Is my house Semi detached or terraced?

[catchyjem]

I can't work out if my house is semi detached or terraced ! It was originally an end terrace of 4. It was then converted from 4 to 2 houses, so semi-detached. However at some point the other house has had their neighbour extend their house right up and actually attach to their wall! Not all the way up , but like the whole ground floor. Goodness knows how they got permission, it must have been done years ago. The houses are originally Victorian. So it leaves me wondering whether my house is actually semi detached or is it terraced as my neighbour is attached to another row of houses?! I have seen our house described as both and it doesn't bother me except for house insurance you are asked and now I'm worried I've put the wrong option.

Terraced. From an insurance point of view I guess they’re interested about where flood or fire can spread from, and if your neighbours house has been fixed to yours then flames can spread. Plus they might be interested in how easy burglars could access the back 🤷‍♀️

I’d chat/write to the insurer to make sure the paperwork is perfect, you don’t want them to have any way to wriggle out of a claim.

Semi = two

If there are
Two house attached it's a semi

If there are more than two it's a terrace

@catchyjem

Yes it is odd. Link semi detached is a good description if it were an option!

Look at how it's referred to at the registry. It's only their opinion that counts.

The house I grew up in was similar. It was originally a pair of Victorian semis, and it was pretty obvious that they were a pair - identical design, matching names etc. Then some time later a third, similarly styled house had been added with its wall right up against the side of what was our house. From the looks, I would say that there wasn't a huge time difference between the buildings, but the third one definitely didn't match the other two so I don't think it was intended as a terrace of 3. Curiously I actually remember a family discussion about the insurance and know ours was still listed as a semi despite having houses on either side. My Mum said it was because we only shared a wall with one side. The "new" house was built with its external wall right next to ours but it wasn't shared and apparently that made a difference. I don't know if that was right of course, and it was over 40 years ago, so even if it was right then it might not be now. But FWIW, that's what we were told.

As it was originally a terrace of 4 I'm inclined to think it should still be considered a terraced. I've checked what it says on the registry and it just says the freehold land edged in red being (our address).

Isnt your a semi but your neighbour is a linked semi?

If you’re only attached to another house on one side it’s a semi. Or can be called end terrace. The house you’re attached to is a terraced as it has houses either side

Semi. I say that as my parents house has an arch attached to the neighbours garage and that’s a semi. If it’s only linked by that short front door.
My uncles house is end of terrace, but it might as well be a semi as it’s attached to a row of 4 other houses. But not attached anywhere else.
It could be a semi-terrace. Ok, I made that up 🤷🏼‍♀️

Sorry. Just looked at your diagram. Your neighbour is link detached as single storey attachment

Mine is attached by bedroom but not downstairs and is a link detached. Yours looks like a semi?

I'd say it's a semi

End terrace

Mine is a staggered terrace so we're joined on one side by two terraces and on the other side by stairs connecting to 2 massionettes. If that makes sense, it feels like we're living in a detached house because we're only connected at the back wall to one set. We don't hear anything so we've been spoilt by this house.

@The4teddybears

Sorry. Just looked at your diagram. Your neighbour is link detached as single storey attachment

Her neighbour isn't link detached. Link detached means apart from the 'link' (generally a garage) the house is otherwise detached. This one isn't, it's attached to OP.

I knew it wouldn't be straight forward. Quite a difference of opinion on here. There just aren't enough descriptions for all the different types of houses we have! I could argue the case for either semi detached or terraced for my house. I've actually come round to thinking semi detached is the more accurate as the bit my neighbour is linked to is not the whole side of the building and it was never intended to be attached. They were clearly quite separate buildings in the past. I think I'm going to have to contact insurer and just check with them.