The London house
Six buildings, six sets of challenges.
Most of London was built as one of six things. What you can do to a house depends almost entirely on which one it is.
Types
These pages describe the construction you actually find, the works that are usually achievable, where the risk sits and what a project on that building typically involves. They are written from our own experience of the stock rather than assembled from elsewhere.
01The Victorian terraceThe most common house in London, and the most misunderstood.c.1840–190102The Edwardian houseWider, lighter and better built than what came before — and easier to work with.c.1901–191803The Georgian townhouseAlmost always listed, almost always constrained, and unforgiving of a contractor who improvises.c.1714–184004The mansion-block flatThe building is not yours, the neighbours are above and below, and the lease decides what happens.c.1880 onwards05The inter-war houseThe best value in London, if the extension is designed against what the plot allows.c.1918–193906The listed buildingThe consent is the specification. Everything else follows from it.Grade I, II* and II