Ground versus upper floor flat?

Margaret_Skinner

Does anyone have any particular views on which floor of a flat is the most advantageous? I have been basically ignoring ground floor flats because of potential noise issues from upstairs neighbours but the flats I'm looking at are self-contained - around 5 or 6 years old - and we saw a nice ground floor one the other day. I'm wondering if I'm focusing too much on this problem and restricting my viewing potential.

Some things I've already thought of are:

Upper floor has the added advantage of the loft which is good storage.
Ground floor is easier to negotiate furniture I suppose (no stairs).
Upper floor could have a better view generally.
Ground floor garden is more accessible (these flats have a garden of their own as opposed to a shared one).
I have 2 cats - jumping out of a ground floor window might not be so traumatic!
Could upper floor have just as much in the way of problems with noise (I live in a 2-storey house at the moment & can sometimes be disturbed more by the telly downstairs in our sitting room if I'm in our bedroom upstairs than my daughter's telly in her bedroom upstairs when I'm in the sitting room downstairs)?
If upper floor has a flood or something ground floor is more likely to cop it!

Are these pretty realistic concerns? Are their other advantages/disadvantages to ground floor flats?

Margaret

neverdespairgirl

Security, perhaps? A ground floor flat might be more vulnerable.

PasturesNew

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

potential noise issues from upstairs neighbours

I never thought this would be an issue until where I am now. I moved in, a month later upstairs moved in ... and there is laminate flooring. The lease says no laminate but the landlord up there has fitted it. Fitted cheap stuff without insulation. I hear the very minutae of their lives. I know when he is "home alone" shall we say
I know she has a crap sex life.
I hear them turn over on their sofa bed every time they do.
I know he gets up at 2.50am every morning for a pee. I know she gets up an hour later.
Then she gets up at 6am and it's clomp, clomp, clomp on the floor

Interestingly, I never hear any noise from their flat. No voices, no TV. But because of the rubbish laminate fitted I hear everything that happens ON their floor. So walking, dragging furniture about to get the sofa bed unfurled, them getting onto the sofa bed ... bedly activities .... and turning over in their sleep.

Unfortunately, at weekends, they can have up to 4 adults and 2 toddlers up there

Drove me nuts one day, I poked the broom at the ceiling. And they all !!!!!!' jumped up/down. So I shouted the C**** word very loudly. They've been a bit quieter ever since.

They aren't noisy people. It's that damned illegal floor.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

Upper floor has the added advantage of the loft which is good storage.

Not all of them do. You would have to check if you are allowed to use that.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

Upper floor could have a better view generally.

Yes

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

Ground floor garden is more accessible (these flats have a garden of their own as opposed to a shared one).

Where I am, I have a garden. Upstairs have no garden. So check that.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

I have 2 cats - jumping out of a ground floor window might not be so traumatic!

Cats would be hard in any flat because you've no outside door. But yes, they can leap in/out of windows.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

Could upper floor have just as much in the way of problems with noise

You have more control over this as you can lay down more floor insulation, or underlay and/or carpets. Harder to do that from the ground floor to a ceiling.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

If upper floor has a flood or something ground floor is more likely to cop it!

True. But if you pick the right location the ground floor will never flood.

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

advantages/disadvantages to ground floor flats?

Upstairs
- up and down the stairs with shopping
- up and down the stairs to let visitors in
- can leave a light on for security without having to close the curtains, people can't see in, so can't tell if you're there with the curtains open or not

Downstairs
- everybody might come past your door. Mine is next to the stairs and Mr & Mrs Clompy Shoes upstairs are bloomin loud on the stairs too
- watch the access doors. How loud are they? Here people slam the door all the time. Annoying if you are next to it.
- security I don't think is any more an issue than any other building where a ground floor exists; however, in the summer you have to be very mindful of leaving windows open, even while you are there (in the loo perhaps)... or my habit of nodding off.
- you might find services (sewage pipes) run through your property at awkward places. Here, for example, it is not at the edge, but is in the middle of the bathroom. Might be an issue if you decide to remodel it.
- in the summer, it is easier/nearer to enjoy your garden and pop in/out all the time as necessary. You can also line up stuff you want outside on the window sill then you just have to take your chair out and lift the rest of the stuff off your window sill. So easier carting stuff in/out and enjoying that outdoor space

IveSeenTheLight

It used to be considered that a first floor flat was best, then the level above and so on with a ground floor flat last.
This was because ground floor was considered most at risk, on street level, passers by etc etc etc and the first floor was closest to the front door but none of the ground floor issues.

Nowadays the top floor is considered the best (access to loft, no-one (neighbours etc) passing your front door) with each floor less desireable down to the ground floor.

Hope this helps

Sola

My friend has a ground floor flat with laminate in the flat upstairs, and she'd endorse all that PN says. She doesn't mind the piano playing and opera singing, but she's intimately acquainted with his bladder and bowel movements, when he's 'entertaining himself,' when he has *cough* an overnight visitor. I stayed over once and was woken through earplugs by an endless Niagara pee that just went on and on. In the end she had to tell him she could hear everything - she thinks it's turned him into a constipated hermit with a shy bladder I'd never live in a ground floor flat.

3dsmills

I live in a ground floor flat and I love it!

Probably depends on the build, our is quite new, about 4/5 years old and it's so quiet. With regard to security, we have a main access door to the block which is locked, then 2 locks on the front door (which is round the corner) so we feel safe.

I must admit we had the same thoughts about ground floor flats as you have when we were looking but we gave in to the EA agent, had a look round one, and we've been there 18 months.

See if you can go for a viewing around 6pm, when people are most active making dinner and the like so you can see if there is a noise problem.

HTH

Biggie

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Security, perhaps? A ground floor flat might be more vulnerable.

Quite commonly ground floor flats also have bars on the window to stop people breaking.

I wonder if contents insurance is more expensive on ground floor.

Mrs_Thrify

Hiya,my vote is for downstairs and on leval ground. I once had a downstairs flat. Most flats will have a noise problem whatever floor you have. I like the idea of just walking up the path and in - no up and down the stairs for the doorbell or with the shopping. In and out to the garden to sit in summer or put the washing out! I should think it is the same reasons that older people like bungalows. Younger folk in flats have to concider a pram.

impy78

Biggie wrote: »

Quite commonly ground floor flats also have bars on the window to stop people breaking.

I wonder if contents insurance is more expensive on ground floor.

Contents is higher in a ground floor flat.

itsgototstop

Always lived in ground floor flats, easier access, have 2 cats and sole use of garden whcih makes up for having bars on front window

Easier to get sofas in, in the summer as others have said I can step out into my garden which I love:j

Haven't noticed higher insurance but have alrm system and bars on all windows ( London) and in 10 years never had a breakin

impy78

itsgototstop wrote: »

Haven't noticed higher insurance but have alrm system and bars on all windows ( London) and in 10 years never had a breakin

To be honest, my premium in central london is less than it was in Ealing and Peterborough...just a shame about everything else, really!