Off-Campus

Understanding Housing Advertisement Terminology

Newspaper ads and notice board postings often use abbreviations to describe the accommodation and its features. These are some of the most common abbreviations:

  • Appl/appliances: stove, refrigerator (fridge) and dishwasher
  • Apt: apartment
  • Bdrm or br: bedroom(s), usually preceded by a number. Bedrooms are separate from the kitchen and living room.
  • Bsmt: basement, below the main floor of the building; usually a self-contained suite in the bottom part of a house
  • cable: extra channels for your television; sometimes included in cost of rent
  • drapes: curtains
  • f: prefer female occupant only
  • f&s: fridge and stove only, no other appliances
  • hydro: electricity
  • hot plate: heating elements for cooking but no oven
  • gas: natural gas (heating)
  • gdn lvl: Garden level generally means a basement suite which may be partially above ground
  • incl util: Price includes cost of utilities (heat, hot water)
  • m: prefer male occupant only
  • n/d: non-drinker (of alcohol)
  • n/p: no pets
  • n/s: no smoking
  • prkg: parking
  • pvt ent: private entrance
  • r&b or rb: room and board (cooked meals provided)
  • refs: references required
  • ste or suite: set of rooms
  • w/d: washer and dryer
  • w/w: wall-to-wall carpeting