Definition of "Apartment (building)"

The term apartment is used when referring to a type of residential unit that is self-contained and occupies only a part of the building. Through self-contained, we understand that the residential unit has independent cooking and bathroom facilities that allow it to function as a residence on its own. Apartments are part of an apartment building that contains more than one unit. These apartment buildings are also known as apartment houses. Still, they are different from multi-unit residential occupancies that work as hostels or boarding homes because of the cooking and bathroom facilities included within each individual unit. However, for vacationers, timeshare units for either part-time or full-time ownership can be implemented in apartments.

We need to understand that the word “apartment” is generally used for any kind of residential unit located inside a building. The type of the building and ownership can differ, but as long as the unit has bathroom and cooking facilities, it is an apartment.

Different Apartment Terminology

There are many words used as synonyms to the term “apartment”, but the most common ones are regionally appropriate, like “flat” (British term) and “rental unit” (Australian). The most commonly used term is “apartment” followed by “rental unit” in the US, but here we see a distinction where one is rented. The term “apartment” can refer to both a rental and an owned unit. 

Now, as we already covered that an apartment occupies only a part of a building, can an apartment be a part of a single-family house if the owner decides to rent it to a tenant? The two variants here are: the owner leases the whole house or leases a part of the house that includes cooking and bathing facilities. The answer to the question above is yes, in both variants.

So what is an Apartment?

Well, simply put, an apartment can be a living space located within a residential building or any rented living space. 

When people use the term apartment for a living space in a residential building, it first refers to the architectural structure. It pays no regard to the ownership of the units within the building. The residential building can consist of several living spaces with one, two, or more rooms, and the inhabitants can rent or own the individual units. Those issues don’t matter when it comes to the designation of the apartment. Here we can include co-ops and condos, housing options that usually have a Home Owner’s Association requiring monthly payments but that covers various amenities within a residential building.

Rented living spaces are rented apartments, which exclude co-ops and condos, but can include single-family homes if they are rented.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

protective wall along a roof or below a terrace. ...

Buyer agrees to accept the responsibility for the existing mortgage. The seller is not relieved of the obligation unless the lender agrees to release it. Many lenders charge points and ...

Claim of a person or business to real property such as by exercising an option. ...

Substituting one party for another in an action giving that party full rights or claims. Foe example, an insurance company pays the insured for a fire loss caused to the home by a third ...

Rooflike cover that extends over any place to provide shelter from the sun, rain, or wind. ...

(1) Paved roadway constructed above lowlands such as a swamp. (2) Roadway in ancient Egypt connecting the valley temple with a pyramid. ...

The process of upgrading unusable land through making physical improvements. For example, swamp land can be drained and filled in order to make it usable. Barren land can be reforested by ...

Decline in value of property from use. The property's condition is aging. An example is plumbing deteriorating over time. ...

An accessory building is an outdoor structure used by the occupants of the main building or house. They have different functions and can be detached or attached to the main building on the ...

Popular Real Estate Questions