VRI CCD surface photometry of 27 both isolated and interacting Seyfert galaxies (8 Seyfert 1, 14 Seyfert 2 and 5 intermediate types) is used to examine possible differences in their broad-band properties, All Seyfert types occupy host galaxies representing almost the same Hubble classification. Seyfert 1 galaxies have bluer nuclei than Seyfert 2s, while intermediate types have intermediate properties or properties closer to Seyfert Is. Disc colours and structural parameters, however, are the same. More than 50 per cent of the Seyfert galaxies (42 per cent of the Seyfert 1 and 60 per cent of the Seyfert 2) are barred galaxies which may be higher than that found in 'normal' galaxy samples.