The French frequently use confusing terminology to decribe the type and size of a property for sale or rent.

Property sale or rental adverts in France often use shorthand alpha numeric terms to describe the type of property on offer.

These terms are used whether the property is a house or an apartment.The main letters used are 'T' and 'F'.

The letter ‘T’ simply means ‘type’, while the letter ‘F’ ‘fonction’. They have the same meaning, and some sellers will use ‘T’ while others will prefer to use ‘F’.

The letter is then followed by a number that indicates the number of rooms (pièces) in the property.

However, the definition excludes a number of rooms that we might ordinarily include in it.

Thus, the kitchen, bathroom and toilet are not included as pièces, so need to be added to give the total number of actual rooms in the property.

So a ‘Villa T3’ will mean the property has three rooms plus, kitchen, toilet and bathroom or shower room (salle d’eau).

The one exception to this rule is that for a ‘studio’, which is a property comprising a single pièce, that contains within it a living space, bedroom and kitchen and separated toilet and bathroom.

If the flat has more than one room, then it will be referred to as an appartement.

What the descriptions do not always tell you is the number of bedrooms in the property, something that is primordial in UK property adverts!

You have to assume that one or more of the rooms are reception rooms and bedrooms, which of course maybe interchangeable.

You may also see the description ‘1bis’, ‘2bis’ etc. This is merely used to indicate that the spaces are large, and capable of division.

A single storey property (such as a bungalow) will be 'plein-pied', while a property having a second storey will be 'etages'.

Finally, the word ‘box’ in the description does not mean a boxroom, but a parking space!