Introduction

When it comes to apartment hunting, the list of preferences and requirements depend heavily on individual tastes and needs. One thing potential tenants always take into consideration during this time, is what floor their future apartment resides on.

In this article, we’ll have a look at the pros and cons of a ground floor apartment and whether or not, it’ll suit you.

Pro – Easy Access

One of the biggest draws of moving into a ground floor apartment stems from the fact that it has quick and easy accessibility from the building’s main entrance. There is no need to climb the stairs or wait for an elevator, making these apartments attractive for those who have a physical disability, are getting on in years, or just want the convenience of cutting down those few precious seconds between the main entrance and their apartment door.

Another big draw of ground floor apartments is the ease of moving in furniture and household appliances – it is far easier to haul a couch from the building’s main entrance into a ground floor apartment than trying to wrestle up the stairs or into an elevator.

Con – Lack of Privacy and Security Concerns

Though this is highly dependent on the design and layout of the apartment building itself, a main concern potential tenants have when it comes to ground floor apartments is the general lack of privacy and security upper floor apartments offer.

A ground floor apartment is usually adjacent to, or close to a road or street, making it more prone to external noise and disturbances. There is also the worry that if the windows are facing the street or a public space with high foot traffic, the chances of a break-in may be increased.

If you’re currently apartment hunting with Village House and are concerned about security and privacy, feel free to bring the issue up with one of their friendly representatives, who speak languages including English, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Chinese Mandarin.

Pro – Veranda

Depending on the layout of the apartment building, ground floor apartments may come with the enticement of some extra outdoor space i.e. a veranda, small garden, or yard.  Individuals with pets; individuals who like to entertain at home; and budding or enthusiastic gardeners may find that a ground floor apartment will be more suited to their needs and hobbies.

Con – Insects

Ground floor apartments tend to be more prone and vulnerable to insects and pests due to its natural proximity to the ground. Having access to a veranda or outdoor space may also increase the potential of bugs trailing inside when you open and close the door.

Pro – Stays Cool

Summers in Japan are hot, terrifyingly so, and sometimes unbearably humid. Science tells us that hot air rises, which makes it plausible to say that ground floor apartments tend to stay cooler in during long, hot summer days. The cooler temperatures are also buoyed by the fact that ground floor apartments tend to be flanked by adjacent taller buildings in the neighborhood, reducing copious amounts of sunlight that warm up the apartment.

Con – Lack of Ventilation and Sunlight

While having the sun constantly shine in through the windows may not be the most ideal during summer, you’ll probably start thinking differently when winter sets in and you’re not getting your daily dose of Vitamin D. The limited amount of sunlight in winter also means a cooler apartment and higher electricity bills.

A second issue with ground floor apartments is the lack of natural air that’ll circulate inside. Since ground floor apartments are built on the lowest level of an apartment building, it suffers from air being blocked and restricted by nearby buildings, which can result in poorer ventilation.

Pro & Con – Neighbors

As previously mentioned, ground floor apartments may not appeal to many due to their lack of privacy, security concerns, restricted natural light, proclivity to attracting bugs, and poor ventilation; but what potential tenants can get out of this is having the ground floor of an apartment building all to themselves, however temporarily.

On the other hand, your neighbors may have to walk past your door to get to theirs and this can cause noise issues and disturbances, especially late at night. Sounds from your neighbors directly above may also echo down to your ground floor apartment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ground floor apartments can both hold appeal and bring about doubt. The best thing a potential tenant can do when checking out ground floor apartments is to take into account its layout, location, proximity to the streets and public spaces, ask about previous pest issues etc.

If you, dear reader, are on the hunt for some new accommodation, Village House offers over 100,000 budget-friendly units in 1,000 locations over all 47 prefectures in Japan.