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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Ground floor flat with garden or first floor flat?

20 replies

BananaMamas · 29/08/2023 10:54

What would you choose to buy? I'd love a garden but living on the ground floor makes me slightly uneasy, I don't like the idea of having a bedroom that is so exposed to the street/garden, feels more unsafe.
On the other hand, I know a place with a garden would be easier to sell potentially and also just nice to have.
What's generally considered a better choice in the UK market?
I am on SW London suburbs.

OP posts:

MrsRachelDanvers · 29/08/2023 11:02

Omg, garden flat all the way. How is that different to living in a bungalow? I had a dormer bungalow for several years and never thought twice about sleeping on the ground floor. Just get decent locks for your windows. It will make a huge difference to have private outdoor space.

cruffinsmuffin · 29/08/2023 11:05

Is the first floor flat the top floor? I'd probably pick that and the peace of no one being above me and noisy, but then I love having a garden space to get some relaxing outdoors time in good weather.

Ground floor bedroom wouldn't bother me as much, any downstairs room can be broken into whether it's a bedroom or not so I wouldn't mind that. Bungalows sell well and they have bedrooms downstairs! The potential noise from upstairs neighbours could bother me, especially if families lived there or people who worked different shifts, or people who had horrible habits of doing tap dance or similar.

pilates · 29/08/2023 11:12

Garden flat

Conkerqueen · 29/08/2023 11:14

Garden 100 percent

Callisto1 · 29/08/2023 11:37

Is it just you or do you have a family? With kids I'd always go for garden. If I was alone I would probably quite enjoy a top floor flat with views. Especially if it had a good balcony.

Peony654 · 29/08/2023 11:38

If it's just you, I'd go first floor, if that's the top floor.

Mynewnameis · 29/08/2023 11:42

Garden flat but I might look into security options.

ShadyCat · 29/08/2023 11:50

I have a garden flat (private garden) and like it
I don't feel unsafe

Womblegreen · 29/08/2023 12:05

Whilst I’d love the garden I think I’d be more affected by having noise from someone living above, so top floor me.

Cattenberg · 29/08/2023 12:08

There aren’t a lot of garden flats where I live, whereas there are countless flats without a private garden.

I bought a garden flat as soon as it went on the market and guessed correctly that I’d have no problem selling it when it was time to move on.

But it’s up to you. The flat I bought wasn’t in a prestigious area, but it was safe enough and convenient for the town centre. Also, it seemed like good value for money.

The only issue was that the ground floor flat came with the freehold (which I thought was a big plus), but this put off most mortgage lenders. Thank goodness for NatWest!

Beachwaves127 · 29/08/2023 22:31

Loved our garden flat. But we could hear upstairs. We also got mice / slugs (so did upstairs to be fair) as it was an old conversion

BackT · 29/08/2023 23:08

Upper floor with balcony ideally.

Bouledeneige · 30/08/2023 12:16

In the past I have been concerned about security but two years ago I downsized to a large well maintained garden flat - ground floor and basement. It has excellent security -external lighting, doors and windows so I've never felt worried about being safe and I love having a very pretty and manageable garden as an extra room. Yes I have some sound from above but I'm on good terms with them and we have mutual understanding. My DD is sometimes in the garden late in the evening having a laugh or with friends in the flat playing music late so we live and let live. Upper flats can be just as disturbed by music etc from flats below or next door.

CrackedChina · 30/08/2023 12:19

Definitely the garden one.

Beviolinar · 30/08/2023 13:30

You can often get the first floor of a converted house for cheaper than the ground floor (because you've not got the garden) so if you're not so bothered about a garden, you'll probably get more sqft for your money on the first floor, you won't be so exposed to the street level, and there'll be no noise from above.

If a garden is really important then obviously get the one with the garden!

user1471538283 · 31/08/2023 09:33

My apartment was a garden one and whilst there was noise above and we were overlooked it made such a difference having a small outdoor space.

I think you would sell it easier as well.

DOBARDAN · 01/09/2023 11:28

I'd prefer the garden flat, although it depends on who is living above you. It could be noisy and sometimes you can get rubbish in your garden which has been thrown out of upper floor windows

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 01/09/2023 11:36

After living through covid with no outdoor space with kids I 100% would never buy a property without some form of outside space.

Caspianberg · 01/09/2023 11:42

Garden definitely. And it’s easier to sell in future as appeals to more people, especially if a 2 bed

Spidey66 · 01/09/2023 11:46

I live in a ground floor with garden (well yard!) and like having somewhere to dry clothes outside, have barbecue etc. No kids but a dog. I’ve never felt unsafe. However the 1st floor flats in my area (Edwardian maisonette ) the upstairs flat living room is a bit bigger and they have the advantage of loft conversions.

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