Air conditioning for flats and apartments
The big questions in a flat are where the outdoor unit can go and what your lease allows. With limited outdoor space, shared walls and (usually) a freeholder or management company to satisfy, flats need a bit more planning — but there are good options, including ways to minimise what goes on the outside.
What makes flats different
- Outdoor unit siting — space is limited, and balconies or external walls may be restricted.
- Leasehold permission — the freeholder or managing agent usually has to agree to external changes.
- Neighbour noise — shared walls and close neighbours make quiet siting important.
- Routing — getting pipework from indoor units to the outdoor unit can be constrained.
- Minimising the footprint — fewer outdoor units is a real advantage.
Outdoor units, leases and the multi-split advantage
In a flat, a multi-split is often the smart choice: one outdoor unit serves several rooms, keeping the external footprint to a minimum — which matters when balcony or wall space is scarce and permissions are tight. Before committing, check both planning permission and the terms of your lease, since external units typically need the freeholder’s or management company’s consent. Where no external unit can be fitted at all — not unusual in flats — a portable unit is the fallback.
Systems we’d recommend: multi-split — one outdoor unit, several rooms, ideal where outdoor space is limited; wall-mounted single-split for a single room where an outdoor unit can be sited; portable if external units aren’t permitted.
Know exactly what to ask for
Build a free, impartial plan for your space — the right system, the size each room needs, and what good kit looks like. We don't sell or fit units.