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Midi-Pyrénées Local Reference INFOrmation

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Real-Estate Jargon

When reading the property classifieds looking for a house or apartment to buy or to rent, some terms may be unfamiliar - here are translations of the key French real estate words and phrases, in English.

When reading the property-related classified advertisements in French newspapers and magazines, it can help to know some of the key jargon terms.

Commonly-seen words and phrases:

French	English explanation
2, 3, 4 pièces	2, 3 or 4 rooms (plus kitchen and bathroom)
maison 4 pièces	4 roomed house plus kitchen and bathroom
T1, T2, F1, F2 etc.	Technically, an apartment (T) or house (F) with the specified number of rooms (pièces), although you can find T being used for houses and F for apartments too. Example: F2 (appartement deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment Example: T2 (appartement deux-pièces) = one-bedroom apartment
à rafraichir	to be redone / needs decorating
ancien (anc.)	old building (built more than 20 years ago)
année de la construction	year built
arrondissement (arr)	district/borough
ascenseur (asc)	lift
assurance habitation	home insurance
balcon (blc)	balcony
buanderie	utility room/laundry room
belles prestations	attractive/quality fittings/fixtures
branchement lave-linge	washing machine outlet
cabanon	shed / stone building with a roof on it (local usage)
calme	quiet
caution	damage deposit (rental property)
cave	cellar
cellier	storeroom/still room
+ charges	rental price excludes building charges / outgoings
chambre (ch, chbr)	bedroom
charges comprises (cc)	including building charges / outgoings
charges locatives	service and maintenance fees for collective amenities
chauffage collectif	(shared) heating included in building charges
chauffage au gaz	gas heating
chauffage au mazout	oil heating
cheminée	fireplace
concierge/gardien	superintendent/caretaker
copropriété	shared property (apartments)
coin cuisine	breakfast nook / kitchenette
cuisine (cuis)	kitchen
cuisine americaine	open-plan kitchen
cuisine équipée	equipped kitchen
cuisine aménagée	fitted kitchen
de plain pied	single storey/bungalow
dépendances	outbuildings
dépot de garantie	rental deposit
digicode	security door (lock) keypad / keycode
dossier de candidature	rental application form
douche (dche)	shower
en 3 niveaux	3 storey
en bon état	in good condition/repair
entrée (ent)	entry
étage (et.)	floor
état des lieux	condition of property report completed on moving in and referred to on leaving
exclusivité	available with this agent only / sole agency
exposé sud	south facing
frais d'agence inclus (FAI)	inclusive of agency fees
frais de Notaire	notary's fees
garage (gge)/box	garage
gardien (gard)	caretaker
Genoise(s)	the layer of roof tiles as seen from the edge. The more layers the better
hauteur sous plafond (HSP)	ceiling height
honoraires d'agence	agency fees
immeuble (imm)	building or residence
immobilier	real estate
jardin (jard.)	garden
jumelé	semi-detached
largeur (larg.)	width
logement meublé	furnished rental or property
logement vide	unfurnished rental or property
longère	agglomeration of buildings in a line, normally only 6 metres deep (typical to Brittany)
loyer	rent
maison d'amis	separate guest house
mazet (or maset)	separate cottage (usually the original on the land)
meublé/équipé	furnished
neuf	all-new construction
nombre de pieces	total number of rooms including reception and bedrooms
nombreux (nbx)	many
parking	parking place included
penderies	wardrobe, hanging closet
pièce (p)	room
pierre de taille (pdt)	stone building (dressed stone)
placards	built-in cupboards/wall cupboards
porte (pte )	door
préavis	notice period (period to give notice of intent to vacate premises)
prix (px )	price
quartier (quart)	district/neighbourhood
rangements	built-in cupboards / storage spaces
récent	built in the last decade
résidence (rés)	building
restanques	terraced land usually with drystone walls
rez de chaussée (RDC/rdc)	ground floor
salle de bain (sdb)	bathroom
salle de bains (baignoire)	bathroom with bath
salle de douche	shower
salle d'eau (s.d'eau)	washroom with shower
salle à manger (sàm)	dining room
salle de séjour (séj ss)	living room
sans vis-a-vis	not overlooked
séjour (séj)	lounge/sitting room
séparé (sép.)	separated
sous-sol (s.sol, s/s)	basement
sous terrain (s/terrain)	below ground level
standing (std)	quality / luxury building
sur terrain de...	property size (literally, "on a plot of...")
surface habitable (SH)	total living space (a legal term defining habitable space, which excludes floor areas where the ceiling is below a certain height)
terrasse	terrace, paved exterior area, large balcony
très bon état (TBE)	in good repair
tout confort (tt cft.)	well equipped
vue imprenable	superb view / unobstructed view
WC séparées	separate toilet