Flat, House or Maisonette

[Miss-taken]

I've just bought my first property but nobody can tell me whether its a flat, a maisonette or a house! It's on the ground floor where there is a hallway, a kitchen and a living room and there is a flight of stairs up to the bedroom and bathroom and above that the loft. It also has its own entrance. The estate agents called it a flat but how do you distinguish between different types of property??

I am obviously aware that it really doesn't matter what it is in the whole scheme of things (especially as I've just exchanged contracts!) but I was just wondering!

Thanks

[diygirl]

Hi Miss-taken, I would definitely call it a maisonette...apart from anything else, it sounds a lot posher and I'm surprised your estate agent hasn't picked up on that fact!

[Plocket]

Try looking at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_house_typ es

[rhona_j]

Is there anyone living above you? If so, I'd say it was a maisonette. If not, then I'd say it was a house, be it semi-detached or terraced, depending on how many houses there are in the row. Maisonettes tend to be two storey dwellings within a larger building with other flats or maisonettes. Hope this helps!

[Miss-taken]

Thanks everyone- as theres no one above or below me - I shall refer to it as a house!

[WendyS]

A maisonette has its own front door at the exterior of the building, either going straight into a hall if it's a ground floor property, or going into a mini-lobby and straight up the stairs if it's a first floor property. A flat would normally have its own front door inside the communal area, which is accessed by a main front door which might be used by other occupants. It sounds to be as if your property, which has its own front entrance is actually a maisonette. Whatever it's called, hope you enjoy living there and making your first home