Studio flat
A typical studio apartment would consist of one large room that serves as the living, dining, and bedroom. Kitchen facilities can also be located in the central room or may be in a small separate room. The bathroom is usually in a separate smaller room.
These were popular in the housing boom in the late eighties with Barratt leading the way with their “Studio 2” versions with carpets, a furniture pack with drop down bed and kitchen appliances all included in the price. Still popular in large cities especially in London, where high prices of other properties and flats make them a viable ‘crash-pad’ for commuters.
For:
- Economical solution for commuters
- Neighbours to keep and eye on the property
- Usually in City centre and close to all amenities
- Cheaper to heat being smaller
Against:
- Can be difficult to get a mortgage
- Do not hold their value as well as other new homes
- Lack of privacy, no separate bedroom
- Few windows
- Cooking smells if no separate kitchen
- Small living space
- Difficult to re sell in all but exclusive areas
- Expensive for what you actually get
- Very limited storage (cupboards and wardrobes)
- Service charges
- Leasehold
- Noise from neighbours –high density
- Parking can be limited or non-existent
Typical new studio floor plan
Size and value for money
A typical new studio apartment is around 300 to 450sqft. In 2012, a studio in east London was priced at £190,000 equating to a price of around £579 per square foot.
Studio floor plan
Our advice
Avoid! Offering poor value and limited space with all the pitfalls that come with Leasehold property. However, studios do offer a solution for commuters and may appeal to landlords. It would normally be better to pay a little more and buy a one bedroom flat that will be easier to sell when the time comes.
See also: What to look for when buying a new home.
Studio apartments
Apartments
Retirement flats
Terraced houses
Townhouses
Mews houses
Detached houses
Note: Floor plans are illustrative examples only. Any similarity between actual designs, layouts and/or specifications is purely coincidental.
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