Apartments are found in complexes, which vary in size. They range from a few apartments to 75-plus apartments in multiple buildings.

Broker: A person who acts as an agent in return for a fee or commission.

Condo/Townhouse/Row houses: These are usually similar to plex-style housing (see plex below), but can also be found in apartment complex buildings. Their layout often includes an upstairs and downstairs in one apartment.

Deposit: A sum of money, usually in the form of a check, given to the landlord to be held until the end of the lease. It is necessary to ask if the deposit is refundable before signing the lease. If it is, at the end of the lease, the money is returned provided the tenant has not damaged the apartment. The landlord has the right to keep all or part of the deposit if the apartment is not in the same condition as when it was rented. Be sure to walk through the apartment with the landlord and take notes on the condition of the apartment before signing the lease.

Landlord: A person or company who owns and rents buildings or multiple-dwelling units.

Lease: A contract granting occupancy in a property during a specified period in exchange for a specified amount of rent. Leases can vary in length from month-to-month to one year. Be sure to read your lease carefully before you sign it.

Mother-in-Law Apartment: Refers to an apartment inside a private home, which usually has a separate entrance.

Plexes: These are buildings containing two to four apartments: a duplex contains two apartments, a triplex contains three, and a fourplex contains four.

Realtor: An individual or agency that will assist you in purchasing a house. Their fee is added on to the cost of the house, so there is no upfront fee for the service.

Rooms for Rent: Generally, this category refers to individuals who rent a room in their home.

Tenant: A person who pays rent to reside in a property owned by someone else.

Some common abbreviations you will find in classified ads:
(You may see them in combination, for example: spac 2/1 means spacious two-bedroom, 1 bathroom.)

3/2 or 2/1 (e.g.), number of bedrooms/number of bathrooms
a/c, air conditioning
avl, available
ba or bth or bthrm, bathroom
balc, balcony
bd or bdrm, bedroom
bldg, building
bsmt, basement
cbl, cable
cpt, carpet
d/d, dishwasher/disposal
d/w or dw, dishwasher
elev, elevator
fpl or frpl, fireplace
furn, furnished
ga or gar, garage
h/w or hdwd flr, hardwood floors
incl, included
kit, kitchen
lndry, laundry
lr or lvrm, living room
lrg or lg, large
mo, month
negot, negotiable
ns, non smoking or non smoker
osp, off street parking
pl, swimming pool
prkg, parking
pvt, private
rm, room
sec, security or secure
sec dep, security deposit
sep entr, separate entrance
sm, small
spac, spacious
sq ft or sf, square feet
unfurn, unfurnished
util, utilities
w/d or wd, washer/dryer
w/w or w/w cpt, wall-to-wall carpeting
wd hkup, washer/dryer hookup
yd or yrd, yard

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