Read about houses in Great Britain. Find the differences and similarities between Russian and British living places

Most English people live in or near cities. Many own their homes. Brick (кирпич) houses are common. The houses may be separate or joined together in a row (ряд). Many families have gardens in their yards. City centers are crowded. Some people live in tall apartment buildings. Some English people live in the country. Their homes lie outside towns or in villages. In recent years, the number of people in England who own their own homes has risen dramatically. In the twentieth century, town councils rented apartments or small houses cheaply to those who needed them. In the 1980s, the councils began allowing people to buy these houses. At the same time, many new houses were being built. In 1950, only 4.1 million homes were occupied by their owners. By 1996, that number had increased to 16 million. At the beginning of the 21^st century property prices were rising quickly. They have risen so much that many people who dreamed of owning a home find it impossible to buy them. This is especially true in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world.