What Is a Penthouse? (It Wasn’t Always As Luxurious As You’d Think)

And if a building’s uppermost floor wasn’t designed with residences in mind, the architects and designers may have to get creative to make it habitable.

“In one penthouse, we were able to add a bath where there had never been a bath by utilizing a ‘grinder’ and an ejector,” Boland says. “We always joke that we have no idea where the waste is ejected to. In reality, it is ground up and ejected to the nearest sewer pipe that we did have. That being said, we have never shared [the reality behind] this ‘special toilet’ because my client was afraid no one would use that powder room!”

And penthouse issues can rear up even before you move in—like when you’re building one from scratch.

“The degree of difficulty for the designer is definitely heightened,” Zilberman says. “For example, in some cases, the elevator does not reach the penthouse floor, making deliveries and construction more challenging. But mostly, penthouses are all upside,” he adds.

What Do You Need to Look for When Buying a Penthouse?

Just like you would with a house or any other top-floor space, you should examine the roof carefully before buying.

“When selling penthouses, I always advise clients to investigate the roof and façade condition above to understand if there have been leaks,” King-Brown says. “As there’s no one above to absorb any water or roofing issue, any related problem could impact the penthouse and create ongoing headaches.”

Is It Harder to Sell Penthouses?

There’s a smaller market for penthouse buyers or renters because penthouses usually come with higher price tags. Their unique features might also keep penthouses on the market longer.

“It’s not necessarily that penthouses are harder to sell, but it might take longer to find the right buyer who is looking for the specific attributes and price point,” King-Brown says.

Do Penthouses Cost More to Buy Than Other Condominiums or Houses?

Not officially, but yes, according to King-Brown.

“There is no formula for calculating the ‘penthouse premium,’ as it’s completely case by case, but you can bet your bottom dollar there is a premium!” King-Brown says. The cost difference often depends on how unique the penthouse unit is compared to other apartments or condos in the building. “I’ve seen penthouses which are only slightly more expensive than the identical layouts on floors below, and I’ve seen grand, one-of-a-kind penthouses that are two to three times the price per square foot.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Are penthouses always on the top floor?

Yes, by definition, a penthouse is a living space on the top floor of a building. However, it might share that designation with other condominiums or apartments also on the top floor, or be a duplex or triplex that only has part of its total space on the top floor. Some building complexes will also brand a collection of its most luxury residences as “penthouses” even if not all of them are on the top floor, though technically speaking, it wouldn’t be the right use of the term.

Is a penthouse suite different than a regular penthouse?

For the most part, a penthouse suite and a penthouse are the same thing.