What is a townhouse?
A townhouse is a home that shares at least one wall with a neighbour, usually spread over two or three levels, with its own front door at ground level and often a small courtyard or garden. Townhouses are built in groups on one site, so you’ll usually share some common property with the other owners — a driveway, bin store, letterboxes or landscaping.
Townhouse, apartment, house, terrace or villa?
- Apartment
- An apartment sits within a larger building, often with neighbours above and below and shared lifts, lobbies and corridors. A townhouse has its own entrance and nobody living above or below you.
- House
- A freestanding house doesn’t share walls and usually comes with more land. A townhouse gives you less land and less to maintain, generally for a lower price in the same suburb.
- Terrace
- A terrace is a home in a continuous row. The word is used for older inner-city row houses and, increasingly, for new ones — many developers use “terrace” and “townhouse” almost interchangeably.
- Villa
- Villas are usually single-level homes in a small group, sometimes attached, sometimes not. They suit buyers who want to avoid stairs.
- Duplex
- A duplex is two homes side by side on what was one block, often on separate titles and with no shared areas to manage.
How townhouses are titled
Most new townhouses are on a strata or community title. You own your home plus a share of the common property, and you pay regular levies to the owners’ group that manages it. Some townhouses are on a Torrens (freehold) title, with no owners’ group at all — you look after your whole property and insurance yourself. The title type changes your costs and the rules you live under, so find out early. Our guide to body corporate fees covers the costs in more detail.
Who townhouses suit
- First home buyers who want more space than an apartment without the price of a house.
- Families who want three or four bedrooms and a courtyard, close to schools and transport.
- Downsizers who want less garden and maintenance but still want their own front door.
- Investors looking for a home that appeals to a wide range of tenants.
What to check before you buy
- Title and fees. Strata or Torrens, and what the levies are.
- Parking. A lock-up garage, a carport, or tandem spaces where one car blocks the other.
- Stairs. Most townhouses are on two or three levels. Think about how that works now and in ten years.
- Light. Shared side walls mean windows sit at the front and back, so orientation matters.
- Noise. Ask how the shared walls between homes are built.
- Outdoor space and storage. Courtyards vary a lot in size and sun.
Buying new? New homes come with statutory building warranties, which vary by state. Buying off the plan has its own steps and risks — read our guide to buying a townhouse off the plan.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Get advice that suits your situation before you buy.