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What do T2, T3, T4, and T5 stand for? Does it mean the number of rooms?

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This question is not exactly about the French language, but I have to confess I would really like to know the answer. –  Joubarc Sep 7 '11 at 16:52
You have your answer, but I have to close this as not on topic for a site about "French Language & Usage." –  Robert Cartaino Sep 7 '11 at 23:29
Sorry, I posted it here because I've only ever seen the abbreviation since looking for an apartment in France. –  brittlee91 Sep 8 '11 at 11:23
@RobertCartaino FYI, I've reopened this question, because I don't see how it's off-topic: it's about the meaning of a French word. It's covered in French Wikipedia, but not in a way that's easy to follow if you're a non-native looking for an apartment in France, so I'm not comfortable closing as “general reference” either. –  Gilles Feb 4 '12 at 14:55

2 Answers 2

up vote 9 down vote accepted

The number counts the rooms where one can live: bedrooms and the (aptly named) living room; 'T' stands for 'type'. You can also find 'F' instead of 'T', there is no difference.

Rooms "for living" must fill some criteria to qualify as such: minimum area (I believe 9m²), a minimum height and a at least one window. If the room has no window (dark or open), or is too small, it doesn't count, and can only be advertised as a storage space (often called "cellier" or "loggia"). Also mandatory are a separate bathroom, and kitchen and toilets, both of which may or may not be separate from, respectively, a regular room and the bathroom.

You might in very rare cases also get a large "dark room" ("pièce aveugle"), without window, suitable to be used as a study/computer room, but which can only be advertised as a storage space. So a T1 might give you 4 rooms in total (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, "storage space"). (I actually had a 60m² T2 with a similar arrangement--very comfy.)

Also, some "wide" living rooms (>20m²) will be advertised as two rooms. So a T3 might only get you 3 rooms (large living room with kitchen, bathroom, bedroom).

Note that a 'T1' and a 'studio' are not the same thing:

  • TI : one kitchen, one bathroom, one room;

  • Studio: one bathroom, kitchen and bedroom in the same space ("cuisine américaine").

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Yes it does.

To be more specific, this is the number of rooms in which you can live: the kitchen, the bathroom, the toilets are not included in that number, but only the rooms and the living and dining room(s). A "dressing" doesn't count either unless it meets the requirement of a "main room", according to this article.

This number should also include at least one room. For example you cannot have just a living room and a bathroom as a room is mandatory.

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thanks. Do you happen to know what the letter T stands for? –  brittlee91 Sep 7 '11 at 16:40
T stands for Type. You can also encounter another convention called F, for Fonction, which is roughly the same. More details here: fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appartement#Classification_des_logements –  Shlublu Sep 7 '11 at 16:44
In the south of France we use T1, T2, altough people will usually understand F1, F2, etc. I've found here a good description of all the subtleties one needs to know about all the different types : partenaire-europeen.fr/Actualites-Conseils/… –  Laure Sep 7 '11 at 18:15
Brillant, thanks @Laure –  Shlublu Sep 8 '11 at 6:30

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