Offered a ground floor flat?

Also ground floor is not more likely to br broken into necessarily. In one of my previous flats they targeted me and others on upper floor as they could break down the front door without anyone noticing and left the ground floor alone as it wouls have the most footfall past it.

Okay, I’ll take your subsidised housing as someone who is absolutely ruined by rent each month.

I forgot to say you can buy window film for privacy. It stops people gawking in but still lets the light in. It’s not expensive and you can get nice designs too. It doesn’t damage windows.

Are the windows secure and lockable?

If so, you don't have any extra security issues on the ground floor compared to others really, as long as you don't leave them open.

In my block the GF flats anre allocated to tenants with disabilities and older people. It makes sense. If there is an evacuation and lifts don’t work, then you don’t have to get downstairs. Is the main entrance to the building fob/code entry . That means people can’t just walk in. In ours mail/couriers/tradespeople have a code allowing them in. Anyone else has to use the intercom system to be buzzed in. GF tenants keep windows closed at night for safety and some friends in private GF flats close windows during the day when they leave a room (they live in a high crime area). I’d definitely not rule it out because there are a lot of advantages, but just do what you can security-wise. I’m not in a good area at all but there’s just been one attempted break-in in 5 years. Also ask about cctv - does the building have any? Good luck

Hot air rises. I'm in a 2nd floor flat and it's unbearable in this constant heatwave .

That is such a good point - all houses have a ground floor, plus a bungalow is a ground floor, and people seem to accept those without security concerns.

I don't like ground floor flats on the grounds of safety plus noise above.

I struggle to sleep with the windows open in my ground floor maisonette and we don't keep windows open at night in the children's room at all. Something to think about in this hot weather.

My friend went on the list to swap to a ground floor from first floor she had to wait a few years. She's delighted says it's much better.

Ground floor is the most desirable op??

I used to work in Housing and GF flats were the most desirable. You're very fortunate to get one, as they're normally taken by elderly/disabled people.

@lookin4advice
Im excited for you, a new home in a new block!
I always thought that ground floor flats were the most sought after as there's no stairs to get a buggy and shopping up.
I lived in a first floor flat when dd was a baby, it was a pain with the stairs.
You've had some good advice from PP's above.
Update us in Friday, good luck

Ground floor is very practical. Points I’d watch for is where it is compared to the building entrance and lift. Does it have a proper hallway to create some isolation between the rooms and the corridor. What’s outside? Is it a carpark or road outside the bedroom? What is the view from every window?
Security is easy enough, it may already come with an alarm.
New build will be nice and incredibly cheap to heat.

Go and see it, you will be able to judge better then.

But you could have that on any level, unless at the very top
At least with ground floor you’ll have no one below you as well.

Ground floor is the best by far.

I love my ground floor flat and I'd never choose a higher floor again.

Not having to carry heavy shopping up and down stairs or stand waiting around for lifts. I can get deliveries passed to me through a window so I don't even need to go outside to accept them (great for grabbing a takeaway on a cold rainy night).

Just get some privacy blinds and a door chain if you feel a bit vulnerable, but every house has a ground floor and no one seems to worry about that.

This! I suspect you might even get some one in a house who is looking for a ground floor flat and you have more opportunities If you take this. The higher up you go, the less people want to swap with you mainly coz of the anti social behaviour.

Take it!

I’ve lived in a ground floor flat for over 20 years now. I figure every house has a ground floor so it’s no different!

great for deliveries, unloading shopping. Also I’ve had random injuries and operations - torn calf muscle, spinal surgery, endometriosis surgery - been very grateful to have no stairs through all of those

total non issue really except for not being able to have my windows open overnight

Also, my brother has lived in a ground floor new build flat for 10 years now and never had any issues except for his windows being so small and the wall outside covers half of them so It’s dark as f in his living room! I’d make sure there’s enough light before you accept because new build flats have very low ceilings as well. Nobody on earth could be happy living in what can feel like a dungeon

Yes lots of disabled people would want ground floor as lifts will inevitably break down and that would leave a disabled tenant stranded - potentially unable to get back into their property. Also housing associations don’t seem to buy bungalows anymore so ground floor flats are usually the only option for disabled people as existing social bungalows are never given up and if they are, they’re swapped immediately

Many properties don't allow buggies/prams to be left downstairs so they have to be humped up one or two flights of stairs, older people will begin to find over the years constantly having to use stairs harder.
You may even find in a year's time that one of your neighbours would like to swap ?

Ground floor isn’t always the best, I live in a gff and the upstairs neighbours noise is horrific! So bare that in mind