The History of Semi-Detached Houses
Dating back to the 18th century in the late Georgian and early Victorian era, semi-detached houses gained popularity as a result of increased population. A little more spacious than a terraced house, a semi-detached house connects one wall to a neighbour’s wall, while the other remains free-standing.
With the industrial revolution, the middle-class folk began earning more money and leaving the city centres to live in the suburbs, reflecting their increase in wealth and social development. While they couldn’t afford detached villas, they settled in semi-detached homes, designed to accommodate more luxurious living. The semi-detached house provided the perfect middle ground: a home with the illusion of a detached villa, complete with a private garden and space down the side for a separate entrance, but at a more accessible price.
Post World War II (1939), there was a boom era in semi-detached houses, driven by a shortage of homes. These neighbourhoods soon came to define ‘suburban dream’ living with architectural features like bay windows, private gardens and ‘mock’ Tudor house appearances. The noticeable symmetry of the architectural design of these buildings comes from the simplicity of building a home with a straightforward floor plan. Builders were able to reverse floor plans to maximise the space for windows and light to the home.
What Makes Semi-Detached Houses So Popular?
Rooted in practical advantages, the semi-detached home offered advantages to all homeowners and families, big and small.
- Affordability: A semi is typically more affordable than a comparable detached house. Sharing one wall reduces construction costs for builders, a saving that is generally passed on to the buyer. This makes it an ideal choice for first-time buyers and young families seeking space without the detached price tag.
- Energy Efficiency: The shared wall is a thermal advantage. Having one less exterior wall exposed to the elements means less heat loss, which can translate into lower heating bills compared to a fully detached property.
- Greater Privacy than Terraces: While a terrace house shares two walls with neighbours (one on each side), a semi-detached house only shares one. This provides more separation, more windows for natural light on the exposed side, and often, a wider plot of land for a garden and private driveway.
- Outdoor Space: Unlike many city flats or mid-terraced homes, the typical semi-detached house usually comes with a private front and back garden and often a driveway or space for off-street parking, highly valued amenities for families.
- Freedom & Maintenance: Unlike apartments or terraced houses, managing and maintaining a semi-detached property is often easier as there are fewer restrictions to accessing areas for repairs or for decorating to your own taste.
Facts about Semi-Detached Houses that add to Their Popularity
- A semi-detached house is the most popular style of home across England.
- They sell quickly due to their benefits and broad appeal (first-time buyers, families, downsizers) and therefore remain in strong demand.
- The shared wall between two semi-detached properties is legally known as the Party Wall. In the UK, any significant structural work affecting this wall (like building an extension or loft) requires adherence to this law. Neighbours must be notified and agree before any work is begun.
- The popularity of the semi in post-war England came about during the same time as the mass expansion of public transport and the affordable car, meaning people were able to live further out of the city and commute in easily.
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