Which floor would you choose in a three-storey tenement?

[danditiger]

Assuming an old pretty tenement building in a city with 3 floors and no lift. Which floor would be your top choice?

I believe ground floor and top floor have privileges due to accessibility for ground floor and safety and light for top. But I love living on 1st!

If I had kids or wanted kids, ground. Easier for pushchairs and not getting as many noise complaints.
Voted ground.
If it was me alone, 2nd. Better security wise and not impacted by noise from above and below.

As long as you're happy, who cares?
I can see the advantage of feeling safer than ground and having less stairs to climb...

I lived on the top floor of a tenement (3rd floor though in the block I was in) before and loved it. I wouldn’t mind the 1st floor either and I’d have probably appreciated less steps if I’d had kids at the time.
I wouldn’t live in the ground floor in any type of flat though. I just never feel
safe in them.

I wouldn't want the top floor as if the roof caved in it would affect me most. Also if there was a flood the two below could blame me if it was coming through my flat. I guess 1st floor if ground floor is too dark.

I have just bought a 2nd floor as I need a bigger flat but wanted a ground because I want kids. But I saw ground just went for abut £100k more which I don't have.

If young, fit and childless I would go for the top floor everyt ime.
Pros

• Better Light and views
• Benefit from the heating in the flat below
• Don't hear people walking on your ceiling.
• Often quieter
• Less likely to be flooded by the flat above.
• Occasionally roof access

Cons

• Might hear water tank or lift motor
• Carrying shopping etc will be more effort.
• Slightly more vulnerable in the event of fire.
• First to know about issues with the roof.

I was on the third floor and I enjoyed the lack of neighbour noise and the sense of security. Also my heating was cheaper because I got everyone else’s heating rising up.

Downside was getting shopping up so if that’s an issue then it’ll be a big one. But I liked the third floor.

I have lived in two second floor flats, one with a baby, one with 3 kids.
I was fine in both - fortunately, I lived above students and I encouraged them to party 😁 so it was fine on both sides.
You can make it your own, put down rugs if you need to and see what the future holds. Good luck 🍀and don't second guess it. 🥂

Depends whether there was a lift or not. I have mobility issues and although I can manage stairs, albeit very slowly,I struggle if I have to carry shopping upstairs. I'd happily live on the first,or preferably the second floor as it means you don't have any noise coming from above,plus I'd feel safer higher up. But I'd have to go for the ground floor if there was no lift.

@FeckAboutAndFindOut wow how did you do that with kids, was there a lift?

I brought up 4 children living on the 2nd floor

Bumping up prams and buggies never bothered me but I was a lot younger then 😅

Now im in my 60s I really struggle with the stairs due to arthritis

Good points, no noise above me, felt safer, after all if someone is going to break in they have to come up and get down 2 flights without being seen or heard. Was safer leave parcels at the door. Could probably think of other reasons as well

Bad points, I got the worst of the leaky roof, and getting older!

I will move eventually but im not ready to make that decision yet.

Overall, I would choose 2nd floor again if my health was better.

The top/3rd floor if I didn't have kids or pets. Better views, more light, no noise from upstairs and benefitting from the lower floors heating.

I live on the first. Not too many steps to heave shopping up or have parcels delivered without a three day discussion with retailers or deliveroo drivers!

I do think about the top floor but as I get older I'm more conscious about my health or lack of it and how I'd manage.