HOUSES AND THE CONCEPT OF HOME FOR THE BRITISH Prepared by Group 2 (Olga Domnina, Anton Goncharov, Maria Kulaeva, Daria Kurokhtina, Maria Mishakova)

Types of houses A detached house – the most desirable A semi-detached house A terraced house A town house Block of flats – the least desirable Preferences of the British are determined by their desire for privacy and the importance attached to ownership.

A detached house – the most desirable home for the British

Detached houses: main features Traditional building materials are used: brick for walls and slate for the roof Irregular, “non-classical” shape with all those little corners, making the house feel “cozy” A large front garden with trees and bushes, evoking not only the countryside but also giving greater privacy The garage is hidden away so that it is not too obvious and doesn’t spoil the rural feeling The front door cannot be easily seen from the street Too expensive for most people

A semi-detached house – the second best for the British

Semi-detached houses: main features One building with two separate households Each house is the mirror of the other, both inside and outside Can be found in the suburbs of cities and the outskirts of towns all over Britain Each house has a separate front garden At the sides, there is access to the back, where two separate gardens can also be found Brick is the most common building material A typical demi-detached house has two floors and three bedrooms

A terraced house

Terraced houses: main features two shared (party) walls except for end-of-terrace house units individual front doors and pedestrian access to dwellings, either directly off the street or from shared driveways or accessways typically one to four storeys they can be converted into flats or remain as individual houses car parking is accommodated within the house (integral garage), in- curtilage(within shared access) or on street a private rear garden or patio and a front entrance area consistency in front façade design, building line and skyline clearly defined fronts and backs with fronts addressing public streets, spaces or accessways. Backs are contained to the rear, and are usually back-to-back in a perimeter block arrangement.

A town house

Town houses: main features They often have three or more floors, including a basement or semi- basement. There is great variety regarding both design and use. Although they are usually terraced, those that are well-preserved and in a 'good' area may be thought highly desirable. Many have been broken up into flats or rooms for rent. Two types: 'self-contained flats’ or ' bedsits' ‘Self-contained’ flats have washing and cooking facilities ‘Bedsits' i.e. bed-sitting rooms ; residents have one room to themselves and share washing and cooking facilities with other residents

A flat – the least desirable home for the British

Block of flats: main features Located far beyond the city centre Residential building consisting of apartments. Concrete is the most common building material Thin walls with extremely poor soundproofing The elevator is accommodated due to number of floors

Inside the Houses and Flats

Inside the Houses and Flats Houses and flats are described in terms of numbers of bedrooms, e.g. a two-bedroom flat or a four-bedroom house In two-floor houses living room and kitchen are downstairs, bedrooms and bathroom are upstairs. Children usually have their own bedroom or may share a room with a brother or sister There could be a basement – a part of a building consisting of rooms that are partly or completely below the level of the ground A studio is a small flat designed to be lived in by one or two people. It usually has one large room for sleeping and living in, a bathroom and possibly a small separate kitchen

A few facts about owning and renting The desire to own the place where you live is almost universal in Britain. House prices are high. About 70% of all the houses in the country are occupied by their owners and almost all of these were bought with a mortgage. Half of these are owned by people who have borrowed 80% (or even more) of their price and are now paying this money back month by month. The normal arrangement is for the borrower to pay back the money over a period of twenty to twenty-five years. Before the end of the 20th century, most working-class people lived in rented accommodation.

Source: General Household Survey(989-90)

Cost of Houses: A big problem in England is the rising cost of houses Cost of Houses: A big problem in England is the rising 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. 2003 Average wage per year: £20,000 Average house price: over £120,000. Cost of Houses in 2005 Average Cost: £182,920 Detached: £282,157 Semi-detached: £169,074 Terraced: £139,122 Flat: £168,571 2007 Average wage per year: £23,244  Average house price: £184,924  Cost of Houses in 2007 Average Cost: £184,924  Detached: £285,697  Semi-detached: £170,650  Terraced: £143,512  Flat: £174,052