As you search through listings of property available to rent, the bulk of your results will be apartments. Occasionally, you may also come across townhouse rentals. Don't pass these gems up! They offer many benefits over apartment living, and often don't cost much more.

Types of Townhouse Rentals

Depending on where you live (or where you want to live), townhouses may be quite different. In bigger cities, you'll often find what are called "rowhouses." These are a series of attached units all lined up together. Generally, each of these units has a door facing the street, though that's not always the case. In other cases, you'll find townhouses that look almost like single-family homes. It's hard to determine where they are actually connected to the next unit.

Benefits of Renting a Townhouse

So why would you want to rent one of these units? Quite simply, when you're in an apartment building, you might have a neighbor living above you, another living below you, and yet another living next to you (or maybe even on both sides). A townhouse may be connected to other living units, but it is a more separate living space than an apartment. You'll likely have just a neighbor on each side, and if you're lucky enough to rent an end unit, you'll have just one neighbor connected to your space.

Townhouses frequently offer more living space than you'll find in an apartment. Many of them are multiple stories, with living spaces downstairs and sleeping spaces upstairs. This is great for families who need their kids to go to bed in a quiet area. The important thing to remember if you're considering renting a townhouse is that it's not any different from renting an apartment. You'll still have to sign a lease, and you'll still be liable for any damage you do to the property.