How to fix housing in 2 steps

[Siniztor]

This is a really good list showing how they're not the same as houses which furthers that point that they're not houses, it doesn't particularly matter if some of those differences are, slim, benefits.

• You have to get a free aetheryte, stable, and mailbox because they're missing features of the housing system that would let you access them.
• Given they're not mutually exclusive, those that have houses have all the benefits of apartments as well. While you'd still want an aetheryte, house owners can also skip stables and mailboxes then just use their apartment ones.
• You get most of the furnishing options yes, but you don't get all of them. Outdoor includes rewards, rare drops, convenient striking dummies, etc.
• Given one of the arguments for wards is the "neighbourhood" feeling, outdoor furnishings are better at showing off and a well done yard can encourage people to take a look inside where you can show off even more.
• Participation rates on outdoor gardening also don't really matter, it's a system you get locked out of and don't have a choice about. It also makes sense for it to be low priority to address the issues with it given so few people can access it

Relying on the definition of housing is a matter of semantics and ambiguity, that definition is for the real world and we're talking about systems in a game. The systems are similar yes, but apartments have much more in common with FC rooms to the point that they're not particularly meaningfully distinct depending on your permissions and what your fc has bought.

The Biggest deiffence between Housing and Apartments is you can not add tenants to your apartment meaning if you eternal bond in game you cant live with your spouse....and yard lol