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Registering with AngloINFO is quick and simple and gives you a lot of additional opportunities to benefit from AngloINFO's many services. It's also completely free of charge.
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Property Jargon
A guide to useful words, terms and phrases relating to buying or renting a house or apartment in Switzerland...
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 |
| armoires murales | wall cupboards |
| 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 agencée | built-in 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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