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What sounds better an apartment or flat

(39 Posts)
12Michael Fri 17-Jan-14 08:39:22

I live in an Anchor retirement home, and they have just changed the flats (bedsits) to apartments what sounds best.
Mick

absent Fri 17-Jan-14 08:46:01

What's the difference other than flats being the usual English term and apartment being the usual American one? In any case, if it's a bedsit, it isn't either of those but I don't suppose they – whoever they are – would want to use that term as it sounds poky and old-fashioned. I think these days, they are more often called studio flats or just studios.

gillybob Fri 17-Jan-14 08:46:04

I think "apartments" is a developers word for selling "flats" .12Michael How different it sounds to say "I live on the top floor apartment" than to say "I live on the top floor flat" .

absent Fri 17-Jan-14 08:57:20

gillybob "I live in the penthouse sounds even flasher".

JessM Fri 17-Jan-14 09:03:24

apartments is estate agent speak

thatbags Fri 17-Jan-14 09:05:37

An apartment is also just a room, isn't it? <goes off to check>

Gally Fri 17-Jan-14 09:12:17

Here in Australia, it's called a unit - duh!

Gally Fri 17-Jan-14 09:13:06

Actually, I think apartment sound quite posh grin

gillybob Fri 17-Jan-14 09:21:57

Oh it certainly does Absent !

Sounds so much better saying "oh mine is the penthouse Dahhhhling" than saying "me? I'm in the top floor flat" grin

Riverwalk Fri 17-Jan-14 09:23:40

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge will be moving into Apartment 1A (21 rooms) at Kensington Palace.

Wouldn't sound the same described as Princess Margaret's old flat!

ninathenana Fri 17-Jan-14 09:29:28

Personally I prefer apartment. Bed sit sounds like a student pad. As absent says studio apartment sounds much more appealing.

Riverwalk Fri 17-Jan-14 09:34:46

I think flat/apartment must have been interchangeable on both sides of the Atlantic in the past.

I remember reading in the American novel A Tree Grows In Brooklyn which was written in the 1940s, the family home described as 'a tenement flat'.

Kiora Fri 17-Jan-14 09:36:24

Riverwalk smile your comment made me chortle thanks

rosesarered Fri 17-Jan-14 12:16:26

Mrs. Bouquet would certainly say 'apartment' grin but I would say a 'flat' then everyone knows what you mean.

glammanana Fri 17-Jan-14 13:20:35

This (moi) "Mrs Bouquet" would say apartment only because when I was at work selling properties at The Albert Dock/Waterloo Warehouse on The Docklands it was not acceptable to ask a client would you like to view The Show Flat !! far better would you like to view The Show Apartment,I live in a first floor apartment fondly known as The Penthouse to my downstairs neighbours grin

sherish Fri 17-Jan-14 13:37:20

My DD lives in what she bought as an 'apartment'. It's on a third floor and has a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms.

I did refer to it as 'your flat' and was promptly corrected.

goldengirl Fri 17-Jan-14 16:56:59

For me it depends on size, location and type of building.

POGS Fri 17-Jan-14 20:05:37

For what it's worth I think apartment sounds better.

whatsgoingon Fri 17-Jan-14 23:19:15

Change the description when selling a flat by calling it an apartment and increase the asking price by 25% . Does calling it an apartment sound better now.
I know what I would rather call it. wink

Nelliemoser Fri 17-Jan-14 23:37:29

You would never use the term "tenement" now. It sounds like a Glasgow slum.
I expect one day they will have to reinvent a word for apartment. Do the huge and posh mansion flats in London now get known as Mansion apartments? Or is it "suites."?

Granny23 Fri 17-Jan-14 23:53:24

Nellie I think that many residents in tenement flats in Glasgow's West End would be incensed if they heard you referring to their homes as 'slums'

For example:

Offers over
£359,000
4 bedroom Flat

More details and 11 photos

Saltoun Street, Dowanhill, G12 9AR

A substantial and stunning six apartment second floor flat within a landmark traditional blonde sandstone tenement within the heart of Glasgow's West...

Slater Hogg & Howison (West End) 0141 258 1066

Nelliemoser Sat 18-Jan-14 08:46:47

Granny23 I am sorry! I didn't mean to offend but I was commenting on the impression the term "tenement" gives to me down south.

dollie Sat 18-Jan-14 09:20:34

a tenement is building for human habitation especially one that is rented to tenants....its a rundown low-rental apartment building whose facilities and maintenance barely meet minimum standards...in this day and age its appalling to think that these tenements still exist!!

re; apartment/ flat they are the same but people seem to think apartment sounds more upmarket...a bit of snobbery me thinks!

Aka Sat 18-Jan-14 09:33:41

Dollie did you not read Granny23's post?

Agus Sat 18-Jan-14 09:38:37

dollie have you been inside a Glasgow or Edinburgh sandstone tenement, most of which are privately owned?