TownHouse definition

kasu_78

Hi

Can someone explain the difference between a townhouse and SemiD property please? I am bit confused what I found on Google and WiKi!

I was told that townhouses usually have the wall made of 'flimsier material' but not concrete/bricks and due to which the the whole house or part of it tend to move/vibrate if we move around the house! Is this why a townhouse is generally cheaper than a semiD, when it comes to new builds?

I am currently living in a flat and planning to move to a bigger house preferably semiD or townhouse to accommodate my growing family. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance
SK

lincroft1710

"Townhouse" is a posh expression for new(ish) 3 storey terraced houses. The term does not mean they are necessarily of inferior construction. Semi detached houses are 2 (and only 2) houses joined together.

hcb42

Townhouses can often be the three storey modern builds where the garage is integral on ground floor, then living room on first floor etc. Often terraced.

Although I use the term to describe the elegant stone terraces that you can find e.g. in Harrogate, Buxton or Edinburgh, for example. (My dream type house!)

never heard of the distinction between townhouse and semiD on a newbuild, in terms of construction though - but I thought all newbuilds were flimsy and vibrate if you move around the house, but tbh I haven't gone looking at any either...;)

G_M

My understanding was that a town house was 3+ storeys high, and terraced. A semi is one of a pair of joind properties, typically 2 storeys.

t0rt0ise

A town house is usually a traditional terraced house usually with three or more floors. Lots of rows of tall, narrow houses in London.

megzmam

lincroft1710 wrote: »

"Townhouse" is a posh expression for new(ish) 3 storey terraced houses. The term does not mean they are necessarily of inferior construction. Semi detached houses are 2 (and only 2) houses joined together.

i agree with what you've written i always though that a townhouse was a 3 modern three storey house. when we first marketed our house for sale it was down as an end townhouse which i thought sounded a lot fancier than a 2 bed end terrace!!:)

JQ.

If you are asking this because you are searching websites for houses - I really would not differentiate based on an EA description - they often get them wrong.

kasu_78

JQ. wrote: »

If you are asking this because you are searching websites for houses - I really would not differentiate based on an EA description - they often get them wrong.

I haven't started looking but I got this impression from many of my friends and colleagues on townhouses!

There seem to be many new townhouses off late which are fairly comparable to an old Victorian house and I always imagine that new builds are supposed to be costlier than a Victorian house (assuming both are 'comparable' in terms of size, bedrooms and area)! The next logical assumption, I did was agree with my friends' feedback on townhouses' build quality. Any thoughts?

GAH

Victorian houses are much nicer than modern town houses. Like all newish homes, the rooms are tiny and the walls are paper thin.

JQ.

I really would not go house hunting with any pre-conceived ideas or sweeping assumptions. Look at each house individually and based on the merits of that one house.

You will find Victorian houses with dark pokey rooms that are falling down.
You will find modern houses with fantastic build quality and large airy rooms
You will find modern houses with dark pokey rooms that are falling down.
You will find Victorian houses with fantastic build quality and large airy rooms

tyllwyd

They have built quite a lot of new townhouses in our area in the last 10 years or so. They usually have lots of space inside (as long as you don't mind living over three floors) but the downside is that they have gardens that are absolutely tiny compared to the internal size of the house. And because there are terraces of 3 story houses with small gardens, they are relatively close together so it gives quite a dark enclosed feeling to the estate as a whole.

I definitely have the impression that although they sell OK as new builds, when the time comes and you want to move on, they can be slow to sell.