Over 15 million homes could be impacted after the Government announced new rules to enforce social distancing, as large swathes of the nation continue to ignore advice to only leave the house where absolutely necessary, to stay in groups of just two people and to remain two metres apart at all times.
As a result, the Government has taken the radical step to impose a distance of two metres between all terraced and semi-detached homes across the UK in an effort to enforce rules on social distancing and to ensure that those not living in the same property remain at the appropriate distance.
With the terraced and semi-detached homes being the most prominent of all property types across the UK accounting for 28% and 25% of total property stock respectively, research by PropergandaPR shows that this could impact a huge 15,210,187 homes across the UK.
The tough new measures will hit hardest in England where there are some 6.9m terraced homes and 6.1m semi-detached properties, with a further 996,960 homes impacted in Scotland, 794,483 in Wales and 428,744 in Northern Ireland.
It is not yet clear as to how the Government plans to execute this mass movement of properties but the first such movements are expected in a matter of days, with a second phase planned to separate flats potentially in the pipeline.
Co-founder of PropergandaPR, James Lockett, commented:
“A huge step by the Government to really drive home the importance of social distancing and one that will hopefully act as a serious wake-up call for those that continue to ignore advice on the subject.
We’ve seen measures being ramped up over recent weeks and the nation really pull together to fight this outbreak, but unfortunately, a selfish few continue to hold karaoke parties, picnics and more with no regard for others.
With space for housing already a rare commodity and a real need to build more properties this is going to put further strain on the UK housing market and you’d have to be a fool to let things get to this stage. Hopefully, it will have the required impact and we won’t see any further restrictions imposed.”
| Property Type | England | Wales | Scotland* | Northern Ireland | UK | % of total |
| Terraced House | 6,857,000 | 400,820 | 508,400 | 227,170 | 7,993,390 | 28% |
| Semi-Detached House | 6,133,000 | 393,663 | 488,560 | 201,574 | 7,216,797 | 25% |
| Detached House | 4,172,000 | 316,362 | 533,200 | 284,547 | 5,306,109 | 18% |
| Flat | 4,867,000 | 157,465 | 934,960 | 85,680 | 6,046,105 | 21% |
| Bungalow | 2,142,000 | 164,623 | N/A | N/A | 2,306,623 | 8% |
| Total | 24,171,000 | 1,431,500 | 2,480,000 | 798,971 | 28,882,471 | 100% |
Scotland has 14,880 properties where the type is classed as ‘unknown’.
Scotland and Northern Ireland data sources do not classify properties as ‘Bungalow’.
Notes to editors
