The bungalow is the perfect property for those no longer able to tackle stairs (Image: Getty)
They have been slated by royalty and mocked on television adverts but in some parts of the country,
Bungalows first appeared in Britain in the late 19th century according to House Historian Melanie Backe-Hansen who says that they first cropped up in coastal and rural locations as a form of retreat or holiday home.
She told the Telegraph: “Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, had a bungalow built on the coast of Norfolk in 1908.
“During this period, having a bungalow came with a certain amount of prestige as you could afford to have a second home for your family and guests.”
But this changed in the aftermath of when the need for private and social housing exploded and led to the relatively simple design and building of bungalows to increase exponentially.
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The bungalow enjoys a mixed reputation but in some parts of the country, data shows they are popular (Image: Getty)
Backe-Hansen said: “In this period, land was far more affordable and the spread of streets of bungalows was adopted by many builders and developers,” Backe-Hansen explains.
“The bungalow became ubiquitous during the inter-war period, both as a comfortable and easy-to-build form of housing. But it also continued to be a popular seaside option, appearing in many coastal areas as holiday homes.”
In recent years, the perception of bungalows has changed marekedly, with the then as he blasted them for ruining his beloved Scottish Highlands scenery.
In popular culture, they have become synonymous with the old, their lack of stairs making them ideal for those less confident on their feet. Famously, comedian performed sketches where he joked about moving his elderly mother into a bungalow and transforming her living room into a snooker hall.
But that is not to lessen the popularity of the single-story dwellings. Data from shows that they currently account for around 8% of houses on the market although in some areas, this figure is closer to 30%.
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New data shows that Denbighshire is the most popular party of the UK for bungalows (Image: Getty)
Nowhere is the bungalow resurgence stronger than in , which occupies seven of the ten most popular locations for bungalows according to the data.
The seaside county of comes top, with 28% of the 1,003 homes currently on the market are bungalows.
This is closely followed by , , and who make up the top 5.
Matthew Cooper, Founder & Managing Director of , agrees that the type of property is perfect for older people but says that it is not exclusive to the elderly.
He said: “Not all downsizers are silver homebuyers keen on a bungalow purchase, but it is an incredibly popular property choice amongst those reaching the end of the property purchasing timeline who simply don’t fancy tackling a steep flight of stairs throughout the day.
It’s difficult to remember a more . House prices are at a remarkable high which means sellers can demand premium prices for their homes, money that will more than cover the purchase of a smaller home and leave plenty left over to fund retirement or support the younger generations of their family.”