Finding accommodation can be a pretty tricky experience, and there is a great deal of terminology that can sometimes be confusing. The following is a list of terms you might see when searching for a home, and what they mean:
Unfurnished Apartment: An apartment that consists of no furniture, whatsoever. Most apartments in Toronto, including unfurnished apartments, come with major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves and ovens, and all the necessary bathing fixtures. An unfurnished apartment will not provide any more than these items.
Furnished Apartments: An apartment that consists of at least the basic furnishings found in a typical dwelling. Most furnished apartments come equipped with a bed, kitchen/dining table and chairs, a couch, and a desk.
Bachelor Apartment: A bachelor apartment is a dwelling that consists of a living space, kitchen, and bathroom only. There generally is not a bedroom or separate living or dining area.
Studio Apartment: Also an apartment with no separation between sleeping and living spaces, but usually much larger than a bachelor apartment.
Basement Apartment: An apartment that is found in the basement of either an apartment complex, business, or private home. Most basement apartments have their own entrance.
Jr. Apartment/Cozy: Jr. stands for junior. Which means small. If you rent a junior one bedroom, your bedroom is probably going to be a closet.
Affordable Housing: A term that can relate to different circumstances. It may mean that rentals in the apartment complex are partly subsidized by government housing, or simply that the units are priced to move.
Credit Check: A landlord renting to a new tenant has the right to demand a credit check prior to handing over the keys. The process is quite simple, and usually involves signing a document allowing the landlord or rental agency to inquire about the tenant’s financial credit status.
Co-Signer: If a renter has bad credit, they may be required to appoint a co-signer to their lease. This person will be responsible for the rental payments for the remainder of the lease, should the tenant be unable to keep up their end of the agreement.
Plus One: This term usually applies to apartments that have a smaller room attached, such as a sun room, covered porch, or pantry. Some apartment listings will also use the term “plus office” to apply to this.
For a very comprehensive list of real estate terms not listed above, click on the following link.
