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The Pros and Cons of Rental Units on Upper vs. Ground Floors

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Choosing a rental unit requires you to make several decisions, including on which floor to live. You should consider noise, cost, accessibility and more before making your selection. But how do you know which floor is the right fit for you?

Read on for the pros and cons of rental units on upper versus ground floors.

Pros of Upper Floors

Living on the upper floors keeps you away from the bustle of potential foot traffic inside and outside of the apartment complex, as well as street noise. You’ll have more access to natural light and be less likely to encounter a pest infestation. Because you’re off the ground, many people feel more secure in an upper-floor apartment as the likelihood of break-ins can be slimmer.

Cons of Upper Floors

The upper floors typically cost more than the ground floor units. Remember—heat rises, so in the summer your electricity bills may be larger than a ground-floor unit. Access to upper-floor apartments may be more cumbersome depending on building setup. If your apartment building doesn’t have an elevator, for example, how many flights of stairs will you need to take during move-in day or on a daily basis?

Pros of Ground Floors

You’ll likely have easier access to your unit if you live on the ground floor, and this setting might include faster or greater access to a backyard or courtyard green space. For tenants with pets or children, easy access can be a nice bonus. Being closer to the ground will generally mean your unit will be less prone to over-heating because heat rises. This also means that in the summer your apartment should run cooler.

Cons of Ground Floors

In addition to potentially dealing with street and foot traffic from outside the apartment and a higher likelihood of insect infestation, one of the biggest issues many people face in a ground-floor unit is privacy when the unit has street-facing or sidewalk-facing windows. If the unit is parking-lot-facing, this can also create unwanted light pollution in your space in the evenings from headlights of parking cars.

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Topics: Renting

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