British Homes / All types

Purpose-built Flat

Less fabric in your control than any other archetype; the right upgrades focus on air, light and comfort rather than the building envelope.

See how the site adapts

How you'll recognise yours

  • Shared front door and stairwell or lift
  • Limited external walls
  • Communal heating or hot water in some blocks
  • Restrictions on what you can change outside

The fabric in numbers

Era
Mid-century to present
Walls
Shared with neighbours, limited external wall area
Roof
Communal; rarely under the occupier's control
Typical EPC
C
Typical loft
0mm
Default glazing
Modern double glazing

Common issues

  • Overheating from neighbouring flats and shared corridors
  • Limited control over the heating system
  • Restrictions on external changes such as cladding or solar
  • Mechanical ventilation that has lapsed over time

Projects that suit

  • Internal comfort upgrades that need no consent
  • Quiet, slim heat-recovery units
  • Smart controls on existing heating
  • Portable or split cooling subject to landlord consent

How well each upgrade fits

Other British homes