What Is a Maisonette?

The word maisonette (pronounce may-zon-et) is derived from the French term, maison, which translates as house. The addition of ette is a diminutive, and essentially the whole term can be defined as little house. When used in English, maisonette can be defined in many ways, adding to confusion if you’re searching for a little house to make your nest in.

One common definition of maisonette is that it is a two-floor apartment with an internal staircase. It may be located in a larger building and usually has exterior access. Sometimes a single floor apartment with outside access is also defined as a maisonette. The idea of an apartment occupying two floors without renters or owners needing to share stairs with others, or the concept that you don’t have to enter an apartment building lobby to get to your dwelling is often thought upscale. Properties marketed as maisonettes might be a little more costly. This isn’t always the case; you may just be dealing with a landlord or seller with a good vocabulary or the word may be used to make a fairly standard apartment seem more luxurious.

Maisonette might also meet the definition of condo, townhouse or duplex. These residences share common walls, have street access, and many of them are two-story or higher. They are also “little houses” or part of a house, and square footage is usually smaller than that of a freestanding house, although there are exceptions. Very small houses may fall under the heading of maisonettes too.

There are certainly very luxurious apartment buildings that don’t offer outside access, especially when the buildings are high rises. With multiple-story buildings, you probably don’t want to have to climb several flights of stairs to get to your apartment. The maisonette, especially one defined as having street access, is usually a couple of floors at most, and if it is a single-storied apartment, you may have neighbors to your side, above, and/or below you. If your flat is on a second floor, expect to climb some stairs to get to its entrance.

Sometimes a very large home is rezoned as a group of apartments. These small parts of a home may be called maisonettes. They are little “houses” within a house.

When searching for a new place to live, you might consider a maisonette apartment. This term means "little house" in French. However, a maisonette is not a house; it is an apartment with a street entrance. The phrase may also have derived from smaller buildings and structures, like shops with living areas attached.

Since the term maisonette does mean "little house," it has some features in common with a traditional house. You usually find:

A maisonette can be the best of both worlds to those who like living in the city. You get the space and privacy of a house, but you can enjoy the luxuries of a city.

This type of apartment is on the ground floor of a building and typically has access to the street. This feature separates these homes from regular apartments, since most do not have private access to the sidewalk. A maisonette is a hybrid between an apartment and a townhouse and shares some features with both dwellings. Usually, you find maisonettes in prewar buildings, especially in cities like New York.

A maisonette can be a condo, co-op, duplex, or rental. When searching for this type of residence, use these terms to help narrow down your choices. A real estate agent can help you find the most suitable maisonette for your lifestyle.

This living situation is ideal for couples as well as for someone single. In both cases, there is enough space to be comfortable. Since there are often multiple floors, each person can have their private area.

Maisonettes are located in larger overall structures and can have multiple stories. Sometimes a maisonette apartment used to be a commercial space or an office. Technically, any residence that offers you private street access could be considered a maisonette, for example, a dwelling with a private elevator or staircase. A private entrance to the lobby is also a possible feature.

Other perks common to these homes include large amounts of space and sometimes a backyard. Backyard space is valuable to those who want to invite friends over or entertain outdoors.

However, some people do not like this type of residence because of its ground floor level. This means strangers are constantly walking by your front door, and noise can be an issue. Depending on your area, pests may also be a problem. However, in popular cities, a maisonette is often cheaper than other living situations, like a penthouse or townhouse. If price is a factor, consider this type of residence.

This kind of residence has many features in common but also differs from other everyday city dwellings, such as:

Depending on your needs, a maisonette may be preferable to these other homes. Remember that maisonettes are not always easy to find and are often in larger cities. While many of these residences are in older buildings, you can also find new maisonettes due to their increasing popularity.

Someone living in a city who does not wish to live in a suburb may find a maisonette ideal. In the past, a ground-floor space was unwanted and was associated with cheaper living and offices. However, in recent years the extra space and exclusive entrances have become desirable. A maisonette may be an excellent investment property if you are interested in real estate.