Real Estate Terminology Guide
In Belgium when an apartment is listed you should be sure you know exactly what is included. Even an apartment described as furnished may not include everything required for comfortable living, in particular electronics like washing machine/dryer and dishwasher. The number of bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms are generally specified, as well as balcony/terrace and garden are usually specified, as well as the living space of the apartment in square metres. In most multi-storey buildings, the ground-floor is typically listed as ground-floor or ‘0’, with the floor above being the first floor and so on. Below is a list of commonly used words in real-estate translated from French to English.French-English
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- Bail – Leasing agreement
- Bailleur – Landlord/lady
- Box/garage – Garage
- Clause resolutoire – Clause allowing landlord/lady to terminate contract early
- Copropriate – Joint ownership os an apartment
- Coin cuisine – Breakfast area
- Cuisine – Kitchen
- Cuisine equipee/ cuisine amenagee – Fitted kitchen
- De plein pied – single storey
- Dependances – Other buildings on the proerty (guesthouse etc.)
- Depot de garantee (DDG) – Security deposit
- Digicode – Entrance to building with a security code required
- Dossier de candidature – Rent application form
- Douche – Shower
- En bon etat – In good condition
- Entree – Entrance
- Etage – Floor
- Etat des lieux – Report made on the state of the property after a survey prior to moving in
- Exclusivite – Sole agent
- Expose sud – Facing south
- Frais d’agence inclus (FAI) – Agent fees included
- Gardien – Caretaker
- Honoraires d’agent – Agent fees
- Immeuble – Building/Residence
- Immobilier – Real estate
- Jardin – Garden
- Logement meuble – Furnished apartment/house
- Logement vide – Unfurnished apartment/house
- Loyer – Rent
- Meuble – Furnished
- Nombre de pieces – Number of rooms
- Parking – Parking space
- Piece – Room
- Placards – Built-in cupboards
- Porte – Door
- Preavis – Notice
- Prix – Price
- Preneur – Tenant
- Provision pour charges – Monthly amount payable above the stated rent
- Quartier – Neighborhood
- Quittance de loyer – Receipt for rental payment
- Recent – Built in last 10 years or so
- Reparations locatives – Charges incurred by tenant in fixing something and will be reimbursed by landlord/lady
- Residence – Building/house
- Restanques – Terraced
- Rez de chaussee – Ground floor
- Salle de bain – Bathroom
- Salle de bains – Bathrooom with bath
- Salle de douche – Shower room
- Salle d’eau – Shower room
- Salle a manger – Dining room
- Salle de sejour – Living room
- Sejour – Lounge
- Sous-sol – Basement
- Sous terrain – Underground
- Surface habitable – Total living area
- Terrase – Terrace/balcony