Many people consider possession of own "angle" as a blessing and it does not really matter whether it is an apartment or one-family house, having a place to live is the most important thing itself. On the other hand, have you ever thought of living in a block of flats? Let's analyze some advantages and disadvantages that it may give.
Noise is a traditional problem in blocks of flats- habitation of multi-family house links with larger threat of disturbance of quiet (repairs, lack of some occupants' imagination, quarrels among neighbour, etc.) This seems particularly so for panel blocks and is caused by the low sound insulation and high sound transmission quality of external walls, and the thinness of internal walls inside flats and to the stairwell.
The other problem is also temperature and draught: Flats in large housing estates are usually supplied with heat from a district heating scheme.
Arlington - My Apartment in Rosslyn (1965)
English: Block of Flats.
English: Block of Flats, BermondseyHowever, as radiators in the flats are often inefficient and not adjustable, problems with indoor temperatures are common with both under- and overheating, depending on climate and heating season.
On the other hand living in the block of flats is surprisingly comfortable- in the winter people are not obligated to heat their flats by themselves, as it is at all one-family houses. What is more, multi-family houses are usually situated in centres of cities, and therefore more functional- in the sense of doing purchases, relaxing, and also saving time for getting to work on time.
In spite of the noise, habitation with many good neighbours can have one's advantages. Neighbours can help for example older, lonely persons in doing purchases, call doctor, homemaking, etc. In case of our absence neighbour can fulfil part of guard of our house also.
All in all there are many arguments for and against living...