Different types of houses in the UK

Terraced Houses

Terraced houses are homes that share side walls with neighbouring properties. A terraced house is part of a row of houses, and they are especially popular in cities and other urban environments where there isn’t always a huge amount of space. During the Industrial Revolution, back-to-back terraced houses were constructed. This type of terraced house connected to another neighbouring property at the rear and only had windows at the front. However, back-to-back terraced houses are now quite rare in the UK and most terraced houses you will find only have neighbouring properties on either side, with windows, a door, and a yard or garden to the rear. 

Semi-Detached Houses

Similar to terraced houses, semi-detached houses share a wall with a neighbouring property. However, this is only on one side rather than both. Semi-detached houses are the most popular type of house in the UK and tend to be the main type of house built on new developments these days. Around one-third of the population in the UK lives in a semi-detached property. These houses grew in popularity during the 19th century. The design originated in the seventeenth century when landowners built houses that they wanted to appear large when the reality was that there were two houses in one. Some architects still design semi-detached houses with a front door hidden at the side rather than at the front of the property, to create the illusion of a bigger house. You will usually find semi-detached houses in suburban areas, in streets that have rows of the same or similar pairs. They will usually include a front and rear garden and a driveway for parking. Some also have garages. 

Detached Houses

As the name suggests, a detached house refers to a property that is not joined to any others. While there may be neighbouring properties on either side, they will not be connected to the house in any way, and do not share a wall. Detached houses are standalone and have their own separate structure, roof, chimney, and walls. They will usually have both a front and a back garden, a driveway, and in some cases a garage. They are known for offering more privacy compared to semi-detached and terraced houses and are popular with families. In some cases, two adjoining semi-detached houses may be turned into a detached property by knocking down the connecting walls or building doors. Detached houses are typically the largest of all the different property types and also one of the most expensive types of property in the UK, depending on your location. Due to their independence from any neighbours, they are a popular choice for people who want to extend, have a loft conversion, or make other renovations to the property since no Party Wall Agreement is needed. 

Whether you want to know more about the house that you live in or are looking to buy a new home to renovate, these are the three most common types of houses that you will find in the UK. 

No matter what kind of house you have get in touch with the team at Simply Easy Refurbs with any questions that you might have.