The Victorian era gave us one of the most fashionable and distinct architectural styles you can find. The style's elaborate woodwork, intricate stained glass and steeply angled roofs are just a few of the features that attract us and it's easy to see why Victorian homes are some of the most highly sought-after in the nation.
Like most other things in life, living in a Victorian home has its pros and its cons. Here are a few things to know about renting a Victorian Apartment so you can decide if living in one is the right choice for you.
What is a Victorian apartment?
A Victorian Apartment is one constructed during the reign of Queen Victoria, from around 1840 to 1900. The homes built during this time period have shared features that are unique to the time period, making the style easy to recognize. However, due to the popularity of this architectural trend, builders constructed some modern houses to look like original Victorian homes.
Victorian apartments have ornate wood carvings on both interior and exterior areas, hardwood floors, stained glass, patterned wallpaper, geometric floor tile designs and decorative wall moldings and fireplaces. It's also common for Victorian homes to have large wraparound porches and steeply-pitched roofs.
Pros of renting a Victorian apartment
Living in a beautiful building with a long history is the dream of many renters — and it's easy to understand why! We already spend hours looking at images of beautiful homes on social media, so why not live in one? Here are some of the top reasons to rent a Victorian apartment.
The history
It's fun to imagine who lived there a hundred years ago and what it might have been like. There's a unique pride we feel when we get the sense we're part of history and we do anything to get it. It's much easier to feel connected with history when you're living somewhere that truly is historical!
Original, natural wood details
Wood was affordable in the 1800s and a major building material, so builders used it on everything from floors to banisters and left with a stained finish, rather than painted. Since wood was so widely available, craftsmen learned to work with it and make it beautiful enough that it could compete with home features made of metal and stone.
Expert, quality work
Craftsmen poured an incredible number of hours into each and every original Victorian home and they paid a lot of attention to detail. Modern homes have a hard time competing when it comes to the tile and wood floor patterns, wall designs and stained glass of a Victorian apartment.
Cons of renting a Victorian apartment
Living among such beauty and history comes with a price — and not just a monetary one. There are some things that make living in a Victorian apartment a little difficult. Here are a few reasons why you might not want to rent a Victorian apartment.
The cost
Many people want to live in stunning Victorian apartments and they're willing to pay a lot to do so. This means that prices are high and that when units come on the market, they get snatched up pretty quickly.
Frequent maintenance
While you may have property management to help you out with some things, Victorian apartments have a lot that you'll need to maintain. Consistent dusting and cleaning to preserve the wood floors and features, getting the plumbing and electricity checked and repairing things like cracks in the walls will be things you deal with regularly.
Risk of danger
With any older buildings, even those that are 30 years old, there will be parts that get old and stop functioning. If building maintenance is properly done, you can usually avoid any major issues.
However, there are times when unknown dangers show up, especially if your apartment is in a true Victorian-era building that is more than 120 years old. Electrical wiring can become faulty, water pipes can leak and walls can harbor mold that builds up if not found and addressed quickly.
Is a Victorian apartment right for you?
When it comes to apartment living, there's no right or wrong answer — it's all based on personal preference and what you value most as a renter. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons of a Victorian apartment to see which wins in your case — the beautiful old wood carvings are worth the upkeep to some but not for others.
Or, the cost is too much to justify for those that want a simple place to live. Really, it all comes down to what you want! So, take a look at the good and the bad before you sign a lease for a Victorian apartment.
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