An apartment is a type of residential property referring to individualized housing unit(s). It usually occupies part of a building that has two or three units, typically one to a floor.
A flat is a term used for an apartment on a single level. In most cases, this residential space refers to converted units in an older building or a big house.
Both types generally have their own front door, kitchen, and bathroom.
An apartment can mean large-scale public housing, owned properties such as condominiums with strata titles or individual tenants renting from a private landlord.
Some apartment buildings are characterized as 'mixed use'. These buildings have commercial, business, or offices on the first couple of floors, and residential space on the upper floors.
Large Scale Public Apartment
Apartment buildings are multi-story structures where three or more units are contained within one plot of land.
Types of Apartment Buildings
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A high-rise apartment building may be residential or it might also function as hotel, offices, or shops. A building with fifty or more stories is considered a skyscraper.
Skyscrapers became popular because of the elevator and cheaper building materials. These type of buildings are mostly made of reinforced concrete and steel.
- Low-rise and mid-rise buildings typically have fewer stories and may or may not have an elevator.
- Rental Apartment Buildings are owned by a single entity and rented out to many tenants.
- Condominiums are owned individually. Their owners pay a standard fee for building maintenance and amenities. Condominiums are usually leased by their owner as an apartment for rent.
Apartment Types and Characteristics
- A studio apartment is the smallest type of residential space. These units usually consist of a single main room which acts as the combined living room, dining room, and bedroom. Some studio apartment also features kitchen furnishings and a separate bathroom.
- Garden apartment share characteristics of a townhouse - each apartment has its own entrance or shares that entrance via a lobby that connects to other units above or below it. Unlike a townhouse, a garden apartment occupies only one level.
- Basement apartment is generally located on the lowest floor of the apartment building, before or beside the parking area.
- Duplex apartment refers to separate residential units with a common wall. Usually, a duplex apartment has 2-4 units with a separate door for each.
- Loft apartment refers to an industrial, warehouse, or commercial space that is converted to a residential apartment.
- Penthouse is an apartment located on the top floor of a high-rise apartment building
- Serviced apartment is any residential space that features regular maid and cleaning services provided by the rental agent. They are intended to combine luxury and privacy, like living in a hotel. A Serviced apartment allow residents to enjoy additional facilities such as housekeeping, laundry, catering, swimming area, and gym. A general feature of these apartment blocks is glamorous interiors with lavish bathrooms but no kitchen or laundry spaces in each unit.
Apartment for Rent and Sale in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the busiest and most populated area in the country. As the capital and seat of government in the Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is also the central business district where most of the foreign embassies, government offices, and non-government offices are located.
Due to the prevalence of the expat community in Phnom Penh, the demand for residential spaces increased exponentially in the last decade. Apartment buildings and condominiums had been built to cater to this demand.
Depending on your area preferences, an apartment can range from $300++ and above, depending on the number of rooms, quality of furnishings and additional amenities.
Apartment for sale can start at $20,000 and above. Again, depending on the quality of furniture provided, number of rooms and additional amenities like swimming pool and gym.
These residential spaces are very practical for foreigners who are staying long term in the country and for investors who are looking for a type of business that provides a steady income and requires minimum or limited management.
Siem Reap Apartment for Rent and Sale
Siem Reap is a busy tourist area and is home to many expatriates that fell in love with Cambodia. Although the hotels and guest houses are more in demand especially during the tourist season, the demand for an apartment is still very high.
Short term staying expatriates prefer the small spaces than the usual villas scattered around Siem Reap. An apartment or flat in the province is cheaper than their counterparts in Phnom Penh but provides the same amenities and conveniences.
Rental prices in Siem Reap can range from $150 and above, depending on the area, number of bedrooms, size, quality of furnishings and additional amenities.
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