Assured Hold Tenancy agreement The most common form of tenancy in the UK. Similar to an Assured tenancy but lasting for a fixed period of at least 6 months. More popular as it makes it easier for the landlord to give notice and end the agreement.
Assured tenancy Gives you the right to remain in a property unless the landlord can convince the court there are good reasons to evict you (such as rent arrears, damage etc.).BedsitSingle room accomodation which serves as a bedroom and living space in one. Generally sharing a bathroom and/or kitchen with others. Abbreviation of 'bed sitting room'. BungalowA single storey house.Buy to let The term used to describe buying a property with the specific intention of renting it out rather than living in it.Buy to share Describes the increasing trend of buying a property with the intention of renting out one or more rooms to help pay the mortgage. Some lenders offer specialist mortgages for this. Co-buying Buying with another person who isn't your partner, generally in order to be able to afford property you couldn't otherwise. Contents insurance A policy covering your personal posessions, clothes, furniture etc as opposed to Buildings insurance which covers the structure itself. See also Room Contents insurance.Conversion Refers to a house which has been divided to make 2 or more flats.Cottage Generally refers to smaller rural properties. Deposit A fixed sum taken by landlords/letting agents at the start of a tenancy to cover reasonable losses (rent arrears, damage etc.). See also Tenancy deposit scheme. DetachedRefers to a house which is completely separate from its neighbours Ex-local authorityRefers to a property which was formerly owned by the council. Often, especially in London, this refers to purpose built blocks of flats. FlatGenerally refers to a property occupying only part of a building, known as an apartment in the US. Blocks of flats can be purpose built or in converted houses. Flatmate A term mainly used in the UK and Australia to describe someone who shares the flat or apartment with you. Generally housemate is used when the property is a house. FlatshareSharing a property with one or more people where each person usually has their own bedroom. . Fractional lettingUsually used to describe ongoing lettings which don't cover the whole week. The most common example is Monday-Friday lets where the tenant is elsewhere for weekends. Garden flatLiterally a flat with a garden Granny flatSmaller self-contained flat at the back or on an upper floor of the main property. Usually with it's own front door. HouseUsually refers to a whole property. One house can contain several flats. HouseboatA floating house generally, but not always, converted from a boat. HousemateSee flatmate HMO'sHouse in Multiple Occupation. Refers to certain types of accomodation shared by several people. See our guide for more information. Landlords InsuranceA specific type of insurance offered by certain companies to cover the needs of landlords. Can cover anything from rent losses and damage to re-housing tenants in the case of emergencies. Live-in landlordA homeowner who rents out one or more rooms in their property whilst living there themselves. Live-out landlordA landlord who rents a property they do not live in themselves LodgerA lodger is a tenant who rents a room (or rooms) in another's house, usually from a Live in landlord.Loft ApartmentGenerally in former industrial premises and often open plan in layout loft apartments usually have high ceilings and lots of natural light. MaisonetteA flat on two levels with internal stairs and/or it's own street-level front door. MansionA very large or expensive house. Used in London to describe a style of purpose built flats which generally have high ceilings. MewsMews are traditionally rows of former stables converted into residential properties. The ground floor stable area is generally a garage and the living quarters (which would have housed the ostler) are above. No DSSNot available to those reliant on state benefits to pay their rent Party wallThe wall shared by two connected properties. PcmPer calendar month PenthouseTop floor of a multi-storey building. Generally the most desirable flat in taller buildings due to improved views, no upstairs neighbours and a greater distance from street noise. Purpose builtRefers to a collection of flats built as such rather than a conversion PwPer week Rent a room schemeA government scheme which allows you to earn up to £4,250 a year tax free by taking in a lodger. Room contents insurance A specific policy to cover those who rent a room within a property. RoommateAn american term which is now used internationally due to American film and TV. As the name suggests it can either be use to describe someone who shares a room with you, or who shares a flat or house with you (i.e. they don't have to be in the same room to be described as a roommate!) Seasonal lettings Describes short term lets covering a particular time of year (eg. Summer, the duration of a particular event etc.) Semi or Semi detached Refers to two houses joined together. SharersA term usually applied to those living in shared accomodation together. Speed Flatmating ® Find a flatmate using the speed dating format. StudioGenerally a single room for cooking, living and sleeping with its own bathroom. Subletting An arrangement where the existing tenant lets all or part of the property to another. This is a complicated issue, check our subletting article for more information on this subject. Tenancy agreementA contract (verbal or written but usually written) between landlord and tenant. The contract outlines the rights both parties have (eg. your right to occupy the property and the landlord's right to receive rent from you). Tenancy deposit schemeA government scheme introduced in 2007 to safeguard deposits taken by landlords. TenantSomeone who rents and occupies a property from another Terraced houseA house in a row of (usually) identical properties connected to each other by shared (or 'party') walls. TownhouseRefers to a style of upper class house (generally in London) often with 3 or more floors. Walk-up flatGenerally refers to a block of flats (mostly low rise) which have individual front doors externally (as opposed to off a communa internal hallway).
