There are many different types of property in the UK.
Some are more common than others. You will also see an extensive range in property prices.
In this blog, we’ve summarised all of them, including their typical price ranges.
Detached
Detached houses are separate from any other type of property, i.e., they do not share any walls.
This property type often has:
- A garden
- A driveway
- At least two storeys.
Detached home costs
The average detached house costs £483,793 in the UK.
However, this price varies depending on your location. For example:
- A detached house in London costs around £1,277,641
- In Manchester, you can expect to pay £465,284.
And, as with all property types, the property’s condition always needs to be considered, too.
Semi-detached
A semi-detached property is joined to another property on one side.
So, it will share one of its walls with another property while the other side is free.
These houses often have:
- A garden
- A driveway
- A designated entrance.
Semi-detached houses are less expensive than detached properties. This is because of the reduced privacy and often smaller square footage.
Semi-detached home costs
The average semi-detached house costs £303,297 in the UK.
In Edinburgh, this price is around £396,552. In Birmingham, you can expect to pay £265,523.
Terraced
Terraced properties are connected to a house on either side. They are part of a long line of properties.
This is more common in cities and towns where space is limited. They often have gardens with fences separating each one.
Because of the reduced privacy, a terraced house costs less than a detached or semi-detached property.
You share a wall with two neighbours. A designated driveway is also rare.
Terraced home costs
In the UK, the average terraced house costs £253,547.
In Wales, the price is around £168,941. In London, this rises to £589,355.
You might pay more if it is end of terrace, which we explain below.
End of terrace
An end of terrace property is a house at the end of a line of terraced properties.
These are more valuable because they have more privacy. You share one wall with neighbours rather than two, as with semi-detached houses. It might also be easier to get parking.
End of terrace home costs
Savills once reported that end of terrace properties are worth about 18% more than terraced ones. This would give them an average cost of about £300,000 in the UK.
An end-of-terrace costs an average £170,634 in the West Midlands (vs. mid-terrace average of £144,573 there) and £140,781 in the North West (vs. £119,347 for mid-terraces there).
Link detached
Link detached houses are residential properties linked to a neighbouring property, typically through a garage.
Unlike semi-detached or attached houses, link detached houses share no common walls with neighbouring properties.
This means they have lower noise levels than detached houses – which can significantly reduce the risk of disputes with neighbours.
Overall, link detached houses balance privacy and affordability, making them popular among homebuyers.
Flat
A flat is the most common type of property in the UK.
(It is often known as an ‘apartment’ in other countries).
It is often part of a large residential building. The owner is typically a leaseholder, who pays the freeholder ground rent and service charge.
Selling a flat can be easy or difficult for several reasons. On the one hand, there is a large demand for them. But on the other, there is also an ample supply.
Flat costs
The average flat in the UK costs £252,977.
This figure varies according to square footage, features, views, etc.
Location is the most significant indicator of price, as a random selection of different UK cities shows:
- Dundee: around £122,199
- Exeter: around £181,000
- Wrexham: around £101,000.
Maisonette
A maisonette is similar to a flat, but with a few differences. It is a two-storey property with its own front door.
In other words, you won’t bump into neighbours in the hallway! But you will share a wall (or several) with them.
The average maisonette is more expensive than a flat. This is because of the increased privacy and higher typical square footage.
Maisonette costs
There are few statistics on average maisonette prices. You can expect them to be higher than the equivalent flat, all factors being the same.
You will unlikely see this house price in major city centres such as London and Birmingham. They are more common in towns and villages.
Bungalow
A bungalow is a house with only one or one-and-a-half storeys. It is less common in recent years as developer build upwards to maximise the value of their land.
Bungalows were first built in the UK to provide affordable housing for the working class.
They are ideal for people with mobility difficulties, such as wheelchair users or the elderly. This is because the house does not often have stairs.
Bungalow costs
A bungalow costs around £330,000 in the UK. This slightly declined from the previous year’s value of £340,000.
Bungalows are uncommon in major cities because of the lack of space to build them. They are more prevalent in villages and rural communities.
They are particularly popular with elderly demographics who want to downsize and avoid the use of stairs.
Retirement property
Retirement properties are designed specifically for older people.
They are often part of a complex with many of these house types. The seller will only consider buyers over a certain age.
The complex will often have a high service charge. It caters to older people with helpers, stairlifts and excellent facilities.
Retirement flat costs
Retirement properties have decreased in value recently. Owners often have to wait a long to sell them at a loss.
Their costs also vary according to region, as a selection of approximate averages of asking prices shows:
- East Anglia: £254,950
- London: £650,000
- West Midlands: £175,950.
Cottage
Cottages are common in rural areas. It is a small detached house known for its charming appearance and cosy interior.
Lots of older people consider this as they enter retirement. This is especially because cottages are expensive.
Cottage costs
It is difficult to get information on average cottage prices in the UK.
They are often more expensive than an equivalent flat, semi-detached or terraced, because cottages are detached and more private.
They will often be in an attractive rural location, which can push the price up further.
Townhouse
A townhouse is an expensive type of terraced property. They are common in major cities such as London.
It has multiple floors, a designated entrance, and an attractive décor. It will often have large square footage despite being in an urban area.
It shares at least one wall with a neighbour.
Mansion
A mansion is one of the rarest types of property.
It is a large detached house, often with around 5,000 square feet of living space and a large amount of land surrounding it.
It usually has its own garden (or ‘grounds’) and driveway. And many also have unique, expensive features such as:
- Fountains
- Swimming pools
- Tennis courts
- Ponds
- Solar panels.
And more.
There may be a long driveway leading up to the property. You will often see these in towns and rural areas, although they exist in cities too.
Some mansions with a steep history are protected. There might be limitations to changes the owner makes. And, despite their attractiveness, their high cost can make them difficult to sell.
Mansion costs
The average price of a mansion in the UK is skewed by the sheer range in prices.
For example, a 45-bedroom mansion in Hyde Park, London, sold for £210 million in 2023. This was a record property sale for the UK!
Commercial property
A commercial property is different to all the house types listed above. This is because a business or organisation uses it.
This will usually be a tall block with dozens of offices in it. Alternatively, it might be a standalone commercial unit.
Commercial units are usually rented by the business operating there. A commercial landlord or company might own it and other commercial units in the area.
You cannot live in a commercial property as a resident. The lease means it is for business purposes only.
