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

Accept the flat. See how it goes. If your fears continue you'll have no trouble arranging a swap with someone who is desperate for a ground floor flat, and swaps are far easier than getting a home in the first place.

The additional security concerns are easily overcome and there are just as many advantages to being on the groumd floor as disadvantages. Do you really think break-ins are likely? I mean, yes they do happen, but are you a likely target? Do you have plenty of high-vslue tech and other easy to grab and re-sell property?

Yes its a massive pain asda told her to go down and collect her shopping. She has 2 special needs children that can't be left. They didn't care.

I’d be delighted with ground floor. If security worries you get measures in place including CCTV, insurance but positives are massive.

You can get a cat if you like pets. No carrying heavy shopping up/down stairs (or constant lift sharing).

In an emergency or fire you can escape at any time. It’ll be cheaper to heat. As you age you’ll never have to move. Much easier for deliveries. You can be in/out quickly and be as sociable as you do or don’t want to be etc.

Ground floor is best imho, not to mention if you ever have elderly or disabled friends visit. So much easier.

Same! (Except the deliveries part: mine has bushes under the windows so no one can get close enough to hand parcels in - but on the plus side, it's good for security.)

Used to live in a higher floor flat, but much prefer ground.

I've lived in a ground floor flat - no issues with security at all. If you're worried get cctv installed, it's cheap to install and you can find no costs for viewing options too. An alternative is to Google which internal home cameras are best.

I live in a ground floor flat. It's a quiet area, although my upstairs neighbours are bloody noisy.

There's film you can get for windows that makes them harder to break, and I have night latches on all of mine. I'm also glad I have little windows high up that I can leave open at night instead of just having big vertical ones, if that makes sense?

I loved our ground floor flat. The kids could run around with no fear of their footsteps being an annoyance. Our upstairs neighbours loved coming round to play for the same reason.

You are mad. Most people would bite your arm off for somewhere on the ground floor, especially if they have young children.

Honestly, it seems with social housing there is simply no pleasing some people. brand new and still not right.

Pass it up and leave it for someone who really, really needs ground floor. It sounds like you don't, so I'm surprised it was offered in the first place.

Thank you for all the suggestions!

I guess I just really need to see it.

But viewing and signing up is done at the first appointment which isn't for another 2 weeks and has been delayed several times due to not being complete.

It appears the majority of posters on here and in favour of the ground floor flat which has defo made me re consider my initial thoughts.

Only one neighbour to annoy you! Easier access to get furniture in too. You'll settle in nicely OP. I get your concerns, but once you are in you'll get it all sorted out and be fine. IKEA have nice viole type curtains you can use for privacy and they look classy too.

I lived in a new build London flat on the ground floor. There was also a basement level (for bin stores, bike stores etc) and there was essentially a 2m gap between the pavement and the windows of my flat to allow light to the basement, so no one could access my windows or knock on them etc any easier than if we were on the first floor. And I never had to worry about the lifts not breaking, it was good really.

This is exactly my attitude, when I lived in my house we actually got broken into on the ground floor, and slept right through it as we was asleep upstairs.

I have just moved and purposely only looked at ground floor flats, didn’t want to rely on lifts, can’t be bothered lugging shopping upstairs, cooler in summer, less neighbours (as in don’t have to worry about downstairs etc), outside spaces more accessible, often ground floors have patio doors to shared spaces, but even if you don’t have direct access to outside and you do want to sit outside it’s not a trek up lifts or stairs to the kitchen for drink top ups or to the bathroom.

Having briefly lived on a top floor flat in a newly converted building a few years ago, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy in the summer. It was like an oven with all the new insulation - 10 degrees hotter inside then out and we only had Juliet balconies, so couldn’t sit out anywhere to cool off. I was ready to pitch a tent in the carpark and sleep there.

Hopefully it goes well when you view it. Get a ring doorbell and an alarm and you might feel securer.

We lived in a ground floor flat for 15 years with young.children and it was fine,

I moved from a third floor flat to a ground floor flat and I much preferred the ground floor, it was so much easier and less hot. The only problem we had was that our bedroom windows faced the street so we couldn't leave them open at night but it was quite shaded so it was still more comfortable than our old flat. I had a baby and a toddler at the time and not having to deal with a lift / stairs was amazing.

A GFF is no different to living in a house or bungalow for that matter and I think you’re stressing over something before you’ve moved in and experienced the location.
As for people being able to look in, if you don’t want blinds to your windows you can put a film on the glass that obscures vision from the outside but you can still see from the inside - hope that makes sense.

So unreasonable.

My dd is disabled and is desperate for a ground floor flat.

in Newcastle where she is ground floor flats sell for more than upper floor ones as so many people want them.

My sister lives in a ground floor new build flat in London. It’s lovely and very secure. They are usually really well glazed and she hardly needs to put the heating on.

My Dd lived in a "fancy" ground floor apartment and the flats had no issues with break ins or any kind of bother.

YANBU at all. When looking at flats with/for dd2, we immediately discounted any on the ground floor, due to general security, esp. since unless it’s really freezing she likes her bedroom window open!

HA accommodation isn't subsidized.

Rents are cheaper because HA's don't make as much profit from rents as commercial landlords.

They call the profits they make 'surplasses' and reinvest them in new builds for new tenants.
Mine raised £117 million profit after taxes, and write offs from tenants rents, two years ago.

Many have become property developers above being landlords.

But it's not enough profit for many to not have to live with damp and rot.
The myth that tenants are being subsidized by other tax payers is often spread by people jealous that someone is paying less rent than them. It helps allow HA landlords to carry on poorly maintaining many of their properties.

I'm sorry you're being ruined by your rent, but remember others get their health ruined by their cheaper, un - subsidized living conditions and nightmare neighbors that HA's don't care about.

The grass always looks greener the other side of the fence because you can't see what else is going on.

@lookin4advice Just check it's not a flood zone. (HA's get the land cheap as commercial developers are more cautious about building on them) If it is, be aware you'll struggle with being able to insure, and new build materials don't cope well with extremes.
But other than that, there is always a steady stream of disabled and ageing people needing ground floor accommodation, and always will be.
Many will also accept a downgrade in a swap, out of desperation to get ground floor, because stairs are now trapping them indoors.

To those who have lived in ground floor flats, did you hear much noise from the communal main door?

I am also scared of lifts so maybe it's a good thing being offered ground floor as I get anxious every time I go in a lift lol.

Happy new home @lookin4advice !

I get where you are coming from so I’d be making sure I have window locks, door chain and a ring doorbell, and you’ll be all set x

I have been looking for photos on the developers website and can only find one image from a development last year but these are ones I think for private sale and my block is solely social housing.