The traditional two-up two-down is a classic British home. Typically, it's a terraced house with two bedrooms upstairs and two reception rooms downstairs and a separate kitchen at the back. These brick properties are very desirable and can be found in many towns and cities around the UK.They offer the opportunity to extend into the roof, out to the side or out to the back. This provides families the chance to make a regular house their very own home.
Terraced two-up two-down houses have increased in desirability from their more humble origins. With rental and selling prices rising to match the higher demand, they have been pushed out of the range of many potential buyers. While some people are fixed on owning or renting their own house, they now have to rethink their approach in order to find a property they can afford. Because of this, flats are fast becoming a more practical option.
Flats are a popular choice for both renters and buyers. More sympathetic conversions are taking place to accommodate more discerning customers, with plenty of attention being paid to getting the layout right, using high-quality fixtures and fittings and providing outdoor space where possible. Developers are building well thought out flats with stylishly designed spaces that are ideal for modern living.
While the two-up two-down might be a house, it won't provide you with the open-plan lifestyle that many people now favour. By comparison, many flats are being developed or built in a very contemporary way that really suits today’s way of life. There is now an emphasis on kitchens that are spacious enough to entertain in and enough flexibility to accommodate someone working from home.
With rents increasing and ongoing difficulties in obtaining mortgages, flats are a great option for many families. Once seen as the mainstay for students, groups of professionals sharing or bachelor living, flats are now increasingly seen as a choice for many couples with children.
A well-designed conversion on a ground or lower-ground floor can still provide the large rooms and direct access to a garden that many families regard as vital. Just because you are in a flat doesn't mean you have to lose out. Some purpose-built blocks - old and new - have lovely communal gardens that provide a safe place for children to play in even if your flat is above ground level. Maintenance and repair costs are shared, which may be of economical benefit.
Many flats are split level, with the stairs helping to give a sense of space and separation between the living and sleeping areas and they can have square footage that often tops that of a traditional two-up two-down.
In a popular area such as Hammersmith in London, prices for both rental and sale properties are high. UK house-price statistics from April to June 2012 show that the average price of a terraced property in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was a staggering £1,141,415. While some of these homes will have more than two bedrooms, it's still an eye-watering amount of money. The average price of a flat was £460,441, which is still high but far lower than the cost of a terraced house.
These figures help to show why many buyers may opt for a flat instead of a house, and in particular will look first at flats for rent in an area like Hammersmith. Renting allows you to become familiar with the area and to save up for a large deposit, which allows you to access more favourable mortgage rates. It's also an area popular with young professionals, with an array of excellent local bars, cafés and restaurants.
Of course, for many people a flat is their first choice and it certainly doesn't have to be a compromise as it can be a fantastic choice as a home.
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