Apartment types from A – Z: Old building, loft, penthouse & Co.

Apartments are a popular investment case precisely because they are rented out. However, apart from the rental conditions and the choice of the perfect tenant, the selection of a suitable apartment can be a challenge. We have summarized the 10 most common types of apartments for you below, so that you can get an overview of your options on the housing market. The links below will take you to extensive and detailed pages on each type of apartment, where you can learn even more. Find the perfect type of apartment for you – whether you are an investor, tenant or interested in buying a condominium.

Old building apartment: high ceilings, stucco and parquet – tenant favourite

In German cities, apartments in old buildings are among the most sought-after properties. And rightly so: the era of old buildings ended an estimated 70 years ago, when the use of concrete walls and insulating glass windows became increasingly common. Thus, these buildings are filled with stories from the so-called Wilhelminian period around 1900, which is also expressed in the architecture and the rooms, which are in the style of the Renaissance.

This apartment in an old building is one of the most sought-after properties on the German market and an excellent investment. Due to its distinctive charm, special architecture and unique construction, this apartment is highly sought after by many people. Due to the proximity to the city centre, the high ceilings, bay windows and the box windows, Altbau apartments are in high demand and many would pay a small fortune to be able to live in such a property. In this article you will find many useful tips, advantages and disadvantages around this particular building type.

• Old apartment

Apartment: Small apartment for rent in big cities

Apartments are very popular, especially for the first own apartment, but also for other apartment seekers, the small apartments are very attractive. An apartment is a small flat with only one or at most one and a half rooms. Most of the time, the apartments are modernly furnished and have high-quality equipment.

In addition to the classic apartments, there are also furnished apartments. This type of apartment is particularly popular with people who are only looking for a temporary apartment for a fixed period of time. For a fixed price, the furniture and equipment can be taken over by the owner or landlord. This amount is often added to the monthly rent. The word apartment is also used as a synonym for a holiday home.

• Apartment

Attic apartment: Living under the roof – wooden beams & heating costs

What exactly is a loft apartment anyway? The name is actually quite self-explanatory. Attic apartment is the term that describes an apartment on the floor directly under the roof. A prerequisite for an apartment to actually be understood as an attic apartment is that the roof slopes are also part of the living unit and thus reduce the space in the apartment, for example. Sometimes roof slopes even have a negative effect on the usable living space. Penthouse apartments can also be living units on the top floor of a house, but these are never characterized by slopes.

Another type of apartment under the roof is the mansard apartment. This also refers to a form of living on the top floor of a house. However, the name already reveals that the roof form is not the classic pitched roof, but a mansard roof, which can be found increasingly in large cities such as Paris. The slope of the side walls under the mansard roof is not quite as extreme as that of a classic roof form.

• Attic apartment

Granny flat: tenant under own roof or multi-generation house

This type of apartment is a particularly attractive living option for families who want to live together in a multi-generational house. Families can live together under one roof, and yet the separate granny annexe provides a retreat and an opportunity for privacy in a single-family home.

Due to the low rental and purchase prices, a granny flat is also popular for young professionals, students or professional groups such as au pair girls or private care workers. These are usually found in the basement or attic. As a landlord, a granny flat is exciting, you have the apartment for rent under your own roof and can thus keep a close eye on the apartment and tenant. However, the close contact between tenant and landlord can also be interpreted as a disadvantage. What there is to know about granny flats, you can find out here!

• Granny flat

Apartment: Living on 2 floors – Plenty of living space and free space

The name says it all when it comes to apartments. Because what constitutes a floor apartment is that the apartment extends over an entire floor of an apartment building. But this is exactly what sometimes leads to confusion, because many think that a floor apartment includes several floors. Unfortunately, this is wrong. If you are looking for an apartment on several floors, you might want to read up on maisonettes, gallery apartments or duplex apartments.

Choosing the right apartment is not easy, especially for an investment. There are many different types of apartment, and they all have different advantages and disadvantages. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the apartment type Apartment: Apartments promise a lot of space and the opportunity to turn your own wishes and ideas into reality in a large area. But the purchase of an apartment should always be well considered. Is a flat on a floor the right thing for you? We will try to find out together with you.

• Apartment

Loft: Luxurious living and space for free development

Especially in big cities like New York or London, lofts were created for the first time during the 40s. Old factories and warehouses were converted into living space in order to live inexpensively, especially as artists. In the meantime, the target group for potential loft dwellers has changed. The special properties are very popular, exclusive and above all expensive due to their size, among other things. The floor plan of the old industrial wastelands is lavishly modernized and adapted to the luxury standard of the buyers, who are mostly young, successful adults. Do you want to invest your money in a property and thus generate additional income for years to come? Then you will learn everything about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of apartment, and what you should consider when buying/renting.

• Loft

Maisonette: Living on 2 floors with gallery and high ceilings

“Small house” is what the French name means. The housing form bears the title because of the two floors it promises. These are precisely the charm of the living environment, because rooms with several floors make residents forget for a moment that it is just an apartment. Many are therefore specifically looking for apartments with a gallery. If you have also included maisonettes in your apartment search, you can find out everything you need to know about the search here.

As briefly mentioned above, a maisonette is a two-storey option, with the upper part often comprising only a half-storey. This type of apartment is often found on the upper floors of a building, where the top floor has been connected to the part of the apartment below with an open staircase. This option expands the apartment and helps to promote the feeling of a large, spacious apartment while maximizing living space.

• Maisonette apartment

Penthouse: Enjoy luxury above the rooftops of the city

The penthouse is a separate house apartment located on the roof of a multi-storey house or high-rise building. Except for the floor slab, a penthouse is not connected to the building below it. Often penthouses have exclusive luxury features and are very expensive.

This type of apartment promises absolute luxury above the rooftops of the city. Penthouse apartments are apartments in a class of their own, often luxuriously furnished with large windows that flood the room with natural light and let you enjoy the breathtaking view. While luxury comes at a price, there are always potential savings to be made. What to look for in a penthouse, and how best to get your hands on one, is revealed here. Let yourself be carried away into the world of the luxurious penthouse, perhaps it will be your next property – whether in Düsseldorf or New York: penthouse apartments can be found all over the world!

• Penthouse

Basement apartment: cool and close to the ground

What is it? This type of apartment is located underground, that is, in the basement or basement. Often you can find such housing in the middle of the city center, so in a perfect location. However, often potential tenants/buyers are rather deterred from buying such a property because of its position in the building. Are you interested in renting or buying such an apartment in order to rent it out afterwards?

A basement apartment is above all inexpensive. The property, which is usually located in the middle of the city centre, is rather unpopular despite its comparatively cheap rent and some aspects deter potential tenants. Despite this, with a few simple tricks you can easily convert a basement into an apartment and earn some money on the side. You have the option of converting your own basement and renting it out or buying a condo in the city. Here you will learn everything about the basement apartment

• Basement apartment

Terrace apartment: Living with terrace and access to fresh air

A terrace apartment is an apartment that is defined solely by the possession of a terrace. The size, layout and type of apartment can vary greatly. In this article, the apartment “terrace apartment” is defined, the advantages and disadvantages are pointed out and different terrace apartments are presented. In addition, important points of reference are listed, which should help you in the decision“rent or buy“!

A terrace is usually sold in the real estate world as the highlight of an apartment. But what is a terrace actually? What criteria must it fulfil in order to be sold as such? Do I have to pay attention to anything special in rental contracts? All these questions will be answered in the following article!

• Terrace apartment

Heating with electricity through infrared rays

When building a house, there is always the question of the right heating system. Here there are many variants that need to be considered, and infrared heating is one of them. The model shows many advantages that adapt well to different living situations. But under what conditions is the installation of infrared heating worthwhile and how exactly does heating with electricity actually work?

Pleasant and healthy heat through infrared rays

The radiation of the infrared heating works differently than other heating systems, because the radiation does not warm the air in the room, but directly the body. This includes not only the human body, but also walls, ceilings or floors and even the furniture. The principle can be compared to sunbathing in winter. Due to this technique, the heat is already perceived by the body as pleasantly warm at low temperatures. This means that only low temperatures are necessary, thus saving electricity and heating costs. Another advantage of infrared heating is that the rooms do not have to be preheated for a long time so that the body is pleasantly warm. This provides comfortable warmth and thus increases the well-being and health.

Installing infrared heating – low installation work & low costs

The installation for an infrared heater is very simple. All that is needed are the heating elements in the room and also a power socket nearby. Other heating systems require pipes that need to be laid throughout the house, as well as boilers, hot water tanks and the radiators that need to be connected. This incurs installation and material costs and labour wages for tradesmen. With infrared heating, depending on the model (wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, floor-standing or suspended), no or only minimal installation work is required. The costs for installation are therefore significantly lower than the costs for the installation of other heating systems.

The durability of infrared heaters also compares favorably to other heating systems. Most heating systems require regular maintenance to maintain performance. This incurs not inconsiderable costs for repair and maintenance, which should be included in long-term planning. Infrared heating is generally considered to be very cost effective in this area. It has a long life and does not require maintenance, as it has a very simple structure and the few components are not susceptible to damage.

Installing infrared heating as a supplement to other heating systems

Especially in old buildings, infrared heating offers a good addition to already existing heating systems. When expanding within an already existing heating system, it is usually difficult to lay new pipes, as this is time-consuming and expensive. An alternative is offered here by infrared heating, which can heat additional rooms in combination with the original heating system, and this simply at the socket. The low installation effort and the low initial costs attract builders and property owners. The low maintenance costs compensate for the relatively high operating costs and speak for infrared heating. But also with the occasional heating of rooms the infrared heating is a good alternative. The short time for preheating and the individual use of the system is advantageous for heating certain rooms only rarely or on certain occasions.

Installing infrared heating as the sole heating system

In new construction, heating alone with infrared heating is not a problem. The modern insulation that is installed during construction provides sufficient heat in the rooms. In old buildings, the whole thing looks a little different. Here the infrared heating is worthwhile as a sole heating system only under certain conditions, so that the heat is not lost, the building must have a certain insulation. The better the insulation of the building, the more lucrative the use of infrared heating. When renovating and refurbishing an old building, it is no problem to strengthen the insulation and install an infrared heating system.

Tip! Heating system in comparison

Save up to 55% costs (heat energy)? Tip! Not only already, but practically? Save energy with the heating system in your property. Use the next time for renovation or your upcoming new building. Here you will find our guide heating systems: solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets in comparison and as extra, state subsidies. Continue reading here:

• Heating system: comparison

Advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Advantages of infrared heating

Infrared heating is a worthwhile alternative to other conventional heating systems and offers a number of advantages for both old and new buildings.

Rapid feeling of warmth throughout the room despite low temperatures

Infrared heating warms rooms not through the air, but by infrared rays directly warming the body. The body stores this heat and carries it around with it, whereby the heat is perceived as the same in the entire room. Due to the heat storage in the body, low room temperatures are sufficient to create pleasant comfortable temperatures.

Healthy indoor climate for allergy sufferers

Unlike conventional heating systems, infrared heating does not stir up dust, which keeps the dust concentration in the air low. For dust, animal hair but also pollen allergy sufferers, the air is easier to breathe and also asthmatics can breathe easier. A spreading of allergy substances in the room is avoided, which leads to less dust spreading and thus cleaner air.

Positive effect on the body

The infrared heater warms the body through radiant heat from IR-A infrared radiation. This radiation penetrates a few millimetres into our skin and thus increases the tissue temperature. We feel a pleasant warmth through this technique, comparable to sunbathing. The increased tissue temperature dilates the blood vessels and promotes blood circulation. Comparable to a red light treatment, the infrared rays can have a tension-relieving effect and thus be beneficial to health in the case of muscle complaints or back pain.

Variable and advantageous costs

The purchase costs for an infrared heater are very low. Only the heating panels are needed and a power outlet. Compared to other heating systems where many materials and installation costs are incurred, the infrared heating is probably the cheapest in the purchase.

When using an infrared heater, heating costs are only incurred when heating is actually taking place, i.e. only when it is switched on. The less heat is needed, the lower the costs are.

Since the body already feels the low radiant heat of the infrared rays as pleasant and stores them, the heater does not have to run at high temperatures like other models to create a comfortable indoor climate. The operating costs can therefore be kept as low as possible.

Since the infrared heating consists of few and simple components that are not susceptible to malfunctions, the infrared heating has a long life and low maintenance costs.

Disadvantages of infrared heating

But infrared heating also has some disadvantages that property owners and builders need to consider before making the purchase.

High costs for electricity and operating costs

Heating with electricity is comparatively rather expensive. Electricity prices fluctuate constantly, which means that the operating costs for infrared heating also vary. To keep electricity costs as low as possible, the property should have good insulation so that as little heat as possible is lost to the outside.

Carbon dioxide emissions and environmental friendliness

Heating with electricity is not environmentally friendly. It even produces higher carbon dioxide emissions than conventional heating systems. By combining it with green electricity or a photovoltaic system, the eco-balance can be improved, but even then there is still a high environmental impact.

Room temperature difficult to determine

The room temperature is difficult to measure because it is perceived by our own body as warmer than it actually is. The temperature of the room is therefore always somewhat lower than our sensation. Thus, the temperature of the room can be determined but not the temperature we feel.

Heating guide: types, prices & comparison

Heating & Types – The topic of heating is not only interesting for builders, but also for property owners. After all, heaters are not only necessary in a property, they are also required by law. Which types of heating are there, how do they have to be maintained and are there legal subsidies for the construction of certain types of heating or do the costs have to be paid completely by the owner? Especially when building a house or renovating and modernising, the heating system plays a decisive role, because a large part of the later running costs depend on it, for you or for your tenants.

When deciding on a heating system, a number of things need to be considered, as there are major differences. Depending on the property, it must be decided individually which system is best suited to efficiently heat the entire property. The systems differ not only in environmental friendliness, but also in efficiency and price. Solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets:

• Heating: Comparison & Costs

Mold overview

• Arises due to high humidity, incorrect ventilation and heating
• Penetrates through damaged masonry
• Mold secretes toxic substances
• Contact a specialist in the event of mould growth
• In English – “mildew”

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Overview of the bicycle cellar

• Serves bicycle storage in apartment buildings
• Mostly door to outside available
• Parking space is compulsory
• English : bicycle storage

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Lambert Home – the flagship store in Frankfurt

Lambert Home focuses on high-quality furniture, exclusive accessories and on perfect identification with one’s own home. The employees of Lambert have been fulfilling living dreams for more than 40 years. In the flagship store in Frankfurt am Main you can find a lot of inspiration and great ideas for your own home.

Bethmannstrasse 56, 60311 Frankfurt

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Ikarus – special designers in one shop

Ikarus combines special designers, great brands and a special flair for the latest trends. Both in the online shop and in the store in Frankfurt am Main, modern pieces of furniture, home accessories and lots of inspiration await customers.

Hanauer Landstraße 136, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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BoConcept – Danish design in Frankfurt

At BoConcept you can find Danish design since 1952. The satisfaction of the customers is the top priority here and this is ensured with high-quality materials, Scandinavian designs and always new ideas. In the store in Frankfurt you can find especially special pieces of furniture but also selected accessories.

Stephanstraße 1-5, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany

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Leptien3 – international design combined in one store

Leptien3 focuses on international design collections, individual advice and a holistic concept. Not only great furniture, but also lamps, outdoor furniture and accessories find a place here and with the very highest quality standards.

Große Friedberger Straße 29-31, 60313 Frankfurt, Germany

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Bretz – extraordinary designs with character

The traditional company Bretz already stands for over 120 years for strength of character and extraordinary designs. They are famous for their special sofa designs, which are bursting with colour and individual fabrics. In addition to the sofas, the store in Frankfurt also offers beds, carpets, side tables and much more.

Schäfergasse 33, 60311 Frankfurt, Germany

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Ligne Roset – French, elegant design

The French brand Ligne Roset has been manufacturing and designing the modern pieces of its collections in France since 1960. Genuine craftsmanship and a lot of experience are in every piece. The brand stands for an elegant way of life and a modern lifestyle. In terms of designs, they offer a wide range of products from beds to outdoor furniture.

Hanauer Landstrasse 135, 60314 Frankfurt

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Hästens – Quality for generations

From its roots as a saddler’s business, Hästens ‘ history stretches back six generations. The family business stands with passion for the highest quality and design. In the store in Frankfurt you can find especially beds in many different versions and designs.

Hanauer Landstrasse 135 – 137, 60314 Frankfurt, Germany

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Roche Bobois – Furniture designed by artists and architects

Every collection at Roche Bobois is created in cooperation with designers, architects and artists. This process ensures that the designs are always different and always modern. The idea behind Roche Bobois is to bring design to life. This idea is also successfuly implemented in the store in Frankfurt.

Hanauer Landstraße 186, 60314 Frankfurt, Germany

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Contrast – six floors of inspiration

Kontrast offers your customers living culture with sophistication and variety on six large floors. From furniture to lighting to great accessories, no wish remains unfulfilled here and the space for inspiration is large.

Hanauer Landstraße 297, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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Heide Einrichtungshaus – personal advice for the perfect result

Advice is the top priority at Einrichtungshaus Heide. The owner personally takes care of the customers and makes sure that all wishes are completely fulfilled. The store represents many different design approaches and ideas and inspires the customers to great ideas.

Alt-Fechenheim 103-105, 60386 Frankfurt

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Who’s Perfect – Variety, both online and in-store.

At Who’s Perfect there is not only a lot to discover in the online shop, but also in the numerous stores. A large selection and various modern designs distinguish the brand. In addition to furniture, you can also find great home accessories here.

Mainzer Landstraße 193, 60326 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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