Three storey town houses, yay or nay?

HanPop

I wouldn’t be so keen on buying a three storey house that has a lounge or kitchen on the 1st floor myself as I have 3 little ones and I don’t think it would be practical. However we are currently purchasing a three storey house but with traditional layout on the ground floor with lounge and kitchen diner, 1st floor has bathroom and 4 bedrooms and top floor is the master bedroom. I don’t think 3 storeys are for everyone but the one we’re purchasing is definitely the right fit for us.

swingaloo

A massive no from me. I lived in one for 7 years and was so glad to get rid of it.

Too much compromise for me, the rooms are small and the ceilings low as they tend to be built to save ground area and its all about getting as many rooms into as small a plot as possible.

I could touch the ceiling without a chair of ladder and it was just so claustrophobic.

The 3rd floor looked like a great idea at first but we found it too hot in summer and freezing in winter.

Added to that the constant upstairs, downstairs all day drove me mad.

Not to mention the way sound carried, we used to say that if son far-ed on the top floor we could hear it on the ground floor.

Would not have another at a 50% discount.

lincroft1710

Over 30 yrs ago had a girlfriend who had one and spent quite a lot of time there. Layout was reasonably practical, kitchen, dining room and cloaks on ground flr, lounge, bathrm, 3rd bed on middle flr, 1st and 2nd beds on top flr. Quite liked it at the time, but now am much older and all the stairs would become a bit of a problem in a few years

Jay_En_Gee

Absolutely love our townhouse. On the ground floor we have bedroom 4 (double), cloakroom and large kitchen diner, first floor is large master bedroom with en-suite and living room and the top floor is two further (large) double bedrooms and the family bathroom. The only downside for me is not having windows in any of the three bathrooms, but overall I really love the space. It’s been really great when we’ve had family over from Australia, as they’ve had their own floor and their own bathroom. When they’re staying for 6+ weeks at a time, it really makes a difference.

Thrugelmir

Is it semi detached? i.e. with off road parking and set back garage to side.

Is it situated on a narrow road?

Is the kitchen a decent size?

Properties can be similar but different. Having been in a few townhouses. I have personal preferences.

zagubov

boliston wrote: »

It would not be so bad if they were actually in towns - often they are on horrendous greenfield out of town estates

True; we used to live in one just on the outer edge of London. Had to walk 20 minutes to get to the nearest shop.

There were a number of modern townhouses in Newhall, Harlow that were three storeys high or rather two storeys with a spacious attic.

The aim was that the attic was a potential extension of the house that could be converted into a room-in-the-roof if the family's need for living space increased, but didn't change the footprint.

We can't keep extending houses horizontally; it makes more sense to build them so we can easily extend upwards.

boliston

It would not be so bad if they were actually in towns - often they are on horrendous greenfield out of town estates

getmore4less

Said it before we should build 3 stories houses with basement.
Much more practical.

Bathrooms on every floor(min toilet)

If planning day space on multiple floors mini kitchen(hot water and beer fridge)

The main issue with modern town houses is to reduce footprints to pack more in which results in very compact spaces and lots of space taken up by stairs.
Even worse if the ground floor includes a garage space.

RelievedSheff

We did find that the townhouses we looked at which were 3 and 4 bedrooms did all feel a bit top heavy with too many bedrooms for the size of the living space.

DCFC79

A 3 storey town house, too many stairs for a start, if it was the right layout maybe it would be something Id consider but Im pretty happy with what I have.