{"id":16697,"date":"2023-01-04T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=16697"},"modified":"2023-07-22T11:36:24","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T15:36:24","slug":"what-is-a-convertible-apartment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/what-is-a-convertible-apartment\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Flex\/Convertible Apartment Unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

New York City apartments<\/a> 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 \u201cconvertible apartment.\u201d 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 modified units that provide private spaces. Renters typically use flex rooms as home office<\/a> spaces, additional living areas, or bedrooms.<\/p>\r\n

Most think this description applies to studio apartments with an added wall or bookshelf to separate a living area from a sleeping space. However, there are many larger, multi-bedroom convertible apartments. For example, a two-bedroom unit can convert to three bedrooms by adding an extra wall in the living area.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Benefits of a Convertible Apartment<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The main benefit of a convertible apartment is the ability to create additional spaces or rooms. For those living in a studio<\/a>, 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. Convertible apartments also give roommates 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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Another benefit of flex apartments is that the barriers are not permanent. It might be a makeshift wall or bookshelf that can be easily taken down at some point. A landlord<\/a> 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 \u201cconvertible\u201d and \u201cflex,\u201d meaning what a space can become is entirely up to the tenant or landlord within reason. However, the landlord may pass the removal cost to the tenant, which can be a couple hundred to a thousand dollars.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Drawbacks of a Convertible Apartment<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Learn more:\r\n