Townhouses are popular among growing families, as they offer flexible accommodation. Townhouses can range from period Edwardian and Victorian examples to contemporary-style new build varieties. Luckily, London has a good mix of both.
This article covers:
The history of townhouses
Historically, a townhouse was a house in a town belonging to a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or another major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year. However, during the social season (when major balls took place), and when parliament was in session, peers and the servants moved to live in their townhouse in the capital.
Why townhouses are being built today
Today, townhouses are being built to make the most of what land is left to build on. In cities, land is expensive and in short supply, so housebuilders have to utilise any land they have in the most efficient way. Townhouses provide vertical accommodation rather than spreading out widthways. This means that more townhouses can be built on a plot of land than semi-detached or detached properties. Townhouses are also proving popular away from cities as they offer flexible living accommodation.
Townhouses also offer a solution to planning issues, When housebuilders are given permission to build on a plot of land, planning rules will stipulate how many properties should be built in order to meet local needs; the smaller footprint of townhouses mean more units can be built.
What to look for when buying a townhouse
Townhouses comprise two or more storeys and are set in rows, with each house adjoining the one next door. They generally have small gardens or courtyards, making this type of accommodation low-maintenance. Some brand-new townhouses will have integral garages. While useful for car owners, garages take up a large amount of the footprint and can mean you only have one room on the ground floor – usually a bedroom or kitchen. This can be inconvenient for family living.
It’s also worth making sure your kitchen and dining room are on the same floor, unless you are buying a period townhouse with the luxury of a ‘dumb waiter’ – a chute for transporting food and other items between floors.
Due to their structure, townhouses can have low ceilings and this can make large rooms feel closed in. Make sure you are happy with any ceiling heights before you buy.
Some brand-new homes are classed as one and a half storeys. This normally means there is ground and first-floor accommodation with further living space in the sloping roof space.
This article was last updated on 21 August 2006