Difference Between Flat And Apartment

Apartment-based living has become a prominent feature of urban life. Since space is scarce, residents have the option to settle for housing societies that offer them flats as a replacement for individual homes. While investing in such a unit, however, one might get confused if there is a difference between a flat and an apartment. The fact is that there is no real difference between the two terms and, in India, they are often used synonymously.x

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Nevertheless, across the world, a housing unit may be known as a flat or an apartment, depending on the geography.

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What is a flat?

A housing unit in a housing society is known as a flat. The term flat is more common in the UK and is derived from the old English word, flett, meaning the floor or a dwelling.

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Before high-rises became common, multiple housing units were constructed on one floor, earning the units in community housing projects the name ‘flat’.

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What is an apartment?

An apartment is another term for a flat and is more commonly used in the US. Simply put, an apartment is the American equivalent of a British flat.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes an apartment as ‘a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building’.

The word apartment is derived from the Italian word, appartamento, meaning a set of rooms in a house that are used exclusively by one person. The term apartment is also used to convey this meaning in the case of large establishments. In the UK, the term apartment refers to a room in a house, especially a large or famous house.

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FAQs

Is a flat the same as an apartment?

Yes, flats and apartments are the names used to describe housing units in real estate projects. In India, these terms are synonymously used.

Is the term flat or apartment more common in India?

In Indian real estate, the term flat is more common than the term apartment. It may have to do with the fact that India is more influenced by British English, where flats are more commonly used than the term apartment.

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Sunita Mishra

An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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