What Are the Different Types of Apartments in NYC?

By: ROS Team

Are you Looking for An Apartment in NYC?

From studio to railroad and garden to triplex, the city has all types of housing units to choose from. To help you make an informed decision, here we have rounded up some common types of apartments available in NYC.

Studio Apartment:

A studio apartment is a one-room apartment comprising a bedroom, kitchen, and living area into a single space. The bathroom is out of that living area and generally includes a shower in certain areas across NYC.

A studio apartment is also known as a bachelor apartment or efficiency apartment in some settings.

These housing facilities are found in all types of apartment buildings, from low-rise old buildings, skyscrapers, to apartments between 300-600 square feet.

Duplex Apartments:

A duplex apartment is an apartment on two floors.

In sprawling areas like Manhattan, it is often referred to as a maisonette, a single dwelling unit spanning over two floors linked by an indoor staircase.

They are commonly found in high-end buildings located on Fifth Avenue, Central Park West, and Park Avenue. Over decades, duplex apartments have also been made available in Tribeca, Chelsea, Noho, and far-west Village. Their two-story facility lets you have maximum space for your bedrooms as well as living and entertaining areas.

Related Article: What is a Duplex House and Other Things

Triplex Apartments:

As the name suggests, they are dwelling units that include 3 floors. Like a duplex, its floors are connected by a staircase.

Garden Apartments:

The garden apartment is used for two types of housing units.

The first one is a cluster of low-rise buildings containing laws, pathways, and landscaping.

The other type is located on the ground floor that provides direct access to a garden or backyard. These apartments are found in both condos and rentals. In NYC, they are generally found in the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens. However, garden apartments come with their trade-off. They can have security vulnerabilities and are prone to pests.

Related Article: Know About Garden Style Apartments

Junior 4 Apartments:

This apartment type comes with four rooms—a bedroom, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The fourth room is likely to be small, without a door that can latch or close.

Loft Apartments:

In NYC, a loft apartment is referred to as a large, open space that lacks internal walls. Besides, they are marked by their high ceilings, exposed piping, support beams, huge windows expanded to the ceilings, and wooden floors.

The trend of loft apartments was started in Soho during the 1970s where artists and craftspeople turn deserted factories and warehouses into their habitats as well as the workplace. As the neighborhoods flourished, this style of living amazed outsiders, thereby triggering this trend.

They are mostly found in the buildings that have been once industrial or commercial facilities across NYC like Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Railroad Apartments:

Railroad apartments are found in older and smaller units. They are called the railroad because of their straight floor plant. These apartments contain 3-4 rooms being connected without a hallway, creating a thin and long rectangle. Bedrooms are placed in the center or on the side. Railroad apartments are mostly used communal living as one has to share the facilities like kitchen and bathroom with others.

Penthouse Apartment:

A penthouse apartment is a dwelling unit on the highest floor of a condo or building. It is a symbol of luxury living and includes the finest material fittings and expensive flooring systems and amenities. Penthouses consist of a swimming pool, terrace, fireplace, oversized windows, Jacuzzi, and garden. Above all, it gives you a panoramic view of the city.

This blog has listed all major types of apartments available in NYC. However, you should choose the one that can meet your lifestyle as well as your financial circumstances. For example, a studio apartment is the best option for the individuals being on the run. You should choose the ground level if you feel trouble walking. The other things to consider are the view, noise factor, access, and level of privacy.

Co-Op Apartments:

It is different from the condo in terms of when you buy a co-op, you don’t own your specific unit instead you own shares of a co-op corporation that owns the building. Shareholders are supposed to pay monthly fees against building expenses including property taxes, utilities, insurance, and staff salaries. The downside is that the process to purchase the co-op is very tough and it takes more time to finalize the deal.

Related Article: What is a co op apartment NYC

Prewar Apartment:

They were built before World War II. The larger with an elevator in buildings. They can be frequently found on the Upper West and Upper East Sides. The prewar apartment can be recognized from a distance because of its thick walls, crown moldings, and other architectural details.

Walk Up Apartment:

It’s a unit in a building with no elevator. In other words, you have to walk up and down through the stairs. The buildings with less than six floors offer walkup apartments. By law, Buildings with more than six floors must have an elevator.

Micro Apartments:

According to the law, all New York City apartments must be at least 400 square feet.

In 2013, Mayor Michael Bloomberg created an exception and micro apartments were introduced. They usually cover an area of 260- to 360-square-feet with big windows, ample storage, kitchenettes, and Juliet balconies.

Junior One Bedroom Apartments:

This is slightly larger than a studio or a one-bedroom apartment with a small room or alcove. It is not necessary to have a door separating it from the rest of the unit. A separate place can be used as a sleeping space.

Related Article: What is a Junior One Bedroom

One Bedroom Apartment:

It simply is an apartment with one bedroom. The bedroom has to qualify the official standards set for the room. It has to have a window, a closet, and a door, and enough room for a bed and dresser.

Two Bedroom Apartment:

As the name indicates, the apartment has two bedrooms with a proper separation and each room fulfills the standard definition of a room. A bedroom has to have a window that opens to the street or the garden or courtyard. If the room does not have a window, it does not qualify to be called a bedroom in the legal term.

Classic Six Apartment:

The typical layout for this type of apartment is a formal dining room, a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a maid’s suite. Most of the time, classic six apartments include at least two bathrooms.

The classic seven follows the same floor plan with an additional bedroom.

Floor Through Apartment:

This is a type of apartment that covers the entire floor of a building. Typically, a floor setting where it runs from the front of the building to the back is known as a floor-through apartment.