Pros and cons of a Blackburn terraced house

If you're in the market for a two-bedroom terraced house in Blackburn, you're in good company.

It's currently the most searched-for property type in the city among Zoopla users, according to our data.

But how much thought have you given to this kind of property?

In fact, a terraced house – opposed to a semi-detached or detached – comes with some distinct pros and cons.

We've set out five of each below and thrown in some examples of terraced houses in Blackburn that are for sale right now.

The vast majority of houses, including terraces, are freehold, which – aside from some major structural changes – gives you almost complete autonomy and control.

This is different to when you buy a leasehold flat in a bigger block, where the freehold tends to be owned by an individual or property management company.

In this case, you’ll need to consider factors such as years remaining on the lease, annual service charges and maintenance to communal areas. 

It might not be the biggest garden ever, but at least with a terraced house you’ll be able to enjoy some private outside space. 

Motorbike storage, vegetable patch or a swing for your kids – how you use it is up to you.

The dog days are over, and you can finally have a pet without fear losing your rental deposit. 

If you’re not yet a homeowner, you can now make your pet ownership dreams a reality. 

Having neighbours either side has its benefits. With heat having only having the opportunity to escape through two external walls, energy bills should not be too crippling.

Found yourself with a spare room? If you’re looking for some extra income, you could consider renting it to a lodger. 

The Government’s Rent a Room Scheme allows you to earn up to a threshold of £7,500 every year tax-free. 

You can find out more about how the scheme works and the tax rules around it at the Money Advice Service.

This well maintained two-bedroom terraced house in Blackburn on the market for £97,500 is ideal for first-time buyers

You can ask the property’s current owner and make your own judgment – but the truth is, you won't know how much noise the neighbours make until you move in yourself.

Bear in mind though, that purpose-built terraces should have been designed with sound insulation in mind. 

While you may be happy enough just to have your own garden, terraced houses typically don’t offer side-access to it. 

This means everything you want to keep in the garden, you’ll need to carry through the house first.

With properties sandwiched closely together, you might find that your garden is overlooked by other properties – most notably the house at the back. But you can always plant trees or bushes to create more privacy.

Lots of terraced housing also sits directly on the street, so you might also want to invest in curtains or shutters in the front, too.

Buying a terraced house does limit your options if you want to add extra space. While you might be able to convert the loft or add on a ground floor kitchen extension, you won’t have the option to extend to the side. 

A fair chunk of Britain’s terraced homes are period properties that weren’t designed with parking in mind – so it may come with paid-for on-street parking permits. 

If you’re interested in a terraced property with a front garden, you could look to convert it to a driveway, but this will be another cost to consider.

To the west of Blackburn you'll find this two-bedroom terraced house up for grabs at £70,000

According to our latest Zoopla data, the average value of a property in Blackburn currently stands at £142,534 which is 4.49% higher than 12 months ago.

Property in Blackburn stays on the market for an average of 12 weeks before selling and currently achieves 96% of the asking price.

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• The most affordable places for first time buyers in Blackburn