Are you moving to Quebec and looking to rent an apartment? Welcome! Here, some terms are unique to how housing is described. To avoid confusion and better understand what you’re reading in Quebec rental listings, here’s a practical glossary to help guide your apartment search.
Types of Housing in Quebec
1½, 2½, 3½, etc.: indicates the number of rooms in the unit. The “half” refers to the bathroom. For example, a 4½ includes two closed bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The kitchen may sometimes be open-concept with the living room.
Bachelor: a unit located in a basement or semi-basement of a house. Often more affordable, but with less natural light and lower ceilings.
Room: a private room rented with access to some shared areas (kitchen, bathroom, sometimes living room).
Roommate rental (colocation): shared rental of a unit with one or more other tenants.
Commercial: space intended for commercial use (shop, office, etc.).
Condo (condominium): a unit within a co-owned property. The tenant rents from an individual owner and shares certain common areas with other co-owners.
Duplex / Triplex / Quadruplex: properties with 2, 3 or 4 stacked or side-by-side units.
HLM (low-rent housing): subsidized housing available to low-income individuals. Managed by municipal housing offices and supported by the government.
Loft: open-concept unit, often converted from a former industrial space. Few or no walls.
Townhouse: attached houses built in a row with private entrances.
Row houses: similar to a townhouse, but part of a continuous row of multiple attached units.
Modular home: a prefabricated home built in a factory and assembled on-site.
Multifamily building: a building with six or more units.
Square feet (ft²): unit of measurement for an apartment’s size. To convert to square meters, multiply by 0.092. You can also use a handy online conversion tool.
Student residence: housing near a school, designed for students. May include services and shared spaces.
Seniors’ residence: housing adapted for independent or semi-independent seniors, with services tailored to their needs.
Ground floor (rez-de-chaussée): unit located at street level.
Garden level (rez-de-jardin): apartment in a semi-basement, sometimes opening onto a yard.
Semi-basement / Half-basement: unit partially below ground level, but with windows.
Semi-detached: two homes connected by a shared wall.
Basement: a unit entirely below ground level. Cooler and sometimes darker.
Studio: small open-concept unit where the bedroom is part of the main room.
Features of a Rental Unit
Cable: access to TV via subscription.
Heated / Not heated: indicates whether heating costs are included in the monthly rent.
Amenities: equipment and services offered with the unit (e.g. appliances, Internet, TV, hot water). Included or not in the rent.
Electricity included (éclairé): electricity is included in the rent.
Locker: additional storage space, often in the basement, outdoors or in a common area.
Semi-furnished: the unit includes at least a stove and fridge. If other appliances are included, they must be clearly listed in the lease.
Furnished: the unit includes some basic furniture and appliances.
Fully furnished: fully equipped—you can move in with just your suitcase.
Non-smoking (or NS): smoking is prohibited in the unit, including cannabis.
We hope this rental glossary helps you navigate your apartment search in Quebec. For more tips and advice on renting in Quebec, check out our article on common mistakes to avoid during an apartment visit or our tips for your next lease signing.
And most importantly, take time to visit the neighborhoods where you plan to settle, get to know the transit options, spot key local services, and reflect on what matters most to you. That’s the key to finding the right place for you. Welcome to Quebec, and good luck in your new home!
See also:
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting an Apartment
