What is a Coach House?
Here in the UK, there are several types of domestic properties to choose from.
While house prices and mortgage rates always seem to be going up, luckily there are a number of creative housing options available that may be suitable for you.
As well as the standard houses and flats you will come across in any neighbourhood, coach houses are an innovative housing option that may be worth considering.
But what is a coach house?
Well, in this article we’ll explain all of the features of a coach house, the potential benefits of living in one and what you can expect from this type of property.
Read on to find out more.
What is a coach house?
A coach house, or a carriage house as it is sometimes referred to as, is a unique property type that is designed as a living space that is located above a carport or garage. Smaller than other residential buildings, these properties were originally built to provide a place for servants or carriage riders to sleep while storing horses in the stables below.
While we do not travel via horse and carriage anymore, the style has remained popular in the modern world.
Usually, the owner of the property will also own its freehold. This means that it is common for one of the garage spaces to be used by the homeowner, while the other garages below the living quarters will often be rented out on a private basis.
In recent years, the popularity of coach houses has soared with more and more being built across the country. There are several reasons why this might be the case including the fact that they offer a space-saving design and creative solutions.
History of coach houses
The history of coach houses can be traced all the way back to the 18th century in the UK and the 19th century in the USA. Back in these days, horse and carriage were the most common way to get around and people would need a place to store their animals and vehicles.
A bit like the equivalent of the modern day garage, they combined stables for the horses with a place to secure the garage and often the coachmen or servants who operated the horse and carriage would need somewhere to stay. This is where the coach house invention came in.
Built above the place where the horse and carriage were stored, it provided an upper floor and separate area where these people could stay and rest before setting off again in the morning.
These days, the modern coach house maintains much of the same design as the ones in the past but the upper floor now sits above a garage or carport. There may also be some car parking spaces on the ground floor and the owner will own the freehold for the entire building including all of the land. Sometimes, there will be a detached property nearby but usually it will be a semi-detached or terraced coach house.
A modern coach house will tend to feature two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. Small gardens or patio areas have also started to become increasingly common, especially among coach houses that are newly built.
Benefits of coach houses
There are a wide range of benefits to owning or living in a coach house.
These include:
Affordability: Usually, you can expect coach houses to be cheaper than standard houses. This is because they are smaller, cover less land and cost less to maintain. In most cases, they are also eligible for lower council tax payments and stamp duty fees.
Enhanced privacy: Due to the fact that the only living space is on the top floor, coach houses are often more private than other housing types. People will not be able to look into your living area and they usually come with their own entrances and staircases that make them more secure and independent.
Parking: It may not always be possible to find a house with a driveway or on-street parking, but almost all coach houses will come with their own dedicated parking spaces or garages to store vehicles. This is extremely convenient especially if you live in an area where parking tends to be scarce.
Access to additional income: Coach houses often come with several garages or parking spaces that can be rented out for additional income. Alternatively, people often rent out the entire property itself or convert the garages into separate living units which provide a steady stream of rental income. Whether this is long-term tenants or used on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, the potential is unmatched.
Negatives of coach houses
While there are several benefits to buying a coach house, there are also some drawbacks that you should be aware of if you’re considering making a purchase.
These include:
Insulation: Coach houses are notoriously cold and this is usually because they are located above garages or buildings that are often empty and not well-insulated. This means that they can be more difficult or expensive to heat compared to other building types.
Harder to sell: You should think hard about the resale value of such a property before you make a purchase. While they may be great for you now, it may not be somewhere you want to live forever (especially if you want a family in the future). While there is certainly a demand for coach houses, they are not as popular as traditional family homes and may spend longer on the market when you do come to sell it.
Insurance: There are insurers who will cover coach houses but as it is not a common housing type it is often difficult to find an insurer who meets all of your requirements. For instance, many of the mainstream insurance companies do not provide policies for coach houses especially as the freehold and leasehold come separately which can make the process more complex.
Small space: While coach houses can efficiently use space, if you have a large amount of belongings then the smaller surface area may make you feel more cramped or claustrophobic.
