Some People Prefer To Live In A House | IELTS Essay Sample

Others feel that there are more advantages to living in an apartment. Are there more advantages than disadvantages to living in a house compared with living in an apartment?

Band 9 IELTS essay

While some people believe that living in a house is more advantageous than living in an apartment, others disagree with this view. In my opinion, both housing options have their merits and demerits and it is not possible to say that living in a standalone home is more advantageous or disadvantageous than living in an apartment.

Houses offer many benefits. They are much more spacious than apartments. Nearly all of them have a garden, spacious parking lots and a backyard where people can even grow their fruits and vegetables. Better still, homeowners can build additional rooms or other facilities to their home. Houses provide a great deal of privacy too. However, safety can be an issue especially when the house is located on a large lot with no other houses in the vicinity. A homeowner is also responsible for the proper maintenance of their building.

On the other hand, apartments have their advantages too. They are safe. Apartment complexes have round the clock security and outsiders cannot enter the premises without the knowledge of the security guards. Consequently, apartments are quite safe even for those who live alone. Another advantage of living in an apartment is that residents only have to take care of the space inside their home. They do not have to worry about garbage disposal or periodic maintenance of the structure. All of these things are taken care of by the people employed by the housing society. There are other benefits too. Modern apartments offer facilities like club houses, gyms, indoor stadiums, gardens and swimming  pools. People living in apartments also have several socialization opportunities. However, apartments do not offer much privacy. Also, homeowners have to abide by the rules and regulations of their housing community and they cannot make any alterations to the structure of their home.

In conclusion, both houses and apartments offer plenty of advantages. There are some disadvantages too. In my opinion, houses are more suitable for people who need a lot of private space whereas apartments are the right choice for those who seek more security.

Analysis

Here the writer takes a balanced stand. Obviously, the writer has no preference for either the house or the apartment. The arguments are presented in such a manner that neither housing option seems better or worse than the other.

What if you believe that living in a house is more advantageous than living in an apartment? In this case, you have to focus more on the benefits of living in a house. While it is okay to mention a few downsides of living in a house, always present them as insignificant. In the second body paragraph, highlight the disadvantages of living in an apartment. Of course, you can mention a few advantages too, but those advantages should sound less signficant.

Points to include

First body paragraph

Houses are spacious. They are ideal for large families. They provide privacy. They have their own parking lots. The houseowner can customize their home to suit their needs. They can extend the house if they want. Of course, the owner is responsible for maintenance.

Second body paragraph

Apartments are small homes. The owner cannot make any alterations to the home. The owner has to abide by the rules and regulations of the society they are in. Some apartment complexes do not allow pets. Likewise, there is hardly any privacy.

In the conclusion, restate the main points and argue that living in a house is more advantageous than living in an apartment.