The best floors to live in a block of flats. These floors have the fewest disadvantages

When buying an apartment, most people look primarily at the square footage, room layout and price. Meanwhile, the floor number can have a huge impact on everyday living comfort. The differences are felt not only in winter and summer, but also during ordinary, everyday situations – sleeping with an open window, an elevator failure or morning noise under the staircase. Real estate market experts agree: apartments located on the middle floors are usually the best choice.

The ground floor tempts with its price, but has the most problems

Ground floor apartments are often cheaper and in new investments they have an additional garden. For some buyers, this sounds ideal, but practice shows that these premises are most often disappointing after a few years of living.

The biggest problem is the lack of privacy. The windows are almost at the level of passers-by, so many people keep blinds or curtains on most of the day. In addition, there is noise from the staircase, intercom, elevator or parking lot next to the building. In older buildings, ground floor residents often complain about cold floors and higher heating bills.

The issue of safety is also important. Statistics show that apartments on the lowest floors are most vulnerable to burglary. As a result, many people choose additional anti-burglary roller shutters or bars, which further limits their sense of freedom.

The top floor has a view, but it can be tiring

Apartments on the highest floors have their supporters. No neighbors overhead, more silence and a better view are undoubted advantages. However, the problem arises when summer comes or the elevator breaks down.

In blocks of flats with poorer insulation, the roof heats up very quickly and the apartment turns into an oven. In winter, the situation is the opposite – heat escapes through the ceiling, which increases heating costs. In older buildings, there is also a risk of leaks and stains after heavy rainfall.

Experts also pay attention to the practical aspect of everyday life. An elevator failure on the tenth or eleventh floor is a real problem for many people. This is especially felt by seniors, parents with children and people returning with heavy shopping.

The best floors? Intermediate tiers win in almost every respect

Apartments located between the first and penultimate floors are considered the most comfortable. They are the ones that best combine comfort, safety and lower maintenance costs.

The middle floors have natural thermal insulation. The apartment is surrounded by other premises, so it cools down more slowly in winter, and in summer it does not heat up as much as the premises under the roof. This actually translates into lower heating bills and greater living comfort during hot weather.

Peace of mind is equally important. Street noise is much less noticeable there than on the ground floor, and at the same time, climbing the stairs in the event of an elevator failure does not become a burdensome challenge. Additionally, mid-level apartments are usually perceived as safer and more private.

Which floor is chosen most often?

Intermediate floors have been the most popular on the secondary and primary markets for years. The second, third and fourth floors are usually the most desirable. It is there that residents are least likely to complain about noise, overheating or moisture problems.

Experts emphasize, however, that much depends on the specific building. Modern apartment buildings with good insulation and silent elevators can significantly reduce some of the disadvantages of the top floors. Nevertheless, the principle remains similar: the outer floors have the most disadvantages, and the middle of the block turns out to be the safest choice for years.