A terraced house forms part of a row of adjoining homes. A mid-terrace normally adjoins a home on both sides, while an end-of-terrace is the final property in the row and normally adjoins one other home.
In short, a terraced house is joined to neighbouring homes as part of a continuous row. Its layout, parking, outdoor space, access and other features will depend on the individual property.
This guide explains the features you may find and what to consider when deciding whether a terraced house meets your needs.
This guide provides general information for people considering a home in England. Property features, tenure, rights, restrictions and costs vary. Different rules and homeownership schemes may apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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What is a terraced house?
A terraced house is one of a row of adjoining homes. The Office for National Statistics classifies terraced housing as a separate accommodation type from detached and semi-detached homes.
Terraced houses differ in size, design and layout. They may have more than one floor, a garden or yard, on-street or allocated parking and access to the rear. These features are not guaranteed by the property type alone.
Find out more in the Office for National Statistics accommodation type dataset.
Mid-terrace and end-of-terrace homes
A mid-terrace house is positioned between other properties in the row and normally adjoins a home on both sides.
An end-of-terrace house is the final property in the row and normally adjoins one other home.
An end-of-terrace property may have windows, outdoor space or access at the side. This depends on its design, plot and boundaries.
An end-of-terrace house is not necessarily the same as a semi-detached house. A semi-detached property forms one of a pair, while an end-of-terrace home forms the final part of a longer row.
The Office for National Statistics provides further information about the difference between a semi-detached and an end-of-terrace house.
Common features of terraced houses
There is no standard layout or specification shared by every terraced house. The features will depend on the individual property, its plot and any work carried out by previous owners.
Parking
Parking may be available on the street, on a driveway, in a garage or in an allocated space. Local permit schemes or parking restrictions may also apply.
Check the property information to see whether a driveway, garage or parking space is included. During the purchase, your solicitor or conveyancer can review the relevant title documents and any associated rights, restrictions or charges.
Rear and side access
Some terraced houses have an alleyway or passage between the street and the rear of the property. This may be private, shared or subject to rights of access.
Other homes have no external route to the rear. This can affect how bins, bicycles, garden equipment and larger items are moved between the front and back of the property.
Check how the rear is accessed and whether any passage is shared. Your solicitor or conveyancer can review the available information about access rights and responsibility for shared areas.
Gardens and outdoor areas
A terraced house may have a private garden, courtyard or yard. Homes on some developments may also have shared outdoor areas.
When considering a property, check:
- What outdoor space is included
- How it can be accessed
- Whether access is shared with neighbouring properties
- Who is responsible for shared areas
- Whether service charges, estate charges or other costs apply
The position of a fence, wall or hedge does not always identify the precise legal boundary. HM Land Registry explains that registered title plans normally show general boundaries rather than their exact legal position.
Read the HM Land Registry guidance on property boundaries and title plans.
Sound from adjoining properties
The amount of sound heard from adjoining homes will differ between properties and may vary at different times of day.
A viewing may give you some indication of sound from neighbouring properties, roads and the surrounding area, but it cannot confirm typical sound levels. If sound is important to you, you could visit the street at another time before making your decision.
Natural light
The amount of natural light inside a terraced house depends on factors such as its position, orientation, windows, internal layout and nearby buildings.
Mid-terrace homes often receive natural light mainly through windows at the front and rear, although layouts vary. An end-of-terrace home may also have windows at the side.
Where possible, view the property during daylight and consider how much natural light reaches the rooms you expect to use most.
Energy performance
An Energy Performance Certificate, commonly called an EPC, provides an energy-efficiency rating and related information about a property.
You can use the government’s energy certificate service to find an existing certificate for a property in England or Wales.
An EPC is not a building survey or a guarantee of future energy costs. Likely energy use should not be judged solely from the age, appearance or position of the home.
Condition and previous alterations
A property’s age does not confirm its present condition. Repairs, maintenance and alterations can affect each home differently.
You may wish to obtain an independent property survey. A survey can provide information about the property, but its scope will depend on the service you commission.
The government’s guide to buying a home provides general information about searches, surveys and the purchasing process in England and Wales.
Potential benefits of a terraced house
A terraced house may suit you if you are comfortable living next to adjoining properties and the individual home provides the space, access and parking you require.
Depending on the property, it may have:
- Living space arranged across more than one floor
- A private garden, courtyard or yard
- Allocated or off-street parking
- External access to the rear
- Additional windows or side access if it is at the end of the row
These are possible features rather than standard benefits. Check the plans, specification and information supplied for the individual home.
What to consider at a viewing
When viewing a terraced house, consider:
- Sound from adjoining properties
- Natural light in the main rooms
- The size and layout of the living and storage space
- Visible staining or damage you would like a surveyor to assess
- Information available about the heating system
- The property’s current EPC
- The size and accessibility of any outdoor space
- Access to the rear of the property
- Parking for residents and visitors
- Local parking controls
- Signs that the property has been extended or altered
A viewing cannot reveal every issue. It can also be useful to look at the surrounding street, parking demand and nearby sources of noise.
For properties in England, the government’s long-term flood-risk service provides information about flood risk in an area. It does not predict whether an individual property will flood or replace property-specific enquiries.
Checks during the buying process
Some information cannot be confirmed during a viewing. During the purchase, ask your solicitor or conveyancer what information and enquiries are appropriate for the individual property.
These may cover:
- Whether the property is freehold or leasehold
- The title documents and general extent of the registered property
- Rights of access and rights of way
- Covenants or restrictions
- Responsibility for shared passages or other areas
- Service charges, estate charges or shared maintenance costs
- Whether a garage or parking space is included
- Available planning and building-control information
- Searches relevant to the property and surrounding area
Leasehold properties
If the property is leasehold, ask your solicitor or conveyancer to explain the lease, title documents, charges, restrictions and responsibilities.
The government provides further information about leasehold service charges and other expenses.
Planning restrictions and building work
Planning controls and other restrictions may affect alterations or extensions to a terraced house.
If a property is in a conservation area, extra controls may apply. People considering a home in England or Wales can use the government service covering work on homes in conservation areas to find the relevant local council.
Planning permission, building regulations and conservation-area controls are separate considerations. Check the relevant local council’s current guidance and obtain appropriate advice before carrying out work.
Shared walls and building work
Structural work, an extension or excavation near a neighbouring property may be subject to separate legal, planning or building-control requirements.
For homes in England and Wales, read the government guidance about party walls and building work.
Whether the requirements apply will depend on the proposed work and the properties involved. Obtain appropriate advice before proceeding.
Other property types to consider
Alternatives to a terraced house include apartments, semi-detached houses and detached houses.
Apartments
An apartment forms part of a larger building. Its tenure, service charges, outside space and maintenance arrangements will depend on the individual property.
Semi-detached houses
A semi-detached house adjoins another home as part of a pair. It is different from an end-of-terrace property, which forms the final home in a longer row.
Detached houses
A detached house does not adjoin another property.
Space, tenure, outdoor areas, parking arrangements and costs depend on the individual home. One property type should not automatically be assumed to be larger, less expensive or easier to maintain than another.
You can also read our guides to duplex apartments and mews houses if you are comparing different types of home.
Learn more about the potential benefits of buying a new-build home.
Buying a terraced house through Shared Ownership
Shared Ownership is a homeownership option rather than a type of building. Depending on current availability, eligible homes may include houses and apartments.
You buy a share of the home and normally pay rent to the provider on the share you do not own. Eligibility requirements and property-related costs apply.
Read our guide to how Shared Ownership works and check the current information supplied for the individual home.
You can also read the government’s guidance about buying a home through Shared Ownership.
Deciding whether a terraced house suits you
A terraced house could meet your needs if you are comfortable living next to adjoining properties and the individual home provides the space, access, parking and outdoor area you require.
Before deciding, consider the property’s condition, layout, energy performance, tenure, boundaries and ongoing costs. A survey and the legal enquiries completed during the purchase may provide information that is not apparent during a viewing.
Find your new home with Guinness Homes
If a terraced house or another type of new home could suit you, explore homes currently available from Guinness Homes.
