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An English basement is the finished lower level of a building, usually in an older urban area, that is partly above and partly below ground level. English cellars were originally designed to be rented as self-contained apartment units and typically include all the necessary amenities for a full apartment. Access to English cellars is normally separate from access to the main area of the structure, although an entrance space may be shared, as not all English cellars have separate external stairs to street level.
This type of apartment originated in London and was very common during the Victorian era in densely populated urban areas. They can be found in London, New York, Moscow and any other city where living space is at a premium. Although they fell out of fashion for a while, improvements in basement design technology and rising urban property values have led to their reappearance, and many newer properties in urban population centers will include them.
Several basic architectural problems can be present in an English cellar. Being partially located below ground, the level of natural light is generally poorer than in other parts of the house. Like modified basements, they also suffer from the same flooding problems that affect all types of basements. Older versions were notoriously damp and unsanitary, while their modern counterparts are usually acceptably dry, except in cases where drainage or waterproofing systems fail, in which case they can be severely damaged by flooding.
Owners of townhomes or small apartment buildings with unfinished basements can add substantial additional living space or income potential by transforming the basement spaces of their buildings into English basements. The first phase of this process usually involves improving the drainage and waterproofing of the basement and often requires dividing the basement, since large appliances such as water heaters usually must remain there and require space and access. The building’s utilities must also be changed if the new English basement is to be rented.
Once the structure of the basement space has been modified, it can be converted to a rental space or, in some cases, sold separately as a condominium unit. Building codes may require additional modifications to allow an English basement to be safely occupied, but modifying a window to serve as a second exit or adding a second external stairway or entry door will satisfy many of these requirements.
