Before appearing on our weekly rankings, our analysts answer over 60 questions on the quality and investment performance of each property. Here is a list of questions related to the layout of the property.
Size of living room
Space for dining in Kitchen
Storage in kitchen
Separate dining room
Long or badly planned corridors
Space for baby cot in master bedroom
Fitted wardrobes in master bedroom
General storage facilities
En-suite bathroom(s)
Bathroom(s) with shower only
Separate WC
Ease of access in at least one bathroom
Living room and kitchen close to each other
Living room and entrance close to each other
Entrance lobby prior to living room
Living room / Bedroom(s) adjacent to each other
The Housing Quality Indicators, Guidelines and Standards and Quality in Design (2008) form the basis of our layout analysis. These specify the minimum area requirements for a set number of bedrooms and bed spaces. This criterion looks at the amount of space required to accommodate furniture and the space required to perform activities typical of each room.
We also assess the layout of the main bathroom and of a second WC using the Wheelchair Housing Design Guide (2006). The guidance states that an effective bathroom containing a shower or bath, WC and basin should provide appropriate space for general manoeuvre to approach and use specific fittings. Other factors investigated in the analysis are fitted wardrobes, which are valued by buyers and are a requirement in The Housing Quality Indicators (2008); storage in kitchen and other storage within the apartment, which has been listed according to the number of bedrooms in the Housing Quality Indicators document. Properties with disproportionately sized rooms and long corridors have been downgraded because such characteristics increase the overall internal area of the apartment without improving the quality of space.
