There are a lot of half-houses around Honor Oak. These are terraced Edwardian properties in which two neighbours share a common hallway from the front door. This leads to two internal 'front doors'. My understanding is that these houses aren't conversions from double-fronted properties but were built like that in the first place.

A local builder once told me that the wall which divided the two houses that shared a common hallway was only the width of a single brick laid on its side. So sound insulation between those two neighbours is much less effective than is usual for a terraced house.

Does this matter? It all depends on the neighbours. We've lived comfortably in our half-house for the last twelve years and have never found it to be a problem because our neighbours have always been considerate and not especially noisy.

But, if you were fond of reading quietly in the evening then getting an early night, while your neighbours were boisterous twentysomethings who liked to party and play loud music, then a half-house probably wouldn't be ideal.

Short version: check out the neighbours!