Does it matter which floor a flat is on?

When buying a flat, it is worth first thinking about which floor we would like to live on. This matters more than it might seem. Every storey in a block of flats or a tenement house has its advantages and disadvantages. In today's article we will consider them all.

The choice of the floor on which a flat is located should depend on our own preferences. For some, a beautiful view from the windows will matter most, so they will choose the top storeys, while others put convenience and as few stairs as possible first, so they will opt for a property on the ground floor. Here are the greatest advantages and disadvantages of each floor.

Ground floor

Flats on the ground floor are considered to have many drawbacks, as they often suffer from noise from a nearby street, and passers-by can practically look right inside. Residents are therefore forced to keep their windows covered all the time, which is not very comfortable. In addition, ground-floor properties are often an easy target for burglars, as they are not hard to get into.

On the other hand, this floor also has quite a few advantages, especially for older people or people with disabilities. Residents of ground-floor properties hardly have to climb any stairs. It is also worth stressing that these properties will always be cheaper than an identical flat on a higher floor.

First and second floor

Properties on these floors are the most popular among buyers. They are the optimal solution. They do not have the drawbacks of a ground-floor flat, and getting to them does not require climbing an excessive number of stairs. An additional advantage is better temperature regulation in autumn and winter. Flats on the first and second floors are sheltered on every side, which protects them from heat loss and helps save on heating.

The drawbacks of flats on these floors may include noisy neighbours upstairs and businesses on the ground floor of the building that stay open late. Besides, as with ground-floor properties, the view from the window remains uninteresting, and street noise may carry.

Higher floors

Flats from the third floor upwards are free of the drawbacks mentioned above, such as street noise or a poor view from the window. Their drawback may, however, be the lack of a lift, especially in low buildings and tenement houses. In new buildings this problem fortunately no longer exists and practically every block has a lift, but in buildings from the communist era (PRL) lifts were installed only in buildings of five storeys or more. In lower buildings residents had no choice but to climb the stairs, which can be very tiring for small children or older people. The lack of a lift also makes it harder to carry up heavier shopping or furniture.

Yet even this situation has its pluses. If we decide on a flat on a higher floor in a block without a lift, this can be an excellent argument in price negotiations.

Top floor

Flats on the top floor can suffer from excessive damp, cold in winter and heat in summer. These are considerable drawbacks that often discourage people from choosing such a property. On the other hand, such a property also offers numerous benefits, such as a beautiful view and peace and quiet. In new buildings, in turn, it is on the top floor that luxury penthouses are built, with the largest floor areas and extensive terraces. These, however, usually command the highest prices.