Do you share a garden in a maisonette?

Gardens are usually shared, or belong to the ground floor maisonette. Some gardens may belong to the adjoining maisonette, but give shared access to the upstairs neighbours who may need to pass through the garden to access their homes.

Who owns the roof of a maisonette?

Most leasehold blocks will place responsibility for the roof (as well as foundations, external and communal areas) with the freeholder, whereby all lease owners in the block will contribute to the upkeep of the roof through the service charge, or section 20 major works. In some 'one up one down' arrangements (two stacked dwellings with private access) the terms of the leases will stipulate that bottom maisonette owner owns the foundations and the owner of the upper maisonette owns the roof. These types of maisonette can be particularly attractive to homeowners wanting to build an extension off the bottom maisonette, or extend into the roof of the top maisonette. Your conveyancing solicitor will be able to review the title and the terms of the lease to tell you what the situation is for a specific property.

Is maisonette worth buying?

Maisonettes are often much more affordable than houses due to being smaller, leasehold and in higher population density areas. They can be ideal for first time buyers or home movers on a budget, especially people who live alone and appreciate living closely to neighbours. With any purchase there are pitfalls to look out for, such as problem neighbours, building defects or expensive ground rent. It is important to consider the disadvantages against the benefits, conduct the proper survey and searches and instruct a reliable conveyancing solicitor who specialises in this type of purchase and can warn you of any nasty surprises before you buy. Get a Specialist Conveyancing Quote Fixed Fee | Rated Excellent on Trustpilot | No Sale No Fee

Do maisonettes go up in value?

Maisonettes are relatively cheap, so they are unlikely to appreciate above an equivalent freehold house. Nonetheless, maisonettes do increase in value according to the property market in the area. Wherever property prices are rising, you should expect your maisonette to go up in value. There is one obvious exception to this and that will depend on the length of the lease. Leaseholds lose value significantly when they run down to around 80 years or less. You can usually extend the lease for a reasonable premium, but you should be aware that you will not be eligible for statutory lease extension until 2 years after you become the registered proprietor. We can explain your options for extending the lease as you purchase the property.

A modern maisonette showing an internal staircase to the second storey. SAM Conveyancing explain: What is the Difference Between a Flat and a Maisonette?

These properties are leasehold and may come with a share of freehold, so it is essential you use a specialist conveyancer.

All our fees are Fixed and we can help with RICS surveys at excellent rates, for a complete service.

What is the Difference Between a Flat and a Maisonette?

by:

Caragh Bailey

Last Updated: 17/01/2024

Read by:

3,279

6 min read

Key Takeaways

A maisonette is similar to a flat, with some key differences
They are often cheaper but come with some disadvantages
They can be a worth buying as an investment or an affordable first home, especially in urban areas where prices are high
If you are buying a maisonette, you should get a L2 survey

What makes a property a maisonette?

For a property to be classed as a maisonette, it must be:

1. One of multiple, self-contained dwellings in a single building

Maisonettes are often above, or below, a commercial premises, flat or another maisonette

2. Split across two storeys

Maisonettes have an upstairs and a downstairs, connected by a private, internal staircase

3. Accessed by its own front door

Maisonettes have private access onto the street, often via external stairs and walkways. The American term for a maisonette is a 'duplex'. Confusingly, they call a penthouse (the top floor apartment) a maisonette.

What is the difference between a maisonette and an apartment?

The main difference is that maisonettes are on two storeys, rather than a flat which is, well, flat. Apartments are a bit fancier than flats and can sometimes be split across two floors, but will, like flats, still be accessed through a communal front door and corridor, where maisonettes have their own access to the outside.

Usually, the external front door of a maisonette will open directly onto the street, or a private outdoor staircase which lands on the street. Maisonettes can also come in blocks, like flats, with external walkways which wrap around the building, giving each residence its own private access.

Is a maisonette bigger than a flat?

As a general rule, maisonettes are bigger than flats due to being split across two floors, but there aren't size limits on the definition of either. A large flat may be bigger than a small maisonette and you should consider the square footage of each individual property.

What are the disadvantages of a maisonette?

While a maisonette can offer more space and privacy than a flat, it is not as secure as a flat (which will have an external door between your own front door and the street) and has much less independence than a house.

Maisonettes are leaseholds and that comes with statutory and contractual terms and obligations, including service charges and limitations on any changes or developments. Older leases are also subject to ground rent.

Some maisonettes come with private outdoor space, while many do not. You will be living in closer proximity with your neighbours than in a house and may experience challenges including noise or even damp caused by leaks from above.

Not all lenders are willing to finance the purchase of a maisonette, however there are plenty of mortgage products available. If buying with a mortgage we recommend you enlist an independent mortgage broker who can present an impartial selection of suitable options and advise on their merits.

Get a Broker Consultation

Free Consultation* | 100% Impartial Advice | Access to Whole Market

Why are maisonettes cheaper than flats?

Maisonettes are often cheaper than flats because there are generally fewer or smaller communal areas. Take a converted four storey townhouse for example. The ground floor maisonette is responsible for the ground and first floor, the foundations and the garden.

The upper maisonette is responsible for the second and third storey, the roof, a private balcony and private access stairs. There are no communal areas for a service charge to maintain, so it will be fairly minimal, just enough to cover building insurance and other basic freehold expenses.

Whether you're looking at a flat or a maisonette, be sure to read our guide on Questions to Ask When Viewing a Flat before your viewing.

Do I need a Level 2 HomeBuyer Report on a Maisonette?

If you are purchasing a flat or a maisonette, the RICS Level 2 Home buyers report (now called Home Survey L2) is the survey for you. You will only need the Level 3 survey if the property is older, larger, or you are planning major works.

Get a Quote

RICS Surveyors | Fixed Fees | Same week availability | Access arranged

Free Initial Leasehold Advice

Arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced conveyancing executives on:

Lease extension.
Purchasing the leasehold, freehold or share of freehold.
Selling a leasehold property with a short lease.
Extending the lease at the same time as you sell.

We specialise in lease extensions and have RICS valuers for the premium/negotiation and solicitors for the section 42 notice and formal or informal extension. Request a tailored quote for:

RICS Lease Extension Valuation or L2 Homebuyers Survey.
Serving of the section 42 notice or section 13 notice on the freeholder.
Negotiation with the freeholder (with the support of your RICS valuer).
Completion of the legal work, including deed of variation.
Application to Tribunal to determine the premium.
Vesting order for absent landlords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Garden

Roof

Worth

Value

Written by: Caragh Bailey

Caragh Bailey is a Lead Property Content Specialist at SAM Conveyancing, having joined the firm in 2020. With a portfolio of over 150 technical conveyancing, house survey and mortgage guides, she has become a primary authority on the end-to-end sale and purchase process.

Caragh specialises in complex legal workflows, including Help to Buy redemptions, equity transfers, shared ownership structures, trust deeds for tax planning, and joint ownership disputes. Her expertise extends to leasehold reform and RICS home surveys, where she provides clear, factual guidance on independent legal advice for specialist mortgage products and intricate ownership structures.

Reviewed by: Andrew Boast

Andrew Boast FMAAT is a qualified accountant, conveyancing specialist and author with over 25 years of experience in the UK property sector. Since beginning his career in 2000 within established SRA and CLC-regulated conveyancing solicitor firms, Andrew has overseen the legal journeys of more than 75,000 clients.

He is the author of the property guide 'How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone' and a frequent contributor to mainstream UK media on legislative updates, property law, first-time buyer guides, conveyancing best practices, and stamp duty changes. Andrew specialises in resolving complex title issues, property conflict disputes, and property tax options, streamlining the enquiry process to reduce transaction times and maintaining a client-friendly focus.

People also searched for