Terraced bungalow

A terraced bungalow is one house in a row of single-storey homes joined side by side. Houses in the middle of the row share walls with neighbours on both sides; the two end houses share only one wall and usually have more windows and outside space.

Where you find them. In Nigeria they are mostly built as part of estates: private developments aimed at first-time buyers, older government housing schemes and staff housing. They are less common than terraced duplexes, because a developer building in rows usually adds a floor to get more homes out of the same land.

Layout. Each unit is narrow and deep. A typical plan has the sitting room at the front, a short corridor to the bedrooms and the kitchen at the back opening onto a small yard. Middle units only have windows at the front and back, so light and air depend on how the rooms are arranged.

How the land is used. Rows fit more homes onto an estate than detached or semi-detached houses. Parking is often in front of each unit or in a shared area, and the estate usually runs the roads, drainage, security and refuse collection, paid for through estate dues or a service charge.

Who it suits. Buyers on a tighter budget who still want their own front door and no stairs, older people who want single-level living inside a secured estate, and landlords buying several units to let.

Cost compared with other types. Terraced bungalows are usually the cheapest houses in an estate: below semi-detached and detached bungalows, and below terraced duplexes, because each one uses the least land and floor area. End units tend to sell or let for a little more than middle units because of the extra space and light.