How Home Sizes Are Changing in the UK: Are They Getting Bigger or Smaller?

Published: 20 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

The size of homes in England has shifted noticeably over the past decade, with some types of properties expanding while others have become slightly smaller. New analysis by Nationwide Building Society, based on figures from the English Housing Survey, reveals that overall floor areas have seen only a marginal rise in the last ten years, but the differences between property types are striking.

According to the data, the typical home in England had an average floor area of 95.3 square metres in 2013. By 2023, that figure had edged up to 96.2 square metres. While the increase appears modest, Nationwide’s senior economist Andrew Harvey said the details show significant variation depending on property type and ownership.

Terraced houses recorded the most notable growth, with the average size rising by 3.6 per cent to 91.9 square metres. Semi-detached homes also grew larger, climbing to 99.1 square metres, a 2.2 per cent increase. Bungalows, too, saw a modest expansion, with the average floor area moving from 77.0 to 77.5 square metres.

In contrast, flats — which already represent the smallest housing type — became even smaller. The average size of a flat declined by 1.7 per cent to 60.3 square metres in 2023, compared with 61.4 square metres a decade earlier. Detached homes, traditionally the largest category, also saw a slight contraction, slipping from 152.9 to 151.9 square metres, a reduction of 0.6 per cent.

Ownership patterns also play a role in determining property sizes. Mr Harvey noted that homes owned by occupiers are generally far larger, averaging 112 square metres, compared with 76 square metres in the private rental sector and just 65 square metres in the social rented sector. The differences, he explained, reflect the higher concentration of flats in rented housing, particularly in the social sector.

The analysis also highlights the growth in England’s overall housing stock. Between 2013 and 2023, the total number of homes rose by 2.1 million, reaching 25.4 million dwellings. Of these, 16.3 million are now owner-occupied, 4.9 million privately rented, and 4.2 million fall within the social rented sector, including local authority and housing association properties.

Mr Harvey emphasised that while the changes in average home size may appear modest at a national level, they reflect broader social and economic trends. “The typical property sizes have increased slightly over the last decade, but with notable differences between property types. The data also reflects the growing demand for smaller housing in urban areas, alongside the enduring popularity of larger homes in suburban and rural settings,” he said.

The findings come amid wider debates on housing supply, affordability, and the pressures on younger generations attempting to get onto the property ladder. Smaller flats may indicate a shift in urban housing policy and market demand, while the expansion of terraced and semi-detached homes suggests efforts to balance family living needs with land and cost constraints.

With the UK facing persistent challenges in housing affordability and availability, these shifts in property size are likely to remain a key talking point for policymakers, developers, and households alike.