T1, T2, T3, and More: Understanding Apartment Types in Lisbon

What do the “T’s” actually mean?

The "T" in apartment listings stands for "tipologia," which translates to "typology" in English. In Portugal, it is a common way of categorizing and indicating the number of rooms in an apartment. The number following the T represents the total number of rooms in the apartment.

For example, a T0 refers to a studio apartment, consisting of a single room that serves as a living area, dining area, and bedroom combined. A T1 refers to a one bedroom apartment with a separate living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. A T2, consecutively,  refers to a two bedroom apartment and so on.

It's important to note that the number of rooms does not include common areas such as hallways or storage spaces.

Understanding Apartment Sizes and Area

When looking for an apartment, the number of rooms isn’t all that matters. You should also look at the gross and usable area of the apartment. Gross area means the total area in an apartment, and usable is the area excluding common areas such as hallways and closets.

Although the “T’s” terminology only indicates the number of rooms in an apartment, there is, by law, a minimum area that the apartment must have to be legalized according to its number of rooms.

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This sometimes makes for some weird listing, where sometimes a 3 room apartment is listed as an T2+1.

Alternative terminology to the “T’s” that you might find

As referred previously, sometimes you might come across something like “T1+1”. This means the apartment is a T1, but with an extra room that can be used as a bedroom or something else. These rooms usually don’t have windows and/or are small. These extra rooms may not be officially legalized, although they are officially allowed to exist and be sold as such.

For example, a T2+1 is a licensed two bedroom property with one internal room that can be used as a bedroom, but is not necessarily defined as part of the original plans of the property.

Sometimes, you might see a V1, V2, V3, etc… The  'V' stands for house or villa. Although this terminology has fallen out of use, you might still find it in some places. The number logic is the same as the “T” terminology.

Another typology you might find when searching for an apartment is “R/C”. This stands for “Rés-do-Chão”, which when translated to english means Ground Floor.

There is also the term “duplex”, which means that the apartment/house has 2 levels, and “maisonette”, which is a house with two levels with different entrances.

Pricing and Affordability

The T classification system also plays a role in determining apartment prices in Lisbon. Generally, apartments with more rooms tend to command higher prices due to their larger size and increased living space. However, the higher the number of rooms, usually the lower the square metre price an apartment is listed for. For example, square meter prices for a T0 / T1 might be higher than the square meter price for a T4.

It's also important to remember that other factors, such as location, condition, amenities, and demand, also substantially influence the price of an apartment.

As a curiosity, you roughly will find this distribution among the different apartment typologies within Lisbon:

• T0/T1 (studio and one-bedroom apartments): Around 10-15% of the housing stock in Lisbon could consist of studio apartments. These smaller units are often popular among students, young professionals, couples and individuals seeking affordable housing options.
• T2 (two-bedroom apartments): Two-bedroom apartments might make up roughly 35-45% of the housing stock in Lisbon. These apartments cater to small families or individuals who desire more space and are commonly available in residential areas.
• T3 (three-bedroom apartments): Three-bedroom apartments could account for approximately 15-25% of the housing stock in Lisbon. These larger apartments are often sought after by families and individuals who require additional bedrooms or living space.
• T4+ (four-bedroom apartments and larger): Apartments with four or more bedrooms may make up a smaller percentage, around 10-15% of the housing stock in Lisbon. These larger apartments are less common but can still be found in certain neighbourhood, catering to larger families or individuals with specific space requirements, as well as groups of individuals who want to live together in a co-living concept.

Other important terms/vocabulary in real estate in Portugal

Apart from typologies, there are other terms you’ll most likely come across when searching for an apartment in Portugal:

Área útil: This refers to the usable or livable area of the apartment, excluding common areas. It represents the actual space you can utilise and move around in.

Área bruta: Also known as the gross area, it includes both the usable area of the apartment and the proportional share of common areas such as hallways and staircases. It gives you a sense of the total space occupied by the apartment.

Cozinha equipada: When an apartment listing mentions "cozinha equipada," it means that the kitchen comes fully equipped with essential appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, oven, and sometimes even a dishwasher.

Varanda/Terraço: These terms refer to a balcony (varanda) or terrace/rooftop (terraço), respectively. They are outdoor spaces attached to the apartment (in the case of varandas), or above in the case of “terraços”, that provide opportunities for relaxation or gardening.

Mobilado: If an apartment is listed as "mobilado," it means it comes fully furnished. This can be convenient for those who are looking for a ready-to-move-in option.

Understanding these terms and typologies will help you navigate the apartment search process in Portugal more efficiently.

To wrap it up, the terminology used in Portugal is unique and, in the first place, may sound a bit strange for non-locals, making it a time consuming and tiring task looking for an apartment. You have to be careful when reading through listings, assessing your needs, and considering factors like location, amenities, and proximity to essential services when making a decision. That is why, whether you're looking for a cosy studio or a spacious family apartment, you can rely on bleisured to provide the best apartment for you, without all the hassle. Just pick one of our carefully selected and tailored apartments and start enjoying your stay.