You will find many different types of flats across the UK.
One of these is a duplex apartment.
Below, we’ve explained this and the pros and cons of living in one.
What is a duplex apartment?
A duplex apartment is a flat that covers two floors of a building.
(It’s often called a ‘duplex flat’ in the UK, where ‘flat’ is more commonly used than ‘apartment’.)
Duplex apartments are usually much larger than most other one and two-bedroom flats.
An internal, private staircase connects their two floors.
There are often multiple bedrooms, at least one bathroom, and a living area. Sometimes there are outdoor areas, including large balconies or terraces.
They are often found in major cities at a higher price point. They are relatively rare and considered a luxury property type, so demand tends to exceed supply. This can push the price up.
Duplex apartments vs maisonettes
The main differences between maisonettes (another type of two-floor flat) and duplex apartments are:
- Maisonettes are more self-contained. They often include their own, separate entrances and sometimes even grounds. They are less likely to have communal hallways and lifts, too.
- Maisonnetes are usually in separate building structures, often annexes or converted buildings. By contrast, duplex apartments are often in blocks of flats.
Numbers of duplex apartments in the UK
Duplex apartments are still relatively rare in the UK.
At the time of writing, there are around 237 duplexes for sale in London. The number across the entire UK is thus likely to push towards 1,000.
Google Trends data shows a slight increase in search volume for the term over the past 15 years. But this could simply reflect increased internet usage.
The increase in numbers of duplex apartments in the near future likely largely depends on economic conditions. The better the economy, the more duplex apartments there will be.
Duplex apartment locations
You usually find duplex apartments in busy city centres, such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, etc.
Duplex apartment costs
As you would expect, it depends on quite a few factors, including:
- Square footage
- Features
- Condition
- Location.
In Central London, duplexes are listed at around £750,000 on average.
You can also find ones that go well above £1 million in the most exclusive areas, with lots of square footage.
Duplexes are available on the lower end in London for around £400,000.
Remember that London prices are far higher than elsewhere in the UK.
You would expect at least a 20% reduction in these prices in cities further north.
You should speak to an estate agent in the area or conduct your own search for personalised figures.
Advantages of a duplex apartment
More square footage
You get far more space in a duplex apartment than in a regular one-bedroom flat.
This means you get more rooms and more space within those rooms.
Extra privacy
You aren’t usually forced to share a bedroom wall with a neighbour.
There may be someone below your bottom floor, or above your top floor, but there’s still far more privacy with a duplex.
Homely feel
Having two floors to use can create a homely feel.
You’ll often have the same square footage as in a detached house in the countryside.
There’s also more space to decorate and make it ‘your own’.
Natural light
Duplex apartments benefit from lots of natural light.
While this isn’t always the case, there are often large windows, which can keep your electricity costs down.
It also makes the flat feel warmer. And if you’re on the top floor, there may be lots of light through the ceiling, too.
Communal amenities
You’ll sometimes have communal amenities in the building that you can enjoy, such as a:
- Lift
- Gym
- Swimming pool
- Concierge.
Disadvantages of a Duplex Apartment
Accessibility for less mobile people
Duplex apartments have a staircase that you must use to get between the floors.
When you’ve got mobility problems, this is an issue. You may struggle to get up and down.
Expensive
Larger flats come with higher costs. You’ve got more space to keep tidy and clean, and more appliances to maintain.
The apartment itself is also more expensive to buy. You’ll need more money if you want to live there.
Limitations on changes you can make
There are limits to the way you can change the flat.
For example, you can’t usually extend the property outwards or upwards. Your hands may be tied in relation to expanding square footage.
