What Is a Link-Detached House?
When looking at real estate, one type of property is a link-detached house. Many people see the name and ask, “What is a link-detached house?”
The answer lies between a detached house and a semi-detached house, and it has its own name because it is different from both.
A link-detached house is residential and, although it doesn’t share common walls, it is usually linked to next door by a garage.
How Do Link-Detached Houses Differ from Detached and Semi-Detached Houses?
Link-detached houses fall right in the middle. They tend to have more value than a semi-detached property - but less value than a fully detached house.
A detached house is freestanding and has no link to any other home. A Semi-detached house is a house that shares one common wall with a neighbouring house.
The link-detached house is adjacent to another property, and the shared wall lies in a garage. There is a degree of separation from the neighbours.
From the road, it may not look linked at all. Sometimes the part of the building that is connected to the foundation isn’t visible from above ground.
However, the buffer of the garage means that there is less noise from the neighbouring house. It is more similar to a detached house in this way.
That said - if the neighbour is working with loud tools in the garage, there could be more sound. Some people convert the garage to living space, which changes the dynamic.
You can’t call a link-detached home a detached home, even if it appears to be detached. That would be deceptive because the two houses are linked.
This is why it is classed as a different type of property. It offers people another option between semi-detached houses, often called “semis,” and detached houses.
When Do You Need Permission to Do Work on the Common Wall?
With a link-detached house, you don’t need permission for minor repairs, such as plaster, electrical work, or hanging shelves and cabinets. You may want to let your neighbour know, but it isn’t required.
However, you do need to get permission for some work, including the following:
● Building a new wall
● Cutting into the shared wall
● Changing the size of the common wall
● Removing a chimney from the common wall
● Replacing the common wall
The main benefit to having a link-detached house is that it is less expensive than a semi-detached property. Not only that, but it has the convenience because you aren’t sharing a wall that is in your living space. It is not as noisy as a semi-detached house, so people prefer them.
Are There Any Concerns with a Link-Detached House?
A link-detached house is less noisy than a semi-detached house but noisier than a detached house. Sometimes people convert the garage to living space - this creates more noise for the neighbour.
You can resolve this problem by adding soundproofing to the wall; as a result, it won’t be inconvenient and you won’t have to live with the extra noise.
Another issue occurs when one person wants to extend the space. Both sides must form an agreement according to the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
Another consideration is the value. If you extend the house, it can decrease the value of a link-detached house. Extending it actually brings the properties closer together, which goes against why most people choose a link-detached house.
You may have a shared driveway with this type of house, as the garage is typically where the houses are linked. This can lead to issues when guests are coming to visit as they can end up blocked in.
There is a higher risk of issues with neighbours than is in a detached house if you are in a link-detached house, but fewer than in a semi-detached house.
What Is a Semi-Detached House?
It is easy to confuse a link-detached house with a semi-detached house. Semi-detached houses are called “semis” for short, and they have some features in common with link-detached houses.
However, a semi-detached house shares at least one wall with the neighbouring home. This isn’t usually a bedroom wall, and there aren’t windows on this wall.
You could find the staircase on this wall or the back of the kitchen. Some people put bookcases against the wall, or they have storage there.
The design originated in the 17th century, and it became popular in the 19th century.
Each will usually have a driveway, a front garden, and possibly a garage. They are less expensive than detached houses or link-detached houses.
How Is a Link-Detached House Different from a Terraced House?
Another type of house is a terraced house. This is different from link-detached houses because they share a wall with houses on both sides.
If you live in a terraced house, you will have a space in front and the back, but you won’t have any on the sides. You won’t have windows on the two sides of the house either.
Terraced houses can feel cramped for some people, but they are the least expensive of these types of homes. However, people usually prefer a link-detached house.
Some Final Thoughts
When you look at houses in the UK, there are different options out there. The most common are terraced, semi-detached, link-detached, and detached homes.
A link-detached home is a step below a detached home but has some of the same benefits. Because the common wall is usually in the garage, there is a buffer for noise.
Semi-detached houses have a common wall on one side, and terraced houses share a wall with people on two sides. People often choose link-detached houses because they provide more privacy and have more value.
Written by Tom Lawrence
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