Domestic building
The term 'domestic building' refers to a dwelling that has no more than one family unit resident in it, and which is used as a place of permanent or semi-permanent habitation.The most common example of a domestic building is a house.
The term ‘non-domestic building’ refers to any building that is not a domestic building.
A domestic building tends to be home to a ‘household’, which was defined in the 2011 Census as being: ‘one person living alone; or a group of people (not necessarily related) living at the same address who share cooking facilities and share a living room or sitting room or dining area’.
By contrast, the term ‘residential building’ has a wider application and can be used to refer to blocks of flats, homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs), institutions (e.g. hospitals, care homes, prisons), hotels, hostels, student halls of residence, and so on.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Agraharam.
- Apartment.
- Building performance evaluation in domestic buildings.
- Dwellinghouse.
- English Housing Survey 2018-19 reports released.
- Flat definition.
- House.
- Household.
- How much does it cost to sell my home.
- Living room.
- Manual to the Building Regulations.
- Mud room.
- Pantry, buttery, larder and scullery
- Proposed changes: MHCLG consultation on house building statistics.
- Residential definition.
- RIBA domestic building contract.
- Sheltered housing definition.
- Terraced house.
- Types of building.
- Types of dwelling.
- Use class.
Featured articles and news
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.
A carbon case for indigenous slate
UK slate can offer clear embodied carbon advantages.
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.