| Geneva Local Reference INFOrmation
 | 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 English translations of the key French real estate words and phrases.
When reading the French-language property-related classified advertisements in newspapers
and magazines, it can help to know some of the key jargon terms.
Commonly-seen words and phrases:
| French |
English explantion |
| 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.
|
| à rafraichir |
to be redone |
| ancien (anc.) |
old building (built more than 20 years ago) |
| année de la construction |
year built |
| arrondissement (arr) |
district/borough |
| ascenseur (asc) |
lift |
| balcon (blc) |
balcony |
| assurance habitation |
home insurance |
|
branchement lave-linge |
washing machine outlet |
| cabanon |
stone building with a roof on it (local usage) |
| calme |
quiet |
| caution |
damage deposit (rental property) |
|
cave |
cellar |
|
+ charges |
rental price excludes building charges |
|
chambre (ch, chbr) |
bedroom |
|
charges comprises (cc) |
including building charges |
|
charges locatives |
monthly fees for collective amenities |
|
chauffage collectif |
(shared) heating included in building charges |
|
chauffage gaz |
gas heating |
|
concierge/gardien |
superintendent |
| copropriété |
shared property (apartments) |
|
coin cuisine |
breakfast nook |
|
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 |
| 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 upon moving in or
leaving |
| exclusivité |
available with this agent only |
|
exposé sud |
south facing |
|
frais d'agence inclus (FAI) |
inclusive of agency fees |
|
frais de Notaires |
legal fees |
| garage (gge)/box |
garage |
| gardien (gard) |
caretaker |
| hauteur sous plafond (HSP) |
ceiling clearance |
| honoraires d'agence |
agency fees |
| immeuble (imm) |
building or residence |
| immobilier |
real estate |
| jardin (jard.) |
garden |
| jumelé |
semi |
| largeur (larg.) |
width |
| logement meublé |
furnished rental or property |
| logement vide |
unfurnished rental or property |
| loyer |
rent |
| maison d'amis |
separate guest house |
| maison mitoyenne |
semi-detached house |
| 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 |
|
pièce (p) |
room |
|
pierre de taille (pdt) |
stone building |
| placards/penderies |
built-in cupboards (no hanging space
in a penderie) |
| porte (pte ) |
door |
| préavis |
notice of intent to vacate premises |
| prix (px ) |
rent |
| quartier (quart) |
district/neighbourhood |
| rangements |
built-in cupboards |
| récent |
built in the last decade |
| résidence (rés) |
building |
| restanques |
terraced land usually with drystone walls |
| rez de chaussée (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) |
bathroom with shower |
| salle à manger (sàm) |
dining room |
| salle de séjour (séj
ss, s/s) |
living room |
| séjour (séj) |
lounge/sitting room |
| séparé (sép.) |
separated |
| sous-sol (s.sol) |
basement |
| sous terrain (s/terrain) |
below ground level |
| stand (std) |
quality/luxury building |
|
sur terrain de... |
property size |
|
surface habitable (SH) |
total living space |
|
terrain |
land/garden/plot |
| terrasse |
terrace, paved exterior area, large balcony |
| très bon état (TBE) |
in good repair |
| tout confort (tt cft.) |
well equipped |
|
WC séparées |
separate toilet |
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