstairs person who now swears he can hear their cat walking across the hall.   It's people who make places!

Torry_Quine

I've lived in several flats and always the ground floor. Have my own front and back doors in my present flat.  Also my own gardens front and back. I sometimes hear my upstairs neighbour moving about but find it reassuring as I'm on my own. Wouldn't want to live higher up when carrying my messages etc. 

GDB2222

Top floor will cost more to heat.

tryingmybest99

Also water pressure is better on the ground floor.