The types of accommodation in the UK
• Bedsit: It is usually a room with enough space for a bed and some basic furniture. It may have a small food preparation area. A bathroom on the property is usually shared. These are tiny and only suitable for one person.
• Room: a single room to let in a flat or house, usually with landlord on the premises.
• Studio: An upmarket bedsit with a small kitchen and a bathroom included. It usually has a sofa bed or fold-up mattress being stowed away to create a sitting room. Usually to be found in sought after areas.
• Flat: Known as apartments or units in other countries. These can be one to three bedroom flats with a bathroom, kitchen and a lounge. Rarely will there be a dining room.
• Conversion: A flat or studio in a building that has been converted to include accommodation facilities. Often to be found above street level with the ground level part of the dwelling being a shop of some kind.
• Apartment: This is an upmarket flat in a desirable location with at least two bedrooms.
• Terrace house: What some might call townhouses in the city centre. The British version is also called a two-up-and-two-down because the configuration of two rooms downstairs and two rooms upstairs. You’re separated from neighbours either side of the dwelling by a wall of only a few inches thick. In the outer suburbs there may be a small garden.
• Semi-detached: This is a building with two houses adjoining each other. The configuration is usually the same as a terraced house but normally with three bedrooms upstairs. The garden at the back is usually long and narrow. There may be a garage attached. These are found away from city centres.
• Detached: This is a double storied house with some land around it. Its major benefit is privacy and will usually come with a garage. Once again these are found away from the city centre.
• Bungalow: What most people around the world call a house. Its a single story house with at least two bedrooms and often have garages attached. These have a stigma in the UK and are seen as retired people’s homes. They are usually to be found on the outskirts of cities and in the countryside.
• Cottage: This is a small building found inside the grounds of a larger property. They usually have only one or two bedrooms. The size of all their rooms is smaller than in a bungalow.