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Find the meaning of various terms related to renting & letting here.
When renting a new home, there's more to consider than simply picking a property and moving in. Especially when you're searching for a rental for the first time, there are several things to keep in mind. If you're new to the world of renting, you'll likely come across terms you're not familiar with, such as delivery condition, rent protection, and the rent tribunal. These are terms you really should know when you're renting a place on your own, as it's likely you'll deal with one or more of these aspects.
Drive-in home
What does this entail?
A drive-in house is a type of family home where, next to the front door on the ground floor, there's a built-in garage. The living area is not on the ground floor but on the first floor. As a resident, you effectively drive into the house via the built-in garage next to the front door, hence the name 'drive-in house'. Drive-in houses often have three floors and are typically built as terraced houses.
History of the drive-in house
In the Netherlands, the first drive-in houses were built in 1936 on Anthonie van Dijckstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid. These homes were ahead of their time and could be seen as a 'prototype' for later drive-in houses, which were only built again in the 1950s and 1960s. The Amsterdam houses were designed by architect Willem van Tijen in collaboration with architect and furniture designer Mart Stam and his wife Lotte Beese.
The first drive-in houses were built in the style of The New Building, an architectural style that emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century. The New Building aimed for architecture that reflected the spirit of the times, using straight lines, constructions of steel and concrete, and glass. The vision of The New Building is well reflected in the first drive-in houses. The houses featured various 'modern conveniences', such as central heating and electric front door openers. The interior and exterior spaces are beautifully connected with a staircase from the living room to the lower garden and a rooftop terrace on the third floor.
Where can I find drive-in houses?
Despite the fact that it took some time after the first drive-in houses were built in the Netherlands before more were constructed, this type of home is now widely available. Drive-in houses come in many different styles today and are still being developed as new-build projects. They are often built in rows of at least three homes, but can occasionally also be found as semi-detached houses. Typically, drive-in houses are located in residential areas outside the city, although in some cities they can also be found on the outskirts.
Layout of a drive-in house
The layout of a drive-in house differs from that of most other homes built in the Netherlands. The main difference is that the living room of a drive-in house is not on the ground floor, but on the first floor because the ground floor is used for the built-in garage. A drive-in house generally has two or three floors, with the first floor accommodating the living room and kitchen, and the upper one or two floors containing the bedrooms and bathroom. Sometimes, apart from the garage, there's also an extra (garden) room or toilet on the ground floor. Drive-in houses usually have a flat roof and, therefore, no attic.
Advantages and disadvantages of the drive-in house
Like all other types of homes, living in a drive-in house has both advantages and disadvantages. An aspect of the drive-in house that can be seen as a disadvantage but also an advantage is the presence of the built-in garage on the ground floor. For people who like to park their car safely inside, it's ideal that the house has a garage neatly integrated into the home. People who value a garage less often find its presence a waste of space and sometimes convert it into a bedroom or workspace. An advantage of the drive-in house is the location of the living room: being on the first floor, it receives a lot of sunlight and often has a better view than on the ground floor. Generally, a drive-in house does not have sloped roofs, making all spaces optimally usable and easy to arrange. The spacious layout makes drive-in houses very suitable for larger families. A possible disadvantage of the flat roof is that the houses don't have an attic. Due to the layout of the drive-in house, using stairs is unavoidable. For example, one must use the stairs to open the door, collect mail, or go to the toilet. The many stairs make these homes unsuitable for people who have difficulty walking. People who wish to live in the same house into old age often see this as a major drawback of a drive-in house.
The value of a drive-in house
Drive-in houses are generally considered affordable homes. The price is often comparable to that of a more luxurious terraced house, making it highly suitable if you're seeking an affordable house with a garage. Of course, the price of the home also depends on the location, and you will pay more for this type of home in Utrecht or Amsterdam than in the north of the country.