Detached bungalow

A detached bungalow sits alone on its plot with open ground on every side. Nothing is shared with a neighbour, so the owner controls the whole building: the roof, the walls, the fence and the compound.

Layout. Most are planned around a sitting and dining area at the front, with bedrooms off a corridor to one side and the kitchen, store and laundry at the back. Larger ones add a guest toilet by the entrance, a family lounge and en-suite bedrooms. On a full plot there is usually room left for parking, a generator house, a stand for the water tank and often a boys' quarters at the rear.

How the plot is used. A single-storey house covers more ground than a duplex with the same floor area, so a detached bungalow leaves less garden and parking than people expect. On a half plot it can feel tight once the fence, setbacks and a gatehouse are in place. On a full plot, many owners keep space to extend sideways or to build a second house later.

Building up later. Many owners plan to add an upper floor and turn the bungalow into a duplex. That only works if the foundation, columns and roof structure were designed for the extra load. In Lagos, new building work needs a planning permit from the state's planning permit authority, so an upper floor means a fresh approval; it is not a right that comes with the house.

Who it suits. Families who want privacy and a compound of their own, older buyers and anyone who would rather not climb stairs. It also appeals to buyers in growing suburbs who want space now and the option to build up when they can afford it.

Cost compared with other types. For the same area and finish, a detached bungalow usually costs more than a semi-detached or terraced bungalow, because you are paying for a whole plot. It usually costs less than a detached duplex on the same street, because there is less floor area to build, although a large bungalow on a full plot in a sought-after area can match a small duplex.

• Lagos: most listings are on the mainland fringes and along the Lekki–Epe and Ikorodu corridors, where land costs less than on the Island.
• Ogun: very common in towns that commuters reach from Lagos, such as Mowe, Ibafo, Sango-Ota and Abeokuta.
• Abuja: found mainly in satellite towns and older districts; newer estates in the city lean towards duplexes.