11 pros and 9 cons of buying an apartment in Khrushchev

Get your own square meters - is this not the dream of every normal person? Of course, many dream of spacious apartment in a new building or even about the house, but when the budget is limited, you have to look in the direction of the good old Khrushchev. About the five-story buildings of the capital, not only much has been said and written - these houses even became heroes of films. The age of the surviving buildings has exceeded half a century. And the attitude of the people is different: from total rejection to nostalgic worship of sweet childhood memories. But invariably one. Apartments in five-story buildings remain in demand by buyers today thanks to a very affordable price. We deal with the main pros and cons of buying an apartment in Khrushchev. Perhaps after reading the material you will change your attitude towards the five-story building.

The main features of the Khrushchev

Khrushchev’s people affectionately (or not so) call Khrushchev’s houses. They began to be built in the late 50s and were built until the beginning of the 80s. In many cities, whole areas of such houses have grown. What is it, whole cities used to be a continuous Khrushchev building. As you know, such houses were necessary to quickly solve the housing problem of the multimillion-dollar Soviet people. The main task, indeed, was completed. Hundreds of thousands of families across the country received separate housing, from which they were incredibly happy.

There are several series of Khrushchevs that are slightly different from each other, but still have much in common:

• number of storeysAs a rule, it is 5 floors, less often 4 floors. The explanation is quite logical - the rules forbade the construction of buildings above 5 floors without an elevator. However, in some villages and very small cities there are 2- and 3-story Khrushchevs;
• most Khrushchevs - panel or brick houses, less common are large-block buildings. Brick houses, of course, are warmer, but panel houses were built in record time - they could build one house in 12 days, because all the necessary reinforced concrete "puzzles" had already been made at the house-building plant;
• 3-4 apartments are located on the floor without separate vestibules, the roof of the house is combined with the ceiling of the fifth floor;
• in Khrushchev prevail 1- and 2-room apartments, less common 3-bedroom. In 2- and 3-room apartments checkpoint;
• the area of ​​apartments is small, ceiling height 2.48-2.6 m, in some series - up to 2.7 m. Kitchen area 4.6-7.1 m² became the object of thousands of jokes, as well as a combined bathroom with an area of ​​about 2 m²;
• there are no refuse chutes in most Khrushchevs, but all the rest communications are present. Hot water is usually not centralized, but individual (came to the rescue geysers);
• Khrushchev originally divided into tolerable and intolerable. The demolished ones were designed for 25 years, but many have been exploited to this day.Most of the prefabricated houses were supposed to stand for 50 years, but after major repairs, their shelf life is extended by another 50-100 years, but brick Khrushchevs can stand for 100-150 years, but, on the other hand, they can become unusable due to wear and tear communications. Today, apartments in such houses are a solid part of the secondary real estate market;
• many areas of Khrushchev’s houses were built on settlements, on the outskirts of cities, but over time, these areas became central, acquired infrastructure and green areas.

Realtors are well aware that the attitude towards the Khrushchevs is ambiguous. Many customers immediately report that they are not considering this option. But let's just try to look impartially at this type of housing. Experts of the Moscow real estate agency INCOM-Real Estate helped us find all the advantages and disadvantages of buying an apartment in five-story buildings, and we are ready to share this information with you.

Cons Khrushchev

Let's start with the flaws that many seem more obvious than the virtues. Everyone can easily name many disadvantages independently.

No. 1. Area and layout

The Khrushchevs were built in order to quickly satisfy the housing needs of the proletariat, so there wasn’t any surplus in the form of spacious tall rooms. Apartments in such houses have extremely small living space, the rooms in them are small, and if there are two or three rooms, then one of them (the living room) will definitely be a passage. All this significantly limits the flight of design thought - not all ideas can be realized due to lack of space. Sometimes it is impossible to place even the necessary furniture on modest square meters, but modern manufacturers take this problem into account and begin to offer a lot of compact and transforming products.

Walk-through rooms also cause a lot of problems, and not only in their arrangement. According to the logic of the designer, the living room should be a walk-through, but in cramped living conditions, the living room at night often turns into someone’s bedroom, and no one can guarantee the inviolability of personal space to its inhabitants. In jest, these apartments began to be called "Trams" and "wagons."

Non-residential rooms are no better. Hallways and corridors are tight, but on 6 m kitchen² it’s not easy for the family to stay, so they dine there in turn. In three-room Khrushchevs there is no more kitchen, so imagine a dinner of a family of 5-6 people, for example. Both funny and sad. There is also little space in the combined bathroom - you won’t especially turn around, so to put everything you need, you will have to work very hard. By itself combined bathroom - not such a minus, many specifically combine a bath with a toilet, but small dimensions can seriously upset. Residents of the first floors (and sometimes second) are left without balconies, a the height of the rooms is very small (2.5-2.6 m).

To organize a small amount of square meters, you have to turn your wit, search tricky designer receptions and often redevelop. In this case, the chance to get comfortable housing from a typical Khrushchev increases, because instead of passage rooms, as a result of some manipulations, you can get isolated, and make the kitchen a little bigger.

No. 2. Lack of elevator

The Khrushchevs were built no higher than 5 floors, which was the maximum for a house without an elevator. Of course, walking to the upper floor is not the most difficult test in life, but for an elderly person or a young mother with a stroller, this task becomes difficult to accomplish. That is why the apartments on the ground floors are more in demand, and the price for them, of course, is higher.

On the other hand, many residents of Khrushchev warn against buying an apartment on the ground floor, talking about a possible neighborhood with mice. The disadvantages of the first floor can also be attributed to the lack of a balcony and cold.

No. 3.Purgeability

Panel Khrushchev built at a record pace. The party gave the task of the number of square meters, often forgetting about quality. So it turns out that the apartments in Khrushchev are not very tight - the presence of gaps in the joints of the plates affects. This is especially noticeable in the winter. Only external thermal insulation will save, and it is desirable perform it immediately for the whole house. Things are a little better in the brick Khrushchevs, which are even called warm, bringing this to the pros.

Number 4. Depreciation of communications

Water supply networks, wiring, sewerage - all this for many decades of operation has worn out so that it breaks constantly. Not only does this cause some inconvenience, it can also cause discomfort from an unpleasant odor when it comes toashore sewer. In the majority of the surviving Khrushchevs, the degree of deterioration of communications is extremely high.

On the other hand, there are programs for the overhaul of Khrushchev’s buildings that are not subject to demolition. After replacing the pipes and wiring such houses are becoming much more comfortable. True, such programs actually operate in the capital and several other large cities.

No. 5. Poor sound insulation

The interior and interroom partitions in Khrushchev are thin, with poor soundproofing, which significantly harms privacy. It’s good if your neighbors are quiet, calm pensioners (this is not uncommon in Khrushchev’s), from which there is no noise. If in the next apartment there are people who abuse alcohol (such a contingent, alas, is also not uncommon), then poor sound insulation will prove itself in the most terrible way. The solution, of course, is to mount soundproofing material on walls, or maybe even on the floor and ceiling, but this is all an investment of time and money, and even without that a small room will become even smaller. To be completely honest, many low-cost new buildings also can not boast of high-quality soundproofing.

No. 6. Lack of garbage chute

The presence of a garbage chute has made the lives of residents of high-rise buildings more lazy - you don’t even need to leave the house to throw out the accumulated garbage. Residents of the Khrushchev did not receive such a benefit, although in some series of these houses there is still a garbage chute. But luxury or a problem is a big question.

Number 7. Lack of vestibules

They also complain about the lack of free space on the landing and the inability to organize a vestibule. Not a very serious problem, but someone who is used to storing shoes and cleaning products in the vestibule, a pram or something else may be upset.

Number 8. The appearance of the Khrushchev

Khrushchev’s houses were designed without special architectural excesses. It was a feature architecture functionalism, which, incidentally, was ridiculed in the film "The Irony of Fate." They joked about the impersonality and monotony of 9-story buildings, but Khrushchev’s in this sense are no better. If you remember that the main thing is speed, cheapness and the number of square meters put into operation, then what stucco molding and other facade decor can be discussed!

Khrushchev continued to simplify with each series. If the first houses received tiled or slate roofthen we decided to get rid of this "excess", preferring flat bitumen roofs. The facades remained completely unplastered. Over time, the walls healed. It is clear that today, in comparison with the nearby new buildings, Khrushchev’s look rather poor. But here, the activity of residents can save the situation. If you insulate the whole house at once, and then plaster and paint, then you can get a simple, but very neat and quite decent building, which will be nice to look at.

No. 9. Small windows

Some residences of Khrushchev's apartments complain of extremely small window openings in the kitchens and in the rooms.If we add that often in front of the windows there are lush tree crowns, then we can conclude that even on the southern side on the brightest summer day there will not be enough light - you will have to equip the highest quality artificial lighting and use it more often than residents, for example, 6-9 floors opposite the high-rise building.

Surely, one who has lived all his life in Khrushchev can name another couple of drawbacks, but we tried to list the most significant ones. Now we turn to the good.

Pros of Khrushchev

No. 1. Low cost

The main trump card of the Khrushchev is still an attractive price. Such an apartment is cheaper than housing in Brezhnevka and even less so than an apartment in a new building. Sometimes the difference in cost between Khrushchev and comparable housing in the same area reaches 30%. For families whose budget is limited, this is a great option to get their own real estate. Often these apartments are bought when it is necessary to exchange. In general, situations are different, but they are all united by one goal - to buy their own housing with relatively small savings.

Families with children often prefer to buy a three-room Khrushchev than a two-room apartment in a new building. It turns out cheaper, but everyone can equip their room. Save time and money on finishing. If in a new building If you have to start all over again, then in Khrushchev it’s often enough cosmetic repairs, and sometimes the condition is even more than suitable for housing and does not require any repairs.

Competition for the price of five-story buildings can only be studios in new homes, but they are often much smaller in area, require investments and are not located in the most developed areas. In the same price category are budget apartments in the suburbs (a striking example is the Moscow region), but the problem again is the remoteness from the urban infrastructure. Last year, Moscow realtors recorded an increase in the number of buyers from the Moscow region who decided to move to the city and buy an apartment in Khrushchev.

No. 2. Developed infrastructure

The Khrushchevs used to be built everywhere: in the old center and in the outskirts of cities. The center remained the center, but the cities grew, and the districts that were once the outskirts became very lively and equipped. Turns out that the vast majority of Khrushchev’s are located in areas with well-developed infrastructure. Nearby there is always a lot of shops, there are hospitals, schools, kindergartens, metro stations, bus stops and everything else that is needed for a comfortable life. You can not even leave your area! The trees planted 50 years ago have grown and today form beautiful green areas. Property owners in new buildings can only envy.

Having lived in a good new house, but on the outskirts of a big city or even in the suburbs, many admit that they made a big mistake when buying, and as a result they move to a well-developed area in secondary housing. Probably spending 2-3 hours every day on the road is worse than walking up to the 4th-5th floor and suffering low ceilings.

Often, buyers want to buy an apartment in a particular area for obvious reasons. In this area there may be no new buildings at all or there may be extremely few, and even with sky-high prices. In this case, the choice falls on the good old Khrushchev.

No. 3. The apartment is immediately ready for living

If an apartment is bought in a new building at the stage of excavation or construction, then you can save a lot, but you will not be able to enter your home soon. Firstly, we must wait until the completion of all work. Secondly, carry out large-scale repairs. If time suffers, then there is no problem. But if you need to live somewhere right now, and there is no extra money to pay rent if you have a warrant for your own apartment not yet built, then a secondary housing fund seems to be a very attractive option.Yes, housing can be killed, but finding a decent apartment is not very difficult. It remains to carry out a small repair and drive in.

Number 4. Lack of garbage chute

Yes, this item has already been, and in benefits. It's not a mistake. The lack of a chute is not such a big minus, and sometimes even a significant plus. If all tenants carefully use this benefit of civilization, and utilities do their job on time, then the risk of unpleasant consequences from the presence of a garbage chute is small. If you face the truth, it often turns from an advantage into a source of bad smell, dirt, drips, cockroaches, rodents and the sounds of falling garbage bags. So without him it’s not so bad.

No. 5. More parking space

Yards in Khrushchev, as it is, are green, and sometimes also equipped with flower beds. There are playgrounds, as well as a parking place. “So there is a place for parking a car in any yard” - you say and you will be right, but we must take into account the fact that in 9-, 12-story houses (and higher) apartments more more people, which means that there are more cars. Imagine what kind of war for parking it turns out, if underground parking or a separate parking lot is not provided somewhere nearby! Tetris skills will definitely be needed by all residents. In the yards of Khrushchev in this regard will be simpler.

No. 6. Savings on utility bills

Yes, the Khrushchevs cannot boast of sufficient dimensions, but therefore they cost less, and in operation a compact apartment is cheaper. Moreover, some people do not need apartments of 80 or more sq.m. If this is a single person or a small family, then life in a compact Khrushchev will not cause much discomfort. Even in the kitchen everything will fit!

If you turn on your head or turn to designers for help, you can perform several redevelopment manipulations. Using visual tricks (like light shades and mirror surfaces), even one-room Khrushchev can be made comfortable and full housing. Bonus - saving time for cleaning.

Number 7. There is always hot water

Very few Khrushchevs are connected to the central hot water supply. Once this could be called a minus, but if we consider the frequent interruptions with its supply in some regions, then the ability to always have hot water at home is a very significant advantage. Residents of the neighboring high-rise buildings, for sure, will often envy you.

The water heater is responsible for the water heater, which hangs in the kitchen and often interferes with the re-planning of the apartment with the combination of the kitchen and the living room. Many still consider this equipment dangerous. In fact, modern geysers are not much more dangerous gas stoves. They turn off if the flame goes out, and are equipped with gas leakage sensors, so do not worry.

Number 8. Unobvious Benefits

The tar roofs of many nine-story buildings in the summer are very hot, and it is almost impossible to survive in apartments on the upper floors without air conditioning. In Khrushchev, residents do not complain about this.

Brick Khrushchevs are quite warm, and if the walls are additionally insulated, then an energy-efficient housing will turn out at all.

Outdated communications in the capital's five-story buildings are gradually replaced in the process of planned major repairs, so that Khrushchev is not always = old pipes. The lack of an elevator is already a more real drawback, but there are cases when tenants unite and make an external elevator in the process of major repairs of the house. Sometimes the state is capable of such gestures.

No. 9. Profitable investment

A small proportion of homebuyers in five-story buildings are investors with an eye to the long term. They make a purchase in the hope that once instead of this apartment you can get a newer and more modern housing (the well-known renovation program). Such buyers do not care that it may not be very soon. They have a main apartment, and this is an investment in the future housing of children.Until they have grown up, an apartment in Khrushchev can be rented out very profitably. If suddenly something goes wrong and plans change, you can always sell such a house without losing anything in money, or even gaining from renting an apartment.

Of course, you can crank out something like this with a new building, but you will have to pay more, and then invest in repairs.

No. 10. Neighborhood Brotherhood

In five-story buildings, fewer people live than in any high-rise building. Many apartments are inherited, several generations have already grown in them, so the neighbors in the stairwell, staircase and even the yard know each other well. This is a real brotherhood where you feel safe and you have the opportunity to seek help from a well-known person. Do residents of a multi-story new building know their neighbors? Unlikely. True, there is a certain risk that your neighbors in Khrushchev will not be quite decent people, but it is better to find this out carefully before buying.

No. 11. Renovation

Muscovites need not talk in detail about the renovation program. "Renovation" is generally the word of the year. Thirsting for an apartment in a new building, many are buying apartments in Khrushchev. The indigenous inhabitants of the five-story buildings often, on the contrary, resist possible relocation, fearing to be in an area with not so good infrastructure. We regularly hear all this from news, but nevertheless the program is realized. In some areas of Moscow Khrushchev did not remain at all, therefore, such real estate can be considered as an opportunity to live in a new building, and pay only for an apartment in a five-story building. Someone, on the contrary, is afraid to take Khrushchevka because of the risk of demolition, so it is better to study all the plans and projects of the state regarding renovation in advance.

We thank the experts of INCOM-Real Estate for the information provided during the preparation of the material.