Houses
From Home And Money
When we refer to a ‘house’, we mean a house which is still occupied by a single family and we stop calling it a house once it is converted into flats for separate families or individuals.
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Types of houses
Most houses fall into one of the following categories:
- Terraced. Terraced houses are three or more houses are joined together, side-by-side.
- Semi-detached. Semi-detached houses are two houses joined together by at least one shared main wall, or perhaps instead a shared porch and entrance structure.
- Detached. Detached houses are houses which are not joined to any other house and have clear space within the boundaries right the way round.
- Bungalows. These are single-storey detached houses.
Houses of different periods
In the outskirts or the suburbs of London, houses are often detached and have their own gardens. In central London — particularly in the prime areas of Kensington and Chelsea — most houses are terraced houses. Most of these were built in Victorian times. They will generally be red brick or have stucco-faced facades. (Stucco was a form of plaster designed to look like stonework, which is nowadays normally painted cream or white. It is the style you will see throughout Belgravia.)
Houses were generally built in terraces to make the most of the available space, and for ease of construction, but there are many very exclusive areas where detached houses or semi-detached houses were constructed, and which are still available for occupation by single families today. But these are generally very expensive in the prime locations.
Not many terraced houses have been built in prime areas since the Second World War. Some new terraced houses were constructed to infill gaps where existing terraces were destroyed by bombing in the Second World War, but most new construction has been in the form of detached houses in the outer London areas.
Important parts of houses
Each part of the house has its own particular problems and issues, which may come up in the buying process. The most important ones are roofs, foundations, walls, windows, electrical systems, drainage, water, and gas installations.
Physical problems
There are typical problems which can be found in houses, and which would affect your purchase if they are present: structural problems such as subsidence, dampness, woodworm, wood rot and infestation by other things.
Types of ownership
Most houses are freehold. But some houses are leasehold.
Rights you need
- Right of access. You need a right of access to be able to get to your property, although in London this is usually provided by the fact that your house comes straight off the public road.
- Rights for services. You also need rights for services such as water, drainage, gas and electricity to your home, although again in London these should usually be provided by statutory suppliers directly from the public road.
- Right of access to neighbouring property. If you cannot carry out repairs or maintenance to some part of your building because it can only be accessed from the neighbour’s side of the boundary, you may need a right of access to neighbouring property.
- Shared facilities. You also need to consider facilities shared with adjoining properties such as shared driveways or drainage systems which may need specific rights.
- Rights of light and air. Your property may have rights of light and air which can help you prevent too close or too high a development next door.
Boundaries
You need to know about the boundaries of the house you are buying. You may own the walls or fences; but often it is impossible to say who owns them. They may be assumed to be party walls and that imposes a number of rights and obligations concerning how they are maintained or altered and what work can be done to them or near them. If you are buying a terraced or semi-detached house, then the walls shared with the adjoining owner will almost certainly be party walls.
Neighbours' rights
You need to know what rights neighbours have over the property. They could include a rights of way over the garden, or rights of light and air.
Changes
One of the reasons for buying a house is that you can do what you want without having to answer to a landlord. But there are limits. For most building projects you have to comply with building regulations supervised by the local council, and for many projects which affect the exterior appearance of the building you may need planning permission. If you live in a listed building you will need listed building consent from the council before you carry out almost any work. There are also restrictions (but a bit less stringent) on the permitted alterations you can make if your property is in a conservation area. Even the garden is not necessarily free from council control: if there is a tree conservation order on a tree, you can’t cut it down.
You may, in some circumstances, also need permission from your neighbour if your works would contravene their rights of light and air, or if they affect a party wall.
Insurance
You will need to put in place buildings insurance to cover against the risk to the building of fire and other risks such as flooding. You will also need contents insurance which is a separate issue from buildings insurance.
