4 ms·

It's not just the landords, it's also the people themselves, especially the natives. If you mention you live in a flat (as opposed to a house) people will look

It's not just the landords, it's also the people themselves, especially the natives. If you mention you live in a flat (as opposed to a house) people will look down on you because you're so poor. What's wrong with flats? I've lived in several European capitals (and in a major US city), and I've never the same "oh you live in flat, you must be poor" reaction.

tomduncalf 3y ago
Really? I’ve lived in London 10 years and have honestly never encountered this (and most people I know either live in flats, or live quite far outside of London in a house). Perhaps it’s just in a certain area you encountered this (or certain areas where I didn’t!)
simonswords82 3y ago
You're hanging out with the wrong people. I've lived in/around London all my life and have not once encountered that weird measure of wealth. Especially when you consider that flats in some parts of London are bloody expensive too!
freitzkriesler2 3y ago
You're getting unfair downvotes. Are you English or something else? One of the perks of living in England as a foreigner is you avoid the extreme class stratification that is English society or are at least given a pass. And yes, to certain circles saying you live in a flat is akin to admitting you're poor. This along with your accent also identifies your class. I avoided this by calling my flat an apartment though I lived in New Cross near Deptford which is definitely "low class" or as I liked to say, " gentrifying.".
- sdfghswe 3y ago
  I'm not English, but these reactions come from English people. Funny on apartment / flat. Why is one better than the other? In my mind there's no difference. Is it just some sort of subconscious connotation?
  - freitzkriesler2 3y ago
    It's knowing how to game their cultural class systems to your advantage. Also being a foreigner excludes you by virtue of being a foreigner. With that said, I loved england and all of its quirks.
helsinkiandrew 3y ago
In London I find that very hard to believe unless you were associating with some exceptionally rich people. The average flat prices was over £500K (most expensive is being sold for £175 million: https://onehidepark.uk/ https://onehidepark.uk/) and house was £800K. There's similar expensive ranges for rentals.
dukeyukey 3y ago
I'm not sure I know _anyone_ (who doesn't live with their parents) in London who doesn't either live in a flat or lives in a house with flatmates. And that includes doctors, CTOs, and lots of software engineers.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
stuaxo 3y ago
I've never come across this in London, but only been living here for about 15 years total.
darrenf 3y ago
> it's also the people themselves, especially the natives. If you mention you live in a flat (as opposed to a house) people will look down on you because you're so poor. What's wrong with flats? Native here. Born '74, perhaps ironically I lived in a house when young because my family were poor and we lived in charity housing. In '99 I moved out and lived only in flats until eventually leaving London in 2021, moving back into a house at age 46. Suffice to say I don't recognise this attitude in myself, nor any of my friends or colleagues throughout those 46 years. TBH I knew very few people that lived in a house in London for most of that time anyway.
HPsquared 3y ago
My experience is more that having your own flat is a sign of wealth. Lots of people only have a room.
OJFord 3y ago
That's definitely nonsense, I'd put money on there being many more rich Londoners in desirably located flats than same price house (further out/not so desirable). The majority (loosely/anecdotally speaking) of the particularly desirably located houses are converted to flats.
- sdfghswe 3y ago
  > I'd put money on there being many more rich Londoners in desirably located flats than same price house I know that, but that's not what most londoners believe.

tomduncalf 3y ago

Really? I’ve lived in London 10 years and have honestly never encountered this (and most people I know either live in flats, or live quite far outside of London in a house). Perhaps it’s just in a certain area you encountered this (or certain areas where I didn’t!)

simonswords82 3y ago

You're hanging out with the wrong people. I've lived in/around London all my life and have not once encountered that weird measure of wealth. Especially when you consider that flats in some parts of London are bloody expensive too!

freitzkriesler2 3y ago

You're getting unfair downvotes. Are you English or something else? One of the perks of living in England as a foreigner is you avoid the extreme class stratification that is English society or are at least given a pass. And yes, to certain circles saying you live in a flat is akin to admitting you're poor. This along with your accent also identifies your class. I avoided this by calling my flat an apartment though I lived in New Cross near Deptford which is definitely "low class" or as I liked to say, " gentrifying.".

sdfghswe 3y ago
I'm not English, but these reactions come from English people. Funny on apartment / flat. Why is one better than the other? In my mind there's no difference. Is it just some sort of subconscious connotation?
- freitzkriesler2 3y ago
  It's knowing how to game their cultural class systems to your advantage. Also being a foreigner excludes you by virtue of being a foreigner. With that said, I loved england and all of its quirks.

helsinkiandrew 3y ago

In London I find that very hard to believe unless you were associating with some exceptionally rich people. The average flat prices was over £500K (most expensive is being sold for £175 million: https://onehidepark.uk/ https://onehidepark.uk/) and house was £800K. There's similar expensive ranges for rentals.

dukeyukey 3y ago

I'm not sure I know _anyone_ (who doesn't live with their parents) in London who doesn't either live in a flat or lives in a house with flatmates. And that includes doctors, CTOs, and lots of software engineers.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

stuaxo 3y ago

I've never come across this in London, but only been living here for about 15 years total.

darrenf 3y ago

> it's also the people themselves, especially the natives. If you mention you live in a flat (as opposed to a house) people will look down on you because you're so poor. What's wrong with flats? Native here. Born '74, perhaps ironically I lived in a house when young because my family were poor and we lived in charity housing. In '99 I moved out and lived only in flats until eventually leaving London in 2021, moving back into a house at age 46. Suffice to say I don't recognise this attitude in myself, nor any of my friends or colleagues throughout those 46 years. TBH I knew very few people that lived in a house in London for most of that time anyway.

HPsquared 3y ago

My experience is more that having your own flat is a sign of wealth. Lots of people only have a room.

OJFord 3y ago

That's definitely nonsense, I'd put money on there being many more rich Londoners in desirably located flats than same price house (further out/not so desirable). The majority (loosely/anecdotally speaking) of the particularly desirably located houses are converted to flats.

sdfghswe 3y ago
> I'd put money on there being many more rich Londoners in desirably located flats than same price house I know that, but that's not what most londoners believe.