When searching for an apartment, you may run across ads for a bachelor apartment. Many states prohibit the use of the term, because it’s considered discriminatory. The rationale is that people with children are excluded from those apartments, and that the exclusion amounts to housing discrimination. If you do come across ads on Craigslist or somewhere else, you may be wondering whether that type of apartment is for you. Consider the pros and cons first before you take a look at these apartments. They are not for everyone.

Pros of a Bachelor Apartment

A bachelor apartment can save you money, and may be the best option if you are single. When you live alone, you don’t require as much living space. Even if you work from home, you can still configure a bachelor apartment to meet your home office needs, with the use of room dividers. Some of the pros of renting these apartments include:

• Forces you to buy less because of limited storage space

• Smaller area to clean and maintain

• More affordable than traditional apartments

• You may find one that’s furnished, so you don’t have to worry about spending money on furniture

• Save on energy bills, because of the smaller space

• Location may reduce travel time, and costs to and from work or school

Some renters find a bachelor apartment to be a stepping stone to getting rid of debt, or saving up to buy a house. The difference in rent is significant because of the cons associated with renting these apartments.

Cons of a Bachelor Apartment

Even though there are monetary benefits, renting a bachelor apartment may not work for your situation because of its disadvantages. For example, you could end up spending more money if you have to rent a self storage unit. The disadvantages to renting a bachelor apartment include:

• No separate bedroom

• Kitchenette limits what you can cook and how much food you can store

• Small refrigerator may result in more trips to the grocery store

• Limited storage space for clothing and other valuables

• Tougher to practice hospitality with larger groups of people, such as family members

• Landlord may not allow roommates

• Bed may be a futon or pull out bed instead of a more comfortable bed and mattress set

• Combined bedroom and living area may feel cramped

• Fire could cause more damage quickly because of the smaller space

A one bedroom apartment may be the next best option if these cons outweigh the pros for you. The costs will be higher, but in many cases, rent is only slightly more for a one bedroom than a bachelor apartment.

Determine your needs for daily living and work space in order to figure out whether a bachelor apartment is suitable for your situation. If you have children, it’s really not the best choice for you. These apartments are really designed for singles.