A two-level flat – why choose one?

Until recently they were hard to find in Poland; now, however, two-level flats are among the most attractive units developers have on offer. On the market they compete both with traditional flats and with detached houses – and they hold their own! Where does their success come from and why are they a dream come true for many?

Almost like a house – but in a block of flats

It can safely be said of two-level flats that in several respects they are closer to a detached house than to a typical block-of-flats unit. Why? Above all because of how the space is laid out in them. In many detached houses we find an extremely convenient division of the interior into a day area and a somewhat more private night area (located upstairs). And it is the same in two-level flats! Many of us will probably agree that such a layout can greatly improve the quality of daily life – it is much easier then to separate the time we want to devote to work or household chores from the time for rest.

However, even though two-level properties very much resemble detached houses on the inside, they are still… flats in a residential block. And that means they offer all the advantages that come with it. We do not have to worry about building repairs or snow clearing – we can leave many of the tasks and jobs that would fall to us in a house to the building manager.

For the same reason, people who want to live in the heart of the city often decide to buy a two-level flat. Among property listings in Katowice we rarely find detached houses in the centre – it is practically impossible or involves very high costs. By contrast, there should be no problem finding a two-level flat in a lively location of our dreams. And again – for its price we will enjoy the advantages of living both in a detached house and in a block of flats.

The price matters too

The location, the amenities available and the quality of construction are all "hidden" in the price of every property; however, we always pay first and foremost for floor area. And here, too, two-level flats have an advantage over single-level ones – because of the way a flat's area is calculated. Traditionally, when a flat is valued, the usable area is counted, and this is often smaller than the floor area. This is particularly significant in two-level flats with sloping ceilings – part of the area beneath them is not included in the flat's size. As a result, when buying a flat with an upper floor in the attic, we will probably have more space at our disposal than in a single-level flat at the same price! Of course, the extra square metres may be somewhat harder to use – but just look at how interior designers deal with sloping ceilings to find inspiration.