Air Conditioning for Semi-Detached Houses UK: Complete Guide

Air conditioning in a semi-detached house

Semi-detached houses are among the easier homes to fit air conditioning in. Most have a side or rear elevation with room for the outdoor unit, a garden or side passage to work from, and only one shared wall to be mindful of. That gives more flexibility than a terraced house, where outdoor space is tighter, and it makes both single-room and whole-house systems straightforward.

The one thing worth planning around is the party wall side, the wall you share with your neighbour, which is usually where you would rather the outdoor unit did not go.

Where the outdoor unit goes

On a semi there is normally a good choice of positions:

Wherever it goes, we keep it away from the joined side of the house and away from your neighbour's windows, and we fit it on anti-vibration mounts so there is no hum travelling through the structure.

Keeping it neighbour-friendly

Because one wall is shared, it is worth being considerate about the outdoor unit. Siting it on your own elevation away from the boundary, using anti-vibration mounts, and choosing a correctly sized unit that runs quietly all help. A wall-mounted unit fitted to your own wall does not normally involve your neighbour, but it is always worth a friendly word if the unit will sit anywhere near the boundary. We plan the position with all of this in mind on the survey.

Single room or the whole house

Semis lend themselves to both:

A common pattern in a three-bedroom semi is one system for the main living space and separate units in the bedrooms that catch the afternoon sun.

Sizing and units

Each room is sized on its own, based on its dimensions, glazing and orientation, which we work out on the survey. We fit Toshiba throughout, with the Seiya as a slim, well-priced choice, the Shorai for quieter and more efficient running, and the Haori for a design-led look. A multi-room system shares one outdoor unit, so you are not left with a row of boxes on the wall.

What it costs

A single-room installation starts from around £1,500 fully fitted, and a multi-room system is priced on the number of indoor units and the pipework involved. Rather than give a figure that changes on the day, we survey the house first and put a fixed price in writing. Running costs stay modest, because you only run the rooms you are using.

Planning permission

Most semi-detached installations fall under permitted development and do not need a planning application, provided the outdoor unit meets the conditions on size and position. The usual exceptions apply for listed buildings, conservation areas and units facing a road. Our planning permission guide explains the rules, and we flag anything relevant on the survey.

Installation

A single-room install is usually done in a day, and a multi-room system in one to two days. Our engineers are F-Gas certified, we conceal pipework where we can and run it in tidy trunking where it has to sit on an outside wall, and every installation comes with a 5-year warranty.

If you would like air conditioning in your semi, request a fixed-price quote and we will survey it first. Our single-room and multi-room pages explain each option.

Semi-detached air conditioning: common questions

Can the outdoor unit go on the wall I share with my neighbour?

We would normally avoid the shared wall and site the unit on your own elevation, away from the boundary and your neighbour's windows.

Do I need my neighbour's permission?

Generally not for a unit fitted to your own wall that meets the permitted development conditions, but it is worth letting them know if it will sit near the boundary.

Can I cool the whole house?

Yes. A multi-room system runs several rooms from one outdoor unit, which suits a semi well.

Will I need planning permission?

Usually not, as most installations are permitted development. The exceptions are listed buildings, conservation areas and road-facing positions, which we check on the survey.