Living in a basement may not seem an attractive proposition for many, but upon further reflection, there are a host of benefits of inhabiting such a space, as well as some of the obvious pitfalls. Here are just some of the surprising advantages of renting a basement space, as well as those negative sides that every renter should consider:
The Benefits of Inhabiting Basement Apartments
You can secure more space
An often overlooked aspect of renting a basement space is that you can secure more bangs for your buck in terms of the space that is at your disposal. That’s because a basement space often encompasses the entire bottom floor of a dwelling, so although it may be open plan, the inherent benefit here is that there will be much more square footage at your disposal
You can rent at attractive prices
We have already mentioned more bangs for your buck in terms of space, and this is one of the most outstanding benefits of renting this type of room. As it all boils down to the economics of supply and demand, and basement space is just not as desirable as other parts of the building, the price reflects that fact. If price is an issue (and let’s face it, for the majority of us it is) then looking for this kind of option can be a great way into the rental market.
You can enjoy more privacy
Often depicted as quiet, lonely parts of the house, that cliché is actually another of the most attractive aspects of basements: they really can offer the kind of solitude that can be impossible to find in other parts of a building. If you live on the ground floor in an apartment block, there is always passing traffic as well as the issue of access: you could conceivably be woken up by every person who enters the building.
“Off the beaten path in terms of the physical building in which it is located, a basement simply does not have the issue of access noise. And it is subterranean; you can cut out street noise too. What’s not to like about that?” enthuses Rebecca Solomon, a real estate expert at Academized and OXEssays.
Stairs are often not an issue
Basement space can often be accessed by ramps, meaning that they have the potential to be ideal for disabled renters or those who are less able bodied. If there is a lift in the building, it’s only a short ride down too.
It is often a great short-term solution
Back to that issue of supply and demand; as basements are often hard to rent out, the landlords can be much more amenable to the idea of short-term lets. If you have just arrived in a location and need a quick solution that doesn’t tie you down to a long contract, that’s a really attractive benefit. And then if you are renter, it’s a great way to start ramping up your credit history to boot, which is a big deal in Canada.
The Disadvantages of Inhabiting Basement Apartments
Low ceilings can be an issue
The very nature of architectural design means that basements usually have low ceilings, which can of course give the sensation of being rather hemmed in. If you demand spacious rooms made all that grander by high ceiling space, you won’t find that in a basement.
Noise levels can ratchet up
It may sound like we are contradicting ourselves here, but it all boils down to the design of the building.
“While it’s true that some basements can be rather more secluded and therefore free from noise, others may be pitched right at street level, and the nature of the building may mean that the noise resonates from above. That’s just something you really need to check out when your review the space,” advises Tony Ramirez, a journalist at StateofWriting and Australianhelp.
Natural light may be at a premium
This is an obvious pitfall, and may be the clincher for many. Basements are never going to be awash with natural light, that’s just a fact, and while some may be better than others, the chances are they will favor inhabitants of a more nocturnal variety.
There may be environment and parking issues
Basements can get stiflingly hot in summer due to ventilation issues (another deal breaker for many) whereas in winter the basement can also sometimes be under-insulated. Once again, diligently dig for this information when enquiring about this space. Then there is the added caveat that basement spaces sometimes don’t include parking as they may have never been intended to be separately inhabited spaces in the first place (and you may want to think about all of the inherent disadvantages that fact brings too). These are all vital components to check out at the time of viewing the space.
Conclusion
And there you have it: the pros and cons of living in a basement apartment in a nutshell. It might not be to everyone’s taste, but then it might just be the short-term solution you have been looking for. Don’t rule it out until you’ve checked it out is the key takeaway.
Journalist Beatrix Potter can be discovered at Economic Essay Help and EssayRoo where she gives lifestyle tips. She is also a freelancer at Order Essay service.
