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Apartments

An Apartments, or flat, is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building, usually in a single story.

Both terms refer to a self-contained residential unit with its own front door, kitchen, toilet and bathroom. In some parts of the world, the term apartment refers to a purpose-built unit in a building. Where the word flat means a unit converted into an old building, usually a large house. Terms are interchangeable elsewhere.

The term apartment is favorable in North America. In the UK, the term apartment is more common in professional real estate and architectural circles. Where otherwise the term flat is commonly used, but not exclusively for single-level apartments.

In some countries, the term “unit” is a common term that refers to both apartment and rental business suites. The term ‘unit’ is usually used in the context of a particular building. For example, “There are three units in this building” or “I’m going to rent a unit in this building”, but “I’m not going to rent a unit anywhere”.

Some buildings can be identified as ‘mixed-use buildings’, meaning that some parts of the building are for commercial, business or office use. Usually on the first floor or first floor, and the rest are one or more apartment buildings, usually on the upper floor.