Apartments in NYC come in all shapes and sizes, and many listings for such apartments come with real estate terms that you may be unfamiliar with. One of these terms is “convertible apartment.” For those unfamiliar with the term, you may think that this term is referring to a home with a retractable roof. However, convertible, or flex, apartments are homes that have been modified in some way to have extra private spaces that can be used as office spaces, additional living spaces, or even as bedrooms. Most think this description applies to studio apartments with an added wall or bookshelf to separate a living area from a sleeping space. However, many larger, multi-bedroom apartments are also considered convertible if they can be or have been modified to add additional spaces, so to imply that all convertible units are studios would be incorrect.
Benefits of a Convertible Apartment
The main benefit of an apartment that can be converted is the ability to create additional spaces or rooms. For those living in a studio, the ability to separate a designated sleeping space from a living space can add some much-needed privacy. A sleeping area can now become a personal sanctuary, off limits to the prying eyes of guests. For those living in converted apartments, this is also a great way to give each person a private space to call their own. This can also make organization and decoration easier, as more personal items can now reside in the sleeping area, and items for entertainment can reside in the living area. Families in these situations can save on overall rent by renting a unit with fewer true bedrooms but then converting extra space into additional sleeping areas for family members. The same can be said for college students and young professionals, with the added benefit of each roommate saving on rent each month.
Another benefit of flex apartments is that, in most cases, the barriers set up to separate out living and sleeping spaces aren’t permanent. It might be a makeshift wall or bookshelf that can be easily taken down at some point, and a landlord who allowed one to go up in the first place will most likely be fine should a tenant want it removed. Remember, the keywords here are “convertible” and “flex,” meaning what a space can become is entirely up to the tenant or landlord within reason.
Drawbacks of a Convertible Apartment
One of the major drawbacks of a flex apartment is that it can severely limit the amount of space in a home. While the unit may allow for more privacy, since one room has become two, both areas are just a fraction of their original size, meaning there are limits for decor and storage. This can be especially true for families in flex homes. Sure their children will have their own private spaces, but they might not have anywhere to put their stuff.
How to Tell if an Apartment is a Convertible Unit
Most apartments have the potential to be converted or flexed, but one that already has been will most likely be listed as such. If the listing doesn’t include that information, carefully reading over their lease or talking to their landlord should get tenants the answers they need. If it’s unclear if a home is convertible, and a tenant can’t find any definitive info on the subject, that usually means the home isn’t a flex unit, and no temporary wall can be installed.
Ways to Separate Rooms in a Convertible Unit
Install a Temporary Wall
There are several ways tenants can separate rooms in a flex unit. The most common method is to install a temporary wall. This wall won’t be part of the building’s foundation, which can make it a bit more fragile than the other walls in a home. However, this solution is the best for decor, as the temporary walls can be made to look like the other walls in a home, giving everything a sleek, subtle aesthetic. However, since it’s an actual wall, this solution takes longer to install and costs a lot more.
Note that most listings will be displayed as flex one unit if the unit can only be converted into one additional room. However, there are instances when a unit can be converted into two additional rooms. The listing will be referred to as flex two or even a T-Wall convertible unit in these situations.
Using a Temporary Bookshelf
Many college students and young professionals with roommates live in convertible apartments and have had a ton of luck designating separate spaces using bookshelves. Bookshelves are easier to take down than temporary walls and provide tenants with extra storage space for books, clothes, and decorations. If done well, bookshelves can turn a two-bedroom home into a four-bedroom space, with every roommate having their own sleeping area or office. This method is less aesthetically pleasing than a temporary wall in most cases, but the added storage more than makes up for it.
Using a Room Divider
The easiest way to divide a room in a flex unit is to get a literal room divider. Typically on stands or wheels, these collapsible walls are easy to set up and even easier to put away should a tenant need more space. However, this method doesn’t look as good as a temporary wall and lacks a bookshelf divider’s storage benefits. However, tenants who choose this method will never have to worry about heavy lifting or construction and can redecorate their homes much easier than those with temporary walls or bookshelves.
Flex units are great for people with roommates, families with multiple children, or single people who just want a little more organization in their life. Not every unit in NYC is convertible, but folks would be surprised by how many flex units exist in the city. It’s an easy way to add additional rooms, increase privacy, and organize a home. Tenants who are interested in convertible units should be sure to mention it to their realtor. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even know of a convertible unit with the temporary wall already installed. On RentHop, we display the true legal bedroom count for every unit. However, we will also display flex information if a unit can be flexed and converted!
