Studio Apartments

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

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.

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.