Semi-Detached House (Parhus)
What does it mean?
A parhus (semi-detached house, also called a two-family house) consists of two housing units sharing a common wall but otherwise separate with their own entrances, gardens, and often their own garages. It is a middle ground between a terraced house and a detached villa, offering more privacy than a terraced house but at a lower cost than a villa.
Semi-detached houses exist as freehold, cooperative, and less commonly as rental properties. In freehold, you own your half of the building and associated land, but shared parts like the roof, foundation, and shared wall require cooperation with the neighbor. A good relationship with your parhus neighbor is more important than in other housing forms since you share a wall and often common costs for maintenance of shared building parts.
Key Points
- Two homes sharing a common wall but with separate entrances and gardens
- Middle ground between terraced house and villa in price and privacy
- Available as freehold, cooperative, and rental
- Shared building parts (roof, foundation, wall) require cooperation with neighbor
- Popular in residential areas — often attractive for families
Practical Tip
When buying or renting a semi-detached house, find out how maintenance of shared parts (roof, foundation, shared wall) is regulated. A clear agreement between neighbors prevents future conflicts.