Maisonette or Flat

[Halfpint77]

Can somebody tell me what they mean by a purpose built maisonette?

[jackthehat]

It occupies two floors and has internal stairs....and was designed as such rather than having been converted from a different configuration.

[knowabit]

I think a maisonette is a 2 storey home that has been built that way. Rather than a conversion of a house or something? If that makes sense!
You get blocks of flats, a flat being one floor and blocks with masionettes, they have 2 floors.

[Halfpint77]

So what does the term purpose built maisonette mean?
So everyone understands wher I am comming from, basically I live in a block which looks like a massive house but in that block there are four properties. I live on the first floor and have my own entrance and then there is a nother occupant below me who has her own entrance but she has a rear garden and the front belongs to her as well. Does that mean I live in a purpose built maisonette?

[jackthehat]

Is it on two floors?

[rowanwitch]

If its all one level it is on the flat therefore is a flat

[Halfpint77]

jackthehat-Yes it's on 2 floors. basically my neighbour below occupies the ground floor, has jher own entrance and I have my own entrance which takes me up my stairs.

[jackthehat]

No.
Do you live on one level?
If you do, it's a flat.
If you go upstairs in your own flat to bed, etc, it's a maisonette.

[knowabit]

when you say it looks like a house.... was it a house that has been converted to maisonettes or were they built that way from scratch? If been converted then they are not 'purpose built'.

[knowabit]

ooh, there are too many answers at the same time! LOL.

[mickrog]

maison ....french for house
ette..........french to indicate little
therefore little house.....house has more than one floor

[Halfpint77]

Jackthehat- I think it might be a flat then as my Freeholders are not sure themselves when I asked them which is a bit rubbish. Basically, on the side of the building as soon as I open my front door I am in my property and then once I go up the stairs I have my a landing, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, living room which leads into a kitchen. It was bulit like that. So is it still a purpose built flat or maisonette?

[rowanwitch]

If it was designed and built from the start in that set up it is a purpose built property if it was originally a single dwelling it is a conversion.

[hc4361]

Maisonettes are 4 or 6 storeys with each home occupying 2 storeys. Sort of two or three houses on top of each other.

A flat occupies one storey, or a portion of a storey.

Purpopse built means the masionettes or flats were built as maisonettes or flats and not converted from a former house.

[jackthehat]

I know the sort of property you mean (are you in Scotland?).

They are often, incorrectly, described as 'Maisonettes'.
Look at Mickrog's explanation of the term.....

You have a first floor flat with access at Ground Floor level.
It is purpose built if it was intended to be like that. It is a conversion if it was originally a single dwelling which has been separated into two.

What are the neighbouring properties like?

[pastafreak]

As far as I know-it's a flat with it's own entrance to outside...whether it is one or 2 storys is irrelevant.
Purpose built just means it is not a conversion. A ground floor flat in a converted house-with its own entrance-would also be a maisonette-just not purpose built.

Hope this made sense.

[Halfpint77]

Neighbouring properties are the same. Everyone has their own separate ground floor entrance. whether you are are on occupying the ground floor or the first floor.

I live in Willenhall

[jackthehat]

You have a first floor flat in a block of four.

It may sound better for it to be advertised as a Maisonette, but in reality it is not.......although you'll probably find that it suits some people better to describe it as such.

[pastafreak]

See this definition from an estate agent -


ianmaskell
Having been an estate agent for over 20 years I can assure you that the definition of a maisonette is a dwelling within a larger structure that has a private access. A flat is a dwelling within a larger block that has a communal entrance. Flat is perfectly interchangeable with Flat though not with Maisonette. Studio (whether flat or apartment) simply means that it is one room (plus bathroom) sometimes confused with bedsits which usually have one room and a communal kitchen/bathroom.

As for number of storeys, that is irrelevant as maisonettes and flats/apartments can have as many or as few as they want. It's a tad tricky having more than one floor in a studio though!

That is from a previous Q on AB -

http://www.theanswerb...n/Question271654.html

Note that 'having private access' is the definition.

[jackthehat]

And I can state that having been in the property design business for the best part of 30 years, the definition of Maisonette is as I have described.

[EcclesCake]

If it is like this then in my book it is a flat. http://www.findaprope...sale/property-9872618