What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in a Flat, House, or Bungalow?
Let us look at the three main categories of homes you may consider moving into, and the pros and cons of living in a bungalow, house, or flat.
Flats
Trivia #1. Where does the word ‘Flat’ originate? An early 19th-century word meaning floor or storey. Adapted from the Germanic word ‘Flet’ meaning floor.
Generally, flats will be located in city centres or areas of concentrated population, although in recent years many places like old dockside warehouses have been converted into very desirable apartments.
They will most likely be within the vicinity of where all the action is and therefore will attract those drawn to that type of lifestyle.
But that is a generalisation as there are even old mill factories in the Peak District for example that are converted to very desirable apartments.
Usually, easy access to work and leisure activities is a major attraction of those seeking a flat, as are the financial benefits, flats generally being more economical to live in than houses or bungalows.
Pros of living in an apartment
- Rental or purchase prices will be lower than a comparably sized house.
- There will be no exterior maintenance costs.
- One-level living.
- There will usually be a higher degree of security.
- Heating costs will be lower.
- Location will usually mean little or no commuting.
- Some will have leisure facilities – gyms, etc.
Cons of living in an apartment
- Noise from neighbours.
- Lack of privacy.
- No or very little outdoor living space.
- Not so convenient to have cats or dogs.
- Parking your car can be problematic.
- Less living space than a house usually.
- Fire safety concerns if the flat is on higher floors.
You may also like to read: Is Life Better in the Countryside, Suburbs, or City? In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living in the city, the suburbs, or the countryside. Over the last 50 years I have lived in each so share my experiences which may help you make your decision.
Houses
Trivia #2 Where did the word ‘house’ come from? Middle English h(o)us, Old English hūs; cognate with Dutch huis, Low German huus, Old Norse hūs, German Haus, Gothic –hūs.
The design and vast range of configurations mean that there will be a house type to suit most tastes and lifestyles.
So having decided that you want to live in a house you then have to decide what style of house you like.
Of course, the house type you choose will each have its own pros and cons list, so the list below is generic.
Living in a terraced or semi-detached house may expose you to the same noisy neighbour problem that you may experience in a flat.
In some cases, it may be no better to live in a house than an apartment.
Pros of living in a house
- Huge range of configurations – terrace, townhouse, detached, semi.
- More choice of available properties.
- Noisy neighbours may be less of an issue.
- Parking is usually easier.
Cons of living in a house
- More expensive than flats to rent or buy.
- Less square meters for your money.
- Not normally centrally located in a city, so would involve a commute to work.
- Noisy neighbours may be an issue, especially in terraced houses.
- Upper-floor exterior maintenance is problematic.
- Higher maintenance costs.
- Larger heating bills.
- Safety concerns for children on stairs.
You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Moving into a Bigger Home. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving into a bigger home and ask whether it is better to have a large home or a better quality of life.
Bungalows
Trivia #3 Where did the word ‘bungalow’ originate? First appearing around 1670 in the English language, bungalow is from the Hindi word ‘Bangala’, meaning a home in the Bengal style – a single-storey with a large surrounding verandah. Originally built for European settlers in Bengal.
Bungalows are associated with the more mature person in the UK, but in places such as the USA and Australia, they are some of the most popular homes for young families too. And with good reason.
Bungalows are well suited to families as you will see from the pros and cons of living in a bungalow list below.
The most common concern to be aired about living in a bungalow is the security aspect, as all windows are on the ground floor.
But that is easily resolved with a good alarm system and window locks. The security concern is more than offset by the advantages of being on the ground floor in the event of a fire.
Advantages of living in a bungalow
- More outside space.
- Usually more private.
- Rooms are generally larger.
- Options to extend upwards and outwards.
- Bungalows tend to hold their value.
- No stairs – no vacuuming, safer for children.
- Everything is all on one level – children can use their bedroom as a playroom.
- Easier exterior maintenance.
- Could be a life-long home.
- Better fire safety – any window can be used as a fire exit.
- Most have a driveway and/or garage.
Disadvantages of living in a bungalow
- Perceived as an older person’s home.
- Some people may have security concerns with all windows on the ground floor.
- Children could access the kitchen during the night – easily solved with a stair gate in the doorway.
- Grounded teenagers could easily escape!
You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Having a Garden. Many bungalows come with a good-sized garden. Having recently moved from a flat with a balcony and a few plant pots to a house with a two-acre garden, I thought we would look at the pros and cons of having a big garden and look at whether having a large garden is such a good idea.
Average Moving Costs
Moving home is notoriously expensive so you may want to know whether there are any major differences in the cost of moving into a flat, house, or bungalow.
There was not a big difference in the removal company quotes we were given between houses and bungalows.
Flats are more problematic to move out of and into, and the price is dependent upon ease of access (is there a lift or how close can they get the removal van to the flat, for example) and which floor the flat is on.
To give you an idea of average removal costs we requested some estimates from reputable removal companies.
A Luton van, with 2 men, for 8 hours, is going to cost about £800 plus VAT
A Luton van with 3 men, for 8 hours, is going to cost about £1100 plus VAT
The average cost for a professional packing service from a removal company, to pack the contents of a 1 bedroom property, is about £250.
The average cost for a removal company to pack the contents of a 2-bedroom property was about £325.
Moving within a radius of 50 miles from a 3 bedroom house will cost on average between £600-£1100.
A professional packing service will add about £400 to those prices.
You may also like to read: The Hidden Costs of Moving Home. In this guide, we look at all the often overlooked extra expenses that you can incur so that you can include them in your home moving budget.
What Type of Home Do You Want to Live In?
Flats, houses, and bungalows all have advantages and disadvantages, and at the end of the day, it will come down to personal preference.
Personally, I have lived in each, and have no real preference.
My last home was an inner city flat which was quieter and had more privacy than some houses I have lived in.
Running costs were considerably lower than a house, and being in the city, everything was so much more accessible.
Now I live outside the city in a house in the countryside.
Whilst the advantages of having a garden are many, the associated costs of running a house, the constant work, and the longer commute add to the cost of living considerably.
What I have learned over the years of living in different styles of homes is that ultimately it is your neighbours who make all the difference.
You may also like to read: How to Deal With the Anxiety of New Neighbours. One of the unknowns about moving home is the type of neighbours you will have. In this guide, we look at how to spot a bad neighbour and how to overcome and deal with the anxiety of new neighbours.
Having found your new home, why not come back and tell us in the comments box below how you chose the type of property you moved into, what it is like living in an apartment, house, or bungalow, and why it works so well for you?
Others may find your reasons will help them consider a property type that they had previously discounted or not even considered.
Happy home hunting and don’t forget to also come back and visit our home moving blog when it is time to book your removal firm for tips on how to make your move cheaper and easier.
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