What Is a Manhattan Style Studio Apartment? The Latest Property Market Trend

Now, you’re probably wondering: What makes Manhattan apartments better than typical studio flats?

Well, what separates a Manhattan from a studio apartment is the privacy.

With most studio apartments, it’s easy for your guests’ eyes to wander toward your bedroom simply because it’s right there in the front room next to your kitchen.

With an entire apartment on show, there isn’t much you can hide – it’s probably one of the main concerns people have about spacious open-plan living areas.

On the other hand, Manhattan-style apartments are designed so that visitors don’t have to wander past your bed whenever they come over for dinner – it’s that added level of privacy that is one of the most significant selling points.

You may also be asking:

‘Why not just buy a one-bedroom flat?’

Being more compact than one-beds, Manhattan apartments are also much more affordable to buy. Rental costs are also slightly lower than the cost to rent a one-bedroom flat while still being high enough to generate a good return on investment.

They also come with the added bonus of the sizing still being sufficient to qualify for a mortgage – making Manhattan apartments perfect for investors looking to put an initial cash deposit down and mortgage the rest of the funds.

As well as this, the more efficient, compact design is a highlight for investors (and tenants) in terms of energy efficiency.

The good thing about Manhattan-style studios is that even just their design already instinctively appeals to these eco-friendly sensibilities.

Our developments at Heap’s Mill and Rice Works, for example, have incorporated this Manhattan-style trend. These apartments feature a 10-20% smaller design than the typical one-bed apartment.

However, this is not just to give things a nice, homely feel.

Not only is this efficient in terms of space, but it could also be a huge helping hand in terms of energy efficiency.

A smaller property means less energy is needed to keep things warm.

In fact, your tenants may hardly ever have to keep the heating on for long.

Like all units in the Heap’s Mill development, Miller’s Place also features all the essentials for the latest in sustainability-boosting technology – such as solar panels and smart heat pumps — meaning bills, in general, will be a meagre cost for tenants.

With features like these, eco-friendly Manhattan apartments like these could be perfect for those seeking a more energy-efficient investment.

Read another of our articles to  learn all you need to know about eco-investing.

The Champion of Capital Growth

Over the last decade, the city has flourished in the property market – with Liverpool consistently ranking among the UK’s fastest-growing cities for capital growth and regularly outperforming London and many other southern markets.

And there are no signs of this momentum slowing any time soon, with current forecasts indicating that North West house prices could rise by almost 29% by 2030 – again putting the region at the very top level of growth in the UK.

Regeneration Hotspot

UK regeneration projects typically cause a city to boom in rental demand and capital growth.

Regeneration is strong in Liverpool at the moment – with around £14bn being spent on boosting the quality of living in the city.

These projects include a £2bn inner-city revamp of the Knowledge Quarter, dedicated to expanding health and life sciences – one of Liverpool’s global leading strengths, and the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters masterplan, set to completely transform the northern docklands.

A Rising Population Means More Space is Needed

You’re undoubtedly well aware that rental demand is surging – fuelled by sustained population growth and a large cohort of young renters.

In Liverpool, the picture is no different. Between the last two censuses, the city’s population grew by around 4.2%, and recent estimates put the wider urban area at more than 930,000 people and still rising.

Crucially, Liverpool’s city centre has seen its population more than double since the mid-2000s, with around 75% of residents aged 17 to 29 – exactly the age group most likely to rent. With forecasts indicating further growth towards the end of the decade, Liverpool’s population is expected to climb even higher, bringing a steady flow of potential new tenants for years to come.

For investors seeking a quality long-term asset, this demographic momentum should be welcome news, underpinning strong and sustained rental demand across the city.

And what better place to start than by looking at a Manhattan apartment?