It is certainly uncommon to come across two-floor apartments, and that gives both duplex and maisonettes a touch of exclusivity.
Historically, there was no difference between those two terms, and a duplex would have been referred to as a maisonette, but the term duplex has become increasingly popular because its extended use in USA.
Maisonette
The English word maisonette derives from the French word ‘maisonnette’ which means: little house. In France it can refer to almost any residential property, although it is generally used to describe holiday properties such as flats or cottages.
Because of its spacious design and openness, a maisonette also known as a gallery apartment, is like living in a small house.
In the UK, it refers to a self-contained living accommodation occupying two floors of a larger building and having its own separate entrance directly from the street. This is the main difference from a flat which is entered through a common entrance.
traditionally, they are above shops with an entrance to the side of the shop front and it had historically been a more attractive property than flats in similar locations
There is also a bit of confusion and disagreement about considering flats with mezzanine levels as maisonettes or not.
They are also sometimes referred to as duplex, but this is an Americanism and its use it's more extend when talking about modern properties.
Duplex
In the UK, the term 'duplex' refers to a flat (not a house) of a larger building divided in two floors with an internal staircase but which is accessed through communal entrance.
although historically a duplex was referred to as a maisonette, the term duplex is generally applied to apartments with a more modern design, whereas a maisonette might be more traditional.
An apartment with three floors can be referred to as a triplex. In the same way that a flat with a mezzanine level could be considered a maisonette there's a bit of dispute with the concept duplex as well.
Where a duplex is on the top floor of a high-rise building, it is also called a penthouse.
Strangely however, and rather confusingly, in the USA, a ‘duplex’ is a dwelling comprising two apartments with separate entrances, whether the apartments are side by side, or one above the other.
Advantages and disadvantages of these types of properties.
Advantages:
They feel much more spacious than the usual flat.
if we talk about maisonettes you have a private entrance which gives you much more flexibility and intimacy.
They all usually have external spaces to enjoy such as bugger terraces but also lots of times they have a private yard or gardening space.
in the UK they are normally very well located with easy access to public transport and amenities.
usually cheaper than a full house with the same characteristics in the same area unless we are talking about penthouses.
Disadvantages:
both maisonettes and duplex are one of a kind type of property, very desirable in the market and therefore more expensive than flats.
less storage than a house
although they feel spacious there's usually a lot os lost space internally because of the staircase and double heights.
they are leaseholds so any renovations or extensions you want to do even when possible have to be granted by the leaseholder too but also have more neighbours to deal with.
less quiet and private than a house because of the amount of neighbours.
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