To find it hard to adjust to this kind of home?

I've had houses like that and houses with front gardens. I don't think the houses opening onto the street are inherently less safe than houses with front gardens. Presumably if you are bring followed you would be very visible to others whereas if your front door was concealed no one would be able to see a man following you in. If safety is your main priority, your current situation of a concierged apartment is probably best.

‘I’m not privileged but I have a decent enough income from work to live alone in London’

dear oh dear

Apologies if that was crass of me. That was not my intent. But hopefully we can agree they are very normal homes.

I lived in a house like that for 3 years - it was part of a row of cottages in a lovely market town in the south so quite different to the back to back houses you see in Manchester (where I grew up). We were lucky as we had a big hall that then went into the main living area of the house so any wet shoes/ umbrellas/ prams were all in that room. I liked living on the road - it felt really cosy and I enjoyed seeing people walking past etc. made me feel connected to the world!

Yes, I agree, it's so strange!

Ever since the Budget this seems to be happening more and more.

People talking with horror about having to do things millions of us just take for granted.

Terraces that open straight on to the pavement are very prevalent in a lot of cities/towns in some parts of the country. There were virtually none where I grew up but there are thousands of them where I live now (north west). I lived in two when I first moved here, and honestly, it was completely fine. I don't ever recall having anyone peer in while I was there! ! But I did have voile curtains at the windows in both properties.

Having parcels delivered was a tad annoying because obviously it isn't ideal to have an expensive parcel just sitting on your doorstep when your doorstep is on the pavement. But that was really the only thing that ever bothered me.

I am loving the descriptions of terraced houses with front doors onto the street like they're not extremely common. I grew up in the Midlands and now live in the North, and whether it's a row of Victorian terraces or older stone built cottages or terraces, absolutely LOADS of houses have doors onto the street in both areas. Is it a regional thing?!

Yes, my MIL used to call the front door of a house, the 'street door' as she grew up in houses with the front door on the pavement. Not at all unusual. Build in their millions in urban areas, mining villages etc.
Some have a small area at the front, maybe a metre deep for a few plants or the bins, might be better for you. You would need some kind of blinds or shutters though.

Love all the posters referencing these as starter homes, a good way to get on the housing ladder, or for those of lesser means. Very Mumsnet! For zillions of us these homes ARE the peak of the housing ladder, and we are happy and proud to live in them!

I wouldn't like that or feel comfortable in that setting, so YANBU but as others said, it really depends on your budget.

These houses are very normal for me (London). My mum lives in one. My house has a concreted area in front, but a big front window and front door leading straight into the living room, which is also where I sleep. It's a busy street, and I've often had peerers, including one young woman who, peculiarly, stood by my front window taking photos of the inside. I THINK she was taking a picture of the cats, but who knows.

I've never lived in a house with a long drive, but I think I'd be spooked by the prospect of people lurking in the undergrowth, hidden from the road. I've lived in flats nearly all my life, my current place is a converted pub split into seven units. I'm lucky to have fantastic neighbours and I find it immensely comforting that if I banged on the wall and hollered, they would hear. I also suspect burglars dont target homes where the entire street can see them enter.

So I guess what you're used to frames what you feel comfortable with. It's so important to feel secure, OP, so don't ignore your gut instincts. But do consider that these houses are not intrinsically unsafe. Get privacy for your front window (loads of good options), get good door locks and a ring doorbell, maybe a sensor light, befriend your neighbours, and you'll be gold.

No, they knock on the door, or try a neighbour. Or more than likely the dweller will have an Amazon/Evri locker that parcels get left in. We have them all over the place - in stations, outside supermarkets etc.

Sadly, some drivers will leave packages on the pavement in busy streets - I'm looking at you Amazon driver in Liverpool, but they aren't suppsed to.

There are millions of houses like this. I'd have thought they'd be safer as nowhere for someone to hide and jump you. Pay common sense to security by locking front door when home plus chain to answer door. Ensure privacy with nets/blinds/film. I don't see the problem. Some older character places are like this.

The front of our house is straight onto the street. I was put off at first but the back garden and square footage convinced me to show dh. We viewed and I fell in love with the massive rooms and sea views from the two upper floors.

Been here 14 years and never felt unsafe. Fair enough our main sitting room is on the first floor but even we are downstairs, it's ok. I bought some film for the windows which lets the light in but stops anyone looking through.

Nothing wrong with a flat, there are some very lovely ones around. I had a final choice between my apparently terrible unsafe house and a two bed flat in a slightly nicer area. I think it was having my own backyard that swung it for me, but I think I'd have been happy in either.

The first home I owned was like this, a two up, two down terrace, of which are there are millions across the country. I loved it and lived happily there, alone, for several years. It does take a bit of getting used to, as passersby are so close to your front window. But that is all they are, passersby. How often have you stopped and stared right into someone else’s living room? Probably never and that is true of the vast majority. You may come across someone rude or weird who does, but I grew up in flats and felt most unsafe in the stairwells or lifts. There are pros and cons to all types of homes. However net curtains are a must, otherwise you will feel like you are in a goldfish bowl.

I live in a house like this. I don't feel unsafe at all. I keep my front door locked at all times. Some ways I feel safer, as there is no place invisible on the street for anyone to hide, no side entrances so only one point of entry.
The downside is sometimes people stand outside our door talking, more annoying then anything. And parking can be a issue on our street, can't allways guarantee a place on our street.

And use blinds titled on an angle to stop people looking in..however I dont find it an issue. As I most people are just focused in their own world. It's what we could afford at the time. You could think of it as a stepping stone house.

Oh my hilarious photo didn’t post

Gosh yes OP, ghastly, terrible. Certainly not for the likes of me. No room for my hydrangea.

I live in exactly this style of house in London, a couple of doors from a popular pub and busy mini shop. Yes, you will get people staring in. We have our telly on the wall and if there's a big match on, you sometimes get people having a sneaky watch. I'm nosey myself, so I know there's no harm in it! I wave and smile, and they usually look a bit shamefaced and leave - or wave back! If that bothers you, it will be a problem, but I find it vaguely comforting. As for security, I'm much less worried about break ons, even when our door had got a bit dodgy. It's just too obvious. I also like being close to the road in case of trouble indoors. I can run for help quickly. That said, there have been times (especially when the pub gets lively) when I think... What would happen if someone just kicked our door down? Or if there was a fight and they rammed our door and it came open. What about the kids etc, etc. But the actual chances of this are miniscule, and I remind myself of this when I think it. I also put a chain on the inside that I use at night. I think the perceived fear is far greater than the reality of risk, and the benefits of these houses are great. But it depends if you can get a grip on those irrational fears. If you can't, there's no point and buy elsewhere. You need to be happy in your home not stressed...

I would call that a flush fronted terrace and I used to live in one. I didn't use the front room that much so people walking by outside didn't bother me but I had net curtains up in any case. Friends of mine had similar as it is often a first step on the property ladder. I had a hallway but they had front doors that went straight into the front room. There's often a back room unless they're knocked through and there's usually a shared side or back alley for rear access and bins etc.
I know someone who lives in a terrace that gives straight onto the road really as there's no pavement to speak of, just a tiny strip of earth!

I think that's a problem with the parcel delivery service. Most/many require proof of delivery.

So like millions of victorian terraces then?

I think a pp summed it up - you don't have to buy it so if you don't like that feature, don't.

My gran lives in one (and has her entire life) and has never had any issues - realistically most people don't have any reason to walk down a random street unless they live there so there aren't hordes of strangers passing by and staring in. Most people have some form of blinds or window reflection stuff on so people can't see in fully. Tbh the hardest thing is the lack of parking.

Oh okay. They drop and run here, sometimes you may get a knock, but that's quite rare these days. People do get parcels stolen too by what we call Porch Pirates. I get my parcels sent to my work.