To not want to live in a ground floor flat

[Tiredeypops]

Currently flat hunting with DP and saw the most gorgeous flat today (huge for our budget) and he is really keen but the bedroom window looks directly onto the car park and the lounge is onto a communal garden so for me it's too much of a compromise. Has anyone ever lived in a flat like that? Am I overreacting or does having to have curtains drawn the whole time just drive you mad?

I wouldn't choose a downstairs flat. All the complaints I've heard about the noise in flats have been from people living downstairs. I live in an upstairs flat and can't hear a peep from below.

I live in a ground floor flat and I sleep with my bedroom window open and I’ve never had any issues. My bedroom is close to the communal entrance and it doesn’t disturb me and I’m closest to the road/ car park and this has never created a problem.

I live in a block of 9 flats (so very small block) in a quiet cul-de-sac. The only problem I have is with the postperson/ deliveries not being able to access the block due to buzzer entry time restrictions, the close being backed up at 3pm with parents doing the school collections and sometimes it’s tricky to park. Otherwise, I like living in a gff and am grateful that there are no stairs, especially after leg-day at the gym!

GrannyGrissle - very tempting. Lots of points here I hadn't considered but I think if I'm buying then there will be a strict limit to the resale value of a ground floor flat - I can afford a flat in a block with a lift and a balcony etc. ( just a big compromise on space) so maybe that's the way forward. The single glazing and busy car park have been the deal breakers.

And I've shown DP this thread and he's now convinced too :D

I've just come back from Ikea (and with only a few things) and am quite grateful for the ground floor!

I lived in one years ago. The living room had 3 massive windows onto the communal grass area and the main 'back door' into the flats was right by one of them as well. Very noisy in summer with people sitting on the grass and leaning against your wall, jabbering away drunk. South-facing too, so very hot, but you felt you couldn't open the windows because of said jabberers.

It didn't happen all the time, of course, but when it did, the only escape was to go into your bedroom.

Glad I was only there for 6 months.