Semi-detached houses one after another and not identical in profile?

Hello, we want to build a semi-detached house (basement, ground floor, attic), our semi-detached partner will probably start later (also with a basement) and it will not be completely identical in profile (but it is not a completely different house type planned). Do you see any problem (financial, visual, legal, technical) in building one after the other (half a year apart)? I thought that was actually not uncommon, as at least in the private sector a semi-detached house is often attached to an already existing half. Thanks for your assessment and experiences

Good evening,

Do you see a problem (financially, visually, legally, technically) in building one after the other (half a year apart)?

Visually, legally (if staggering is allowed according to the development plan), and technically: no.

Financially: yes, if there is a winter between your house construction and that of the semi-detached partner. Because then you should insulate the party wall (the wall towards the partner) so that you don’t have to heat excessively during the cold season. This also means you bear the costs of dismantling when the partner starts building.

Question: if both semi-detached partners are known, why don’t you build simultaneously?

Rhenish regards

Our construction partners are not that far along with their planning yet, so they could only start next year. What costs are to be expected for the additional insulation and the dismantling (is that necessary, wouldn't it just be better insulated, right?)? But for the architect designing the second house, it shouldn't be a problem to take the first house as a reference (even if not identical in profile) and create a harmonious overall structure, right?

If the architect wants to and your semi-detached house neighbor does too, then it can work. Maybe they have other ideas as well ...

But for the architect designing the 2nd house, it shouldn't be a problem to orient themselves on the 1st house (even if not identical in profile) and create a harmonious overall structure, right?

Take a look at your valid development plan. It is rather the exception that semi-detached houses are not allowed to be built identically in profile. If you are really allowed to build differently, your neighbor doesn't have to pay attention to you – whether it ends up being harmonious is a matter of taste anyway.

It is rather the exception that semi-detached houses are not allowed to be built identically.

Don't you mean "have to" instead?