Upper Portion, Lower Portion or a Full House: Which Should You Rent?

In Lahore a lot of families don't rent a whole house. They rent one floor of it, called a portion, and the owner or another family lives on the other floor. It's usually the cheapest way to get house-style living in a good area. But upper and lower portions are quite different to live in, and sometimes a smaller full house is the better deal.

Quick comparison

• Rent: a portion costs noticeably less than the whole house. Lower portions are often priced a little above upper portions of the same house.
• Privacy: a full house gives you the most. In a portion you share the building, the gate and sometimes the roof or water tank.
• Access: lower portions have no stairs, which matters for elderly parents and small children. Upper portions mean carrying everything up.
• Parking: the car porch usually belongs to the lower portion. Upper-portion tenants often park outside.
• Heat and damp: upper floors get hotter in summer, especially under the roof. Ground floors can have more damp and seepage.
• Bills: a full house has its own meters. In portions, separate meters are essential, and it's worth confirming before you agree.

An upper portion suits you if

• You want a lower rent in a good area and don't mind stairs.
• You have one car or none, or there's safe street parking.
• You like a bit of distance from the street and more natural light.

Ask whether you get roof access, who controls the water motor, and whether there is a separate entrance or you walk past the ground floor. Browse upper portions for rent.

A lower portion suits you if

• Someone in the family finds stairs difficult.
• You need the car porch or a small lawn.
• You have young children who want to play outside.

Check walls and floors near bathrooms for damp, and ask how noise from the upper floor has been for past tenants. Browse lower portions for rent.

A full house suits you if

• You have a larger family or visitors often stay over.
• You work from home and want quiet.
• You want full control of the gate, roof, parking and water.

A 5 Marla house in a slightly less central area can cost about the same as a portion of a bigger house in a popular one, so compare both before deciding. Browse houses for rent.

Before you agree to a portion

• Separate electricity and gas meters, and who pays for the water motor.
• Rules about the roof, the gate timing and visitors.
• Who lives on the other floor, and for how long they've been there.
• A written agreement that covers shared areas, not just your floor.