Detached Houses - UK Statistics

According to the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (DETR), detached houses make up about 20 percent of the UK¡¦s housing stock, with detached bungalows accounting for a further 6 percent of the total.

Throughout the country, detached properties are consistently the most expensive type of property, although with rising prices in recent years, the price differential between detached and other types of property has narrowed in percentage terms. According to figures from the Nationwide Building Society, a detached house is likely to be worth around 14 percent more than a semi-detached house with equivalent features (i.e. floor area, number of bedrooms, etc.) in a similar area.

Detached Properties - Adding Value
Generally, but not in all cases, detached houses tend to be larger than other types of property. However, when buying a detached house, size isn¡¦t everything! As well as the effect of the location, the number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, number of reception rooms, size of rooms, size of garage, size of garden, are all factors that can significantly influence the value of the property. It is not just the number of rooms that matters. For example, adding a second bathroom to a five bedroom house would add considerably more value to the property than adding a second bathroom to a two bedroom house.

A Question of Taste
By definition, detached houses are ¡¥standalone¡¦ properties, even when located on an estate, so they offer more scope for individualisation and customisation than other types of property. However, individuality comes at a price. An unassuming, tastefully decorated property with a well maintained garden is likely to increase its value greatly, over time. But, be aware that garish colour schemes and quirky garden designs or even basic neglect can adversely affect a detached property¡¦s value.

Detached Property - Current Trends
Surveys indicate that the average number of people per household is continuing to decline. Therefore, it might seem surprising that in much of the UK the proportion of three and four bedroom houses being built is increasing. In 1991, 55 percent of new homes had more than two bedrooms, whereas ten years later the proportion had risen to 71 percent of homes being built. The only part of the country where this has not been the case is in Greater London. This is partly due to the lack of availability and cost of land suitable for detached housing, as well as increased demand for smaller properties, in the area.

Summary
* Detached houses are usually worth more than other types of property in similar locations with equivalent features;
* people typically aspire to detached houses for status reasons and because they are larger and easier to customise;
* detached properties usually offer greater re-sale potential compared with other property types.