House Styles

Anyone looking through the property pages to find their new home may sometimes come across some confusing property descriptions. For example, do you know how old does a house have to be to be classed as a period property? What exactly IS a cottage? Just what the difference is between a townhouse and a terrace house? We've put together a glossary of the key property types to help you out ...

Apartment (Flat)

An apartment (or flat) is a self-contained unit, usually located on one floor, although in some cases, it can be spread over a number of floors. It may be a purpose built apartment, located in a building that has been intentionally built to contain apartments, or it may be a conversion apartment, which is located in a building that was originally built as a house and has since been converted to contain apartments.

Barn Conversion

A barn that has been converted into a spacious home with exposed beams, high ceilings and lots of character.

Bungalow

A single-storey detached, terraced or semi-detached house. As its floor plan is entirely on one level, a bungalow does not have any stairs.

Chalet Style

A house with a sloping roof and widely overhanging eaves.

Cottage

Although this term was traditionally used to describe a pretty, quaint house in the country, a cottage now describes any small house that typically has character and charm.

Detached House

A house without any adjoining walls to any other properties; usually with its own garden (possibly front and rear) and garage.

Link-Detached

A house that is separated from other properties by adjoining walls that are situated in non-living spaces such as the garage.

Maisonette

Part of a house or block of apartments comprising separate living accommodation. The term may be used to describe a flat that extends over more than one floor or a flat which has its own external entrance.

Mews House

A house that has been converted from old stables or carriage houses - usually 17th to 19th century. They are usually found on narrow streets in larger cities and tend to be very expensive.

Mobile Home

A pre-fabricated timber-framed home that can be moved to a new site; however, the majority are permanently located on a 'home park'.

Period Property

A period property is one that was built before 1914. They are named after the period in which they were built:

• Jacobean (1603-1625)
• Stuart (1625-1714)
• Georgian (1714-1811)
• Regency (1811-1837)
• Victorian (1837-1901)
• Edwardian (1901-1914)

Semi-Detached House

A house that is separated from only one other property by one adjoining (party) wall.

Studio

An apartment (flat) comprising of one habitable room (there is no separate bedroom) plus a bathroom and possibly a small separate kitchen.

Terraced House

This term is used to describe houses built in a row of three or more and usually two to five storeys high. A mid-terrace is separated from two other houses by two separate adjoining walls, whilst an end terrace is separated from only one other house by an adjoining wall. Staggered terrace houses are separated from each other by two partially adjoining walls.

Townhouse

Similar to a terraced house, but usually larger, built to a higher standard and with an integral garage on the ground floor. Such properties are typically found as part of a planned unit development.