The Typical British Houses

cities are spreading into their surrounding environment to cope with

the increase populations. In England, an average of 7,000 hectares of farmland, countryside and green space were converted to urban use every year between 1985 and 1998. This is almost the equivalent size of 9,600 international football pitches!

This house is over 600 years old

homes than in the past. About two thirds of the

people in England and the rest of Britain either own, or are in the process of buying, their own home. Most others live in houses or flats that they rent from a private landlord, the local council, or housing association.

a special loan called a mortgage(ипотека), which they must repay,

with interest, over a long period of time, usually 25 years.

are made of stone or brick from the local area

where the houses are built. The colors of the stones and bricks vary across the country.

homes. In the large cities, people often live in apartments,

which are called flats. In most towns, there are streets of houses joined together in long rows. They are called terraced houses.

not joined to another house).

house which is joined to another house on one side.

there are streets of houses joined together in long rows.

They are called terrace houses (terraced houses). Lots of these have small gardens at the back.

building where all the flats share a front door. Only

cities and very big towns have flats like the one you can see below.

one floor, no stairs. It may be joined to another

bungalow or might stand alone.
The bungalow pictured below is made from white wooden planks. It is called a weatherboarded bungalow.

once built for something else other than a home. Oast

Houses were not originally a building where people lived. They were part of farm buildings and were where hops (a plant from which beer is made) were layed out and dried.

is semi-detached (more than 27% of all homes), closely followed

by detached then terraced.

cost of houses. In 1989 first-time buyers paid an average

of around £40,000, in 2001 this had more than doubled to £85,000 and in 2006 to £151,565.
The cost of housing in England has increased much faster than people's wages making it impossible for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder unless they are in especially well-paid jobs, are able to call upon rich relatives or are prepared to buy jointly with friends.

Flat: £168,571

Average Cost: £184,924
Detached: £285,697
Semi-detached: £170,650

Terraced: £143,512
Flat: £174,052

Chartwell House - Winston Churchill once lived here