Some people on here say they live in a flat, what the heck is a flat?

Question

Its driving me crazy.

Answer 1

Well, flat, apartment and condominium are three different places.

Flat is similar to apartment, which is a high rise building with more than 4 floors, non-luxury units - only a simple brick houses, very small usually up to 2 rooms only, with none security guards.

Apartment on the other hand, could be 4 floors or more (those 4 floors or less does not come with elevator), with luxury units and security guards, but with only basic facilities.

Condominium is a high rise luxury building, spacious units, with security guards and facilities e.g swimming pool, sauna, cafe, playground, badminton, tennis, squash courts, barbeque area, skating rink, laundry shop, etc, all in the condominium compound.

To differ them in a simple way, for whatever name they call it, ask these questions in sequence:

1. Is there any swimming pool?
Yes --> it's a condominium.
No --> might be an apartment, or flat. (ask Question 2).

2. Is there any guard house/security guards?
Yes --> it's an apartment then.
No --> it narrowed down to a flat.

So that are the difference. Flat is like an apartment minus the guard house and like a condominum minus the facilities and the guard house too! =)

Answer 2

The English word for an apartment! Only they are usually houses that have been converted into 3/4 smaller self contained homes

Answer 3

Flat is the English word for apartment.

The British also say trousers for pants and boot for trunk.

Answer 4

regardless of whether it's an english word for apartment, whenever someone i know says that, i always feel bad that their apartment was crushed flat

Answer 5

i live in a flat. its like an apartment.

Answer 6

An apartment on one floor of a building.

Answer 7

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house