Ground Floor Flat - Opinions

LeeUK · 4 May 2013 at 22:15

I may be moving into a ground floor flat in newish apartment block with 2 floors above.

Would there be noise from the flat above e.g would I hear them walking about, TV on, etc?

I went for a viewing the other day but of course it was the middle of the afternoon so everyone was probably at work. Car park was empty also.

I think there is 6 flats in the block privately owned, built about 4-5 years ago.

b0rn2sk8 · 4 May 2013 at 22:42

Ultimately depends on the way its built. But if they have hard floors be prepared to be able to hear them, especially if something is dropped or computer chairs being rolled around. But in really it just depends who lives above you and if they thunder around the flat at 2 am.

Bennie-Mac · 4 May 2013 at 23:17

I have a 5 year old ground floor apt and to be honest its ok. Day to day i only hear the girl upstairs when she walks across her kitchen in high heels. Never hear the tv or "bedroom activities" etc etc, however her niece comes over every Saturday for a few hours and it is hell. Kids have no concept of lightness of feet so I'm subjected to constant loud banging as she runs about like a sumo wrestler.

There will always be some noise, but my advice would be if your potential upstairs neighbours have kids, avoid like the plague. Other than that, should be fine providing its a new enough property that should conform to sound level standards.

knip · 5 May 2013 at 06:07

The ONLY thing I regret about buying my one bed flat is having people above me. It's a new build, so I can hear them walking about, I hear the washing machine (which they seem to have on late at night) I hear their tv, and I hear them arguing - which they do a lot - and making "other noises"

I live in hope that as they're renting, they'll move out one day. When the girl is there on her own I don't hear a thing. He seems to find it impossible to talk at a normal volume, or walk about without sounding like a herd of elephants.

Their smoke alarm has been beeping now for 2 months, and I can hear that too.

He sometimes has his child staying at weekends, who runs about and up and down the stairs. That also provides another source of noise when he's yelling at him.

I've got used to it, and I've not complained because its just me and my cats. From the things I hear, he speaks to her in a vile way, and has threatened her often, I worry about my safety, so I say nothing.

Nightglow · 5 May 2013 at 08:13

Also a risk of being flooded from above, lived in a ground floor flat many years ago, neighbour went away & left bath running.

Unfortunately I was at work & it had been running about 4 hours before next door spotted it,& call fire brigade.

Insurance cover carpets, furniture, etc, but I lost a lot of personnal effects, which just couldn't be replaced.

Adam · 5 May 2013 at 08:19

Some good advice here but don't forget neighbours can change frequently so what may be bearable now may not be long term.

davido_labido · 5 May 2013 at 08:20

Yup, only ever had people living above me when I was in my flat for about 3 months (the rest of the time it was used as a show flat) and I hated it. The couple were really nice and did e everything they could to try keep the noise down, but you could heat pretty much every step.

They bought loads of rugs and slippers etc to try stop it, and even though I never complained, they always appologised to me and bought us a bottle of wine down!

I wouldn't ever do it again!

FartInferno · 5 May 2013 at 08:33

Rented a ground floor flat in the past and will never do so again. Loads of noise from the communal entrance and hall but worst of all, being number 1 meant our bell was rung by everyone; delivery drivers, guests, Jehovah´s witness', always with the apology " Just trying to get number......". Lasted 9 months there and moved to a first floor apt.

peige · 5 May 2013 at 11:28

I owned a ground floor maisonette and years later a first floor maisonette.

The first floor one was miles better, aside from the stairs to access and the hassle of getting stuff into it actually living in it was so much nicer, noise wise you hear adjacent properties and even below sometimes and you have to be careful about music levels and base but the biggest plus point is summer, you open all the windows and you can have them all open at night if you want. You can never feel safe doing that on a ground floor.
If a ground floor has its own garden then i'd think about it but other than that first floor or above every time.

Repta · 5 May 2013 at 11:41

Currently renting a ground floor flat and will never to it again. Noise from above, at night constant headlights shining through my bedroom window as cars drive in and out. Can hear peoples conversation clearly in the carpark and communal entrance.

arknor · 5 May 2013 at 14:39

I lived in a 3bed ground floor maisonette with a 2bedroom directly above and there was very little noise the odd time you could hear what sounded like a child jumping around probably playing on a wii or something but it was very rare we heard any noise at all.

I also lived on the 7th floor in a tower block and never heard any noises from my neighbours at all ever.

I owned a ground floor maisonette and years later a first floor maisonette.

I live on the 3rd and top floor of a maisonette right now and for security it's great , I don't hear much noise from my neighbours , I don't hear anything from below.

The separating walls for the bedrooms are pretty thin though and I'm guessing are only separated by an insulated space with plasterboard on both sides...

You seem to get a good mix of neighbours in a maisonette where as tower blocks tend to be full of scum

LeeUK · 5 May 2013 at 17:06

Thanks all. It's just that I'm looking to rent somewhere for next 6-12 months and that seems to be the only decent flat in the area that is not just a converted 2-bed terrace house.

wazza300 · 5 May 2013 at 17:10

modern flats have much tighter building regs when it comes to soundproofing,so it depends on the age of the property

flats/maisonetts are great places to live if you pick the right one

knip · 5 May 2013 at 18:29

wazza300 said:
modern flats have much tighter building regs when it comes to soundproofing,so it depends on the age of the property

flats/maisonetts are great places to live if you pick the right one

I'd argue its got worse with modern buildings. Can't hear anyone upstairs at my parents house, my flat is less than 5 years old, as I said in my previous post, I can hear pretty much everything.

Duke · 5 May 2013 at 20:10

I think flats aren't allowed wood flooring? So you might find some put that in without realising and making it a lot louder moving around than with carpets.