If a house costs too much, how about half a house instead? BBC Stories

Building a good-sized house can be expensive, so in some places you can move into half a house and finish it off later when you have the money.
A film by Tom Garmeson and Nick Holland

[@bethroesch2156]

I saw this in a documentary about a year ago. I think it's a brilliant idea that I hope catches on world wide. It is less expensive to build and by giving residents an opportunity to OWN a home which is a great incentive to improve the property even more. Brilliant

[@scootermom1791]

I watched another mini documentary about the half houses in Chile. I thought it was a great idea until the end. Jack Self pointed out that a similar system was tried in the 80's in Thatcher, Great Britain. It was called "The right to buy" policy. While the homes may have helped many families at that time, they are now contributing to the problem. That is, because of the impossibly high housing costs, those homes have become too expensive for people to buy them now. What this means, IMO, is that if something isn't done about the extraordinary costs of housing, there's really no point in doing something like this again. Otherwise, the same outcome will occur in 40 more years and 40 more years after that. The cycle will continually repeat unless the root of the problem is solved.

[@MrTortureandtorment]

Wonderfull idea. Hope this concept spreads around the world. Nobody should be homeless or live in makeshift shacks. Humans have got to work together to keep this idea spreading.

[@leroybaileyjr.134]

Yeah, Los Angeles should give this a try ? 😊

[@pocki892]

Indeed they should.

[@MrBoliao98]

There's one serious design flaw, the second floor does not have a toilet. The cost of installing the complex plumbing is something.

[@KabuMontasaurios]

Stairs my friend. Even if you have someone who can't use the stairs, the simple solution is to change their room to the first floor.

[@MrBoliao98]

@@KabuMontasaurios there's nothing wrong with using the stairs, it's just that when it's nighttime, no one wants to stumble down the stairs for the toilet.

[@BrassLock]

During the migrant-boom days of the 1950's in Dianella, Western Australia, it was common to see half-built houses. Typically, people would build the rear portion of the house first, then move into it and complete the remaining front sections as they could afford it. The saying was "always build your back verandah first." Kit homes built of steel.framing were the next invention in the '70s and 80s, where owner-builders would buy a factory designed and built series of frames and erect them on their land then complete the remainder of the structure while living in an adjacent shed or caravan. This latest idea in the video is a great solution to a world wide problem, but fails to encourage the owner to get involved in simple construction possible in single-storey configurations. I doubt that the people interviewed would have the skills to build a 2-storey addition including a roof in the examples shown. Give them the chance to build a ground floor dwelling and they'll succeed just like I did thirty-five years ago.

[@longshot4484]

Can I get your email.

[@rachelselby5469]

This only works where land is cheap. If the land is expensive a cheap house won't bring the price down to an affordable amount.

[@carbontocrystals2046]

I like I like 🤗🤗🤗🤗 what a wonderful idea 💡

[@Ihold8stars]

Town house=half house no?

[@saarangsahasrabudhe8634]

I like the idea, but this was over two years ago. What is the verdict now, after two years?

[@sonalvisavadiya7634]

Nono this not in moon half shape

[@siusaidhchaimbeul5499]

Fine, I guess, in warm climates. Like use of the term 'houses' - so often 'homes' is used instead.

[@Mariana-em9rz]

Chile

[@edmey]

Southern Chile is cold, sonthis type of program can work in many places. It depends on the population. In Brazil, many poor construct their dwellings litle by little when their savings allow them to do so.

[@stressedbyamountainofworks2047]

Huh? Thailand? That is definitely a joke or a lie because I live in Thailand and we don't have that.

[@rdordo11]

Darling ..you have to get more .... You may live in Thailand but you are a complete ignorant moron ..

[@bernadeclucovic3838]

Welcome to chile safes citys la serena pucon osorno villarica

[@AshishSharma-kg7zy]

No I want a full house, not a half one

[@EliteXtasy]

Then pay for a full one yourself. Beggars can't be choosers.

[@bbcstories]

Did you watch the video?

[@GlowandLuna]

Ew why did they design it like that

[@kwek2243]

so itll be affordable and if families have enought time.. they can compkete the house themselves