Back-to-back house

freesha

Hi. My friend lives in Bradford and is looking to buy her first house. Single buyer so she can only afford a back-to-back house. Any feedback/thoughts/experiences on this? I personally think she should see if she can stretch/wait and save to buy a through-terrace, but she is rather impatient!

Thanks in advance.

RedFraggle

Back to backs are a pretty standard FTB in the Bradford and Leeds area. 

RelievedSheff

Back to backs are making a come back. There are several developers who sell new build versions.

There are loads of the old traditional back to backs in Yorkshire. Nothing wrong with them and if your friend buys one then decides it isn't for them they are very popular so will be easy to sell on again.

freesha

Thanks. Anyone lived in one? Did you miss a back garden?

daveyjp

Where in Bradford is she looking? Compared to Leeds, which still has huge areas of back to backs, Bradford has very few so if it doesn't suit look a little wider.

They are generally very well built, some have decent front yard areas, cellars etc, others are straight onto the street so it depends what she can live in happily.

freesha

daveyjp said:

Where in Bradford is she looking?

I have no idea sorry. I didn't realise there weren't many left in the area. I'm guessing this will reduce the areas she is looking in. I will get more info from her at some stage. Do you know the area?

Marvel1

freesha said:

Thanks. Anyone lived in one? Did you miss a back garden?

If there is no back garden, then it's a no for me, I like to put clothes on the line in nice weather to dry and someone to chill out.

hazyjo

Is it terraced too? If she'll have neighbours 3 sides, that might put some off, especially with no garden. I would possibly consider a conversion flat with a garden if they're a lot cheaper than back to back houses.

Silvertabby

hazyjo said:

Is it terraced too? If she'll have neighbours 3 sides, that might put some off, especially with no garden. I would possibly consider a conversion flat with a garden if they're a lot cheaper than back to back houses.

If that is the case, then the house will only have windows at the front?  Would be very dark.

hazyjo

Silvertabby said:

hazyjo said:

Is it terraced too? If she'll have neighbours 3 sides, that might put some off, especially with no garden. I would possibly consider a conversion flat with a garden if they're a lot cheaper than back to back houses.

If that is the case, then the house will only have windows at the front?  Would be very dark.

My first flat was like that. Front quarter of a very large old house (flat behind, flat next door and an identical semi next door so a flat adjoining that side too). Only windows were at the front. Lounge and kitchen downstairs, 2 beds and bathroom upstairs.

I'd not worried about fire risks at the time but it might concern me more now.

davidmcn

Silvertabby said:

hazyjo said:

Is it terraced too? If she'll have neighbours 3 sides, that might put some off, especially with no garden. I would possibly consider a conversion flat with a garden if they're a lot cheaper than back to back houses.

If that is the case, then the house will only have windows at the front?  Would be very dark.

I think typically they're only one (not very long) room deep, so not necessarily any darker than other houses.