What Exactly is a Link-Detached House? UK House Styles
You’ll probably have a good idea of exactly what a detached house is and exactly what a semi-detached house is. But do you know exactly what a linked detached house is? Here’s what a link detached house is and what you need to know about buying, owning and selling this type of house.
What Exactly is a Link-Detached House?
According to RICS surveyors, a link detached property or house is a term given to residential units that share no common walls with another house or dwelling. They are, however, typically linked together by a garage.
A link detached house can also be a house that is linked by a garage plus a first-floor room above. These are much more like semi-detached houses than detached.
Semi-detached houses can be link semi-detached in some cases. A link semi-detached house is a semi-detached house linked to another semi-detached house by a garage. Bungalows can also be link detached. A link detached bungalow is a bungalow linked to another bungalow by a garage.
Link detached houses were particularly popular between the 1960s and 1990s. Builders built linked detached houses to save on land, fit more houses onto a site, reduce building costs and make prices more affordable.
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Is a Link-Detached House Worth As Much as a Detached House?
There’s no easy answer as to whether a link detached house is worth the same as a detached house.
Normally detached houses are worth more than semi-detached houses. It’s sometimes thought that detached houses are worth around 20-30% more than semi-detached houses of the same size.
The value of a link detached house is likely to sit somewhere between a detached and semi-detached house. In most cases a link detached house will be worth more than a semi-detached house but less than a detached house of the same size.
You can get an idea of how much link-detached houses are worth compared to detached and semi-detached houses by comparing values on a site like Rightmove or Zoopla. A local estate agent may also be able to give you advice on the value of link-detached houses in your area.
Is a Link-Detached House as 'Good' as a Detached House?
As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In much the same way, whether a link detached house is as good as a detached depends on the view of the buyer or owner.
Link detached houses are popular with some people because they offer most of the benefits of a detached property at a lower cost than a detached property. With a link detached house none of the main living rooms adjoins your neighbours so you should benefit from the extra privacy that normally only a detached house offers.
Some people are put off by the idea of a link detached house because they offer some of the disadvantages of a semi-detached or terraced house but usually cost more than either of them. With a link detached house you still have to share some part of your property with your neighbours.
Possible Problems With Link-Detached Houses
Here are some of the possible downsides of buying and living in a link detached house:
- Link-detached houses have less space surrounding them than detached houses.
- Unlike a detached house link-detached houses only have a garden on three sides at most.
- Link-detached houses may have more issues with noise from the neighbours or lack of privacy.
- Link-detached houses sometimes have shared access such as a shared driveway.
- There may be shared maintenance issues with a link detached property. If the shared garage wall or garage roof needs maintenance or repair you will need to co-operate with the neighbours and perhaps share the cost in some way.
- There may be problems with home insurance and linked detached houses. Home insurers often don’t know whether to classify linked detached properties as detached or semi-detached houses!
- It is more difficult to extend a link detached house than a detached house as there is less space to extend into.
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Problems with link-detached houses can arise if you, or your neighbour, wants to convert the garage, build over it or add an extension. Problems can arise with link-detached houses over who owns what and who is entitled to do what with the shared boundary.
The party wall of link-detached houses may come under the Party Wall Act 1996 with any work involving a party wall agreement.The Planning Inspectorate has previously said that a link detached house was a terraced house for permitted development rights. This could restrict to what extent you can extend a link detached house without applying for planning permission.
If the owners of link-detached houses decide to extend or convert their garage it could be argued that the houses are no longer link detached but have become semi-detached. This could affect the value and saleability of the houses.
- Link-detached houses offer scope for more problems and disputes with neighbours than detached houses.
Is it More Difficult to Sell a Link-Detached House?
Some people think it is more difficult to sell a link detached house than either a detached house or a semi-detached house or a terraced house. This is because link-detached houses may cost more than a semi-detached house or terrace yet can involve many of the same ownership issues. Link detached houses may be cheaper than detached houses yet they do not have the same benefits as being fully detached.
Possible buyers might consider that your link detached house is actually a semi-detached house and so feel it is worthless.
There is no hard evidence that link-detached houses are harder to sell, however.
Should I Buy a Link-Detached House?
It is true to say that a link detached house does involve some compromises. If you are considering buying a link detached house then it is advisable to weigh up the pros and cons carefully before deciding.
If you are happy with the idea of a linked detached house, are aware of the possible issues, and happy with the price then there is no reason why you should not buy a link detached house.