Offered a ground floor flat?

[lookin4advice]

I bid on several flats in the same block and I have been shortlisted for a ground floor flat.

I received an email advising me my other bids had been slipped as I wanted to be considered for this home.

I have security and privacy concerns with a ground floor flat.

I am extremely grateful for this opportunity but as I was not asked which was my preferred choice would it be unreasonable to ask the HO at the housing association?

AIBU

I'm assuming you mean skipped? I think all you can do ask to see if there is any chance to be considered for the other levels. However I would try and see the positives in you being shortlisted for this one. You might not have a chance with the more popular ones. So many people are bidding. There can also be issues with neighbours and security higher up as people are more out the way of being checked on. You can put in extra security measures if you are worried

@Pieandchips999 Yes I meant skipped sorry lol.

It appears I have already been allocated judging by the tenancy reference consent form I received.

What do you meme by issues on the higher floors?

I have a LO as just concerned about breaks ins really.

Is it a block of flats? Totally depends on the area, but generally people are more likely to do antisocial behaviour when they are up out the way of sight. Including often neighbour arguments. I find when it's ground floor there is less issues like that as it's a bit more public. Plus depending on the age of your LO it saves you having to drag a buggy up when the lift is broken. You can put on sensors, safety film etc.

It's a block of new build apartments with a lift.

Yes I didn't think of it that way, I have never lived in a ground floor flat before, has always been 1st floor and 2nd floor.

Thanks for your advice on the sensors, but what kind of sensors?
I was thinking about a ring door bell but not sure if it would be permitted in an apartment block?

OP, my DD lives in a ground-floor London flat. She’s never had any problems, and says she’s glad she’s on the ground floor as it’s so much easier with a buggy, bringing shopping home, no worries about whether the lift works etc.

There are positives and negatives to ground floor. Positives as above. Negatives in a block might be people knocking at your door/window to get in, always hearing the main door, people chucking nappies etc out of their windows into your garden. Hopefully it’s not a high rise.

Ikea and a few other places so a system where it senses window movement and sets off an alarm. Just Google window sensor alarms. You can also get doorbell cameras where there's no subscription and they just stick on. Argos do some. You might be worrying too much though if it's not a high crime area

Cooler in the summer.
No lugging shopping or kids up stairs
No worries about lifts breaking down.

Is there any access to a communal garden?

I would speak to the council, explain concerns and find out the score. Depends on your area bit generally ground floor will be in high demand so they may be happy to let you decline. But if not, take it.

There is no garden unfortunately.

I will speak to the Lettings Team and see what they can advise.

@avilsdedvocate I always thought ground floor flats were the ones nobody wanted lol.

@Pieandchips999 - Thank you, I will have a look at the Ikea ones.

Watch out for damp etc. and are your windows on the street or protected by gates etc?

Get a ring doorbell / alarm and a few cctv stickers on windows

make sure you have decent window locks

they are really easy to set up I set my sons up
in under 45 mins

@Unexpectedlysinglemum- Hi, as it's a new build there are no pictures nothing as it's in the final stages of completion.

I am driving down Friday after work to have a look at the set up as I was wondering this myself.

Once you move in, one day you will be able to go on home swapper etc. and someone will swap with you very very very quickly - there are so many people wanting the ground floor !
and a new build sounds very desirable.

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

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon - Thank you.
I think I have to wait 12 months.

Your comment made me feel better lol, I would never have thought that ground floors were popular.

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 ?

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

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

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

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 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.

Ground floor is the best by far.

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.