Apartment With or Without an Elevator: What to Check

If you're wondering whether an apartment in a building with an elevator is a better choice than one without, the answer depends on which floor it's on, your mobility and your family's, and how much you're willing to pay in maintenance fees. A building with an elevator makes moving, hauling groceries and accessibility for older adults or people with reduced mobility much easier, but it adds the cost of maintaining the mechanical equipment itself. A building without an elevator is usually cheaper in monthly fees, although it limits how high up it's practical to live, especially from the third or fourth floor on.

Benefits of a building with an elevator

An elevator noticeably makes daily life easier if the apartment is on a high floor: carrying groceries, moving furniture, and getting strollers or wheelchairs up and down becomes much simpler and less tiring. It also tends to make the property more attractive for resale or future rental, since it widens the pool of interested people to older adults or those with limited mobility who would otherwise rule the property out. The downside is the cost of maintaining the equipment, which shows up in the monthly condominium fee, along with the risk that it breaks down and stays out of service during repairs, causing temporary inconvenience for all of the building's residents.

When a building without an elevator is enough

In low-rise buildings of two or three levels, the lack of an elevator is rarely a real problem, and it does mean a lower maintenance fee month after month. Before deciding, consider:

• The exact floor the apartment is on and how many flights of stairs that means
• Whether there are older adults, small children or family members with reduced mobility
• How often you'll be carrying heavy shopping or moving large items upstairs
• The difference in maintenance fees between buildings with and without an elevator
• The condition of the stairs: lighting, handrail and width of the steps

What to check before buying or renting

If the building already has an elevator, ask about the age of the equipment, how often preventive maintenance is done, and whether there is a current contract with a specialized company, since major elevator repairs can be expensive and lead to extraordinary assessments among the condominium owners. If the building has no elevator but is said to be planned for one in the future, check whether the internal regulations and the physical space actually allow it before assuming it will be an easy upgrade to make later on.

Frequently asked questions

From which floor should you insist on an elevator?

Many people consider that from the third floor up, an elevator stops being a luxury and becomes a significant convenience, especially for moving, grocery shopping or people with reduced mobility.

Does an elevator increase the apartment's resale value?

Yes, it generally widens the pool of potential buyers or tenants, especially on upper floors, which can translate into better appreciation (plusvalía) and a shorter time to sell or rent.

Who pays for repairs if the elevator breaks down?

It is normally covered by the condominium's maintenance fund, financed by the monthly fees of all residents; if the fund falls short, an extraordinary assessment may be required.