Property Investment Terminology: Complete UK Guide to Abbreviations & Acronyms
Ever looked at a property listing and felt like you're reading a secret code? You're not alone!
The UK property world is packed with strange estate agent abbreviations and confusing property acronyms that can make your head spin. From mysterious letters like 'GCH' in house listings to investment terms like 'BTL', there's a lot to learn.
So whether you're looking to buy your first home, work in real estate, or start investing in property, we've created a simple guide to all those puzzling property terms and abbreviations used across the UK - written in plain English that actually makes sense and where relevant links to further articles or resources that look further in to each topic.
Updated January 2025

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by Robert Jones, Founder of Property Investments UK
With nearly two decades in UK property, Rob has been investing in buy-to-let since 2005, and uses property data to develop tools for property market analysis.
How to Use This Guide
This guide covers three main areas of property terminology:
- Estate Agent Terminology- Decode common abbreviations and acronyms you'll see in property listings (like GCH, DG, and FF)
- Property Investment Abbreviations - Understand buy-to-let and investment terminology (including BTL, ROI, and HMO)
- Property Transaction Terms - Learn the language used during buying and selling (such as SSTC, CML, and EPC)
You can either:
- Jump straight to a specific letter using the A-Z menu above
- Use Ctrl+F (or ⌘+F on Mac) to search for a specific term
- Browse through the full list to build your property vocabulary
A
AIP | Application in Principle |
APR | Annual Percentage Rate |
AS | Assisted Sale |
AST | Assured Shorthold Tenancy |
ARLA | Association of Residential Letting Agents (know known as Property Mark) |
AT | Assured Tenancy (Agreement) |
B
BMV | Below Market Value |
BMRV | Below Mortgage Redemption Value |
BOE | Bank Of England |
BRMV | Broad Rental Market Area |
BTL | Buy-to-Let |
BTS | Buy-to-Sell (also known as Flipping) |
BTR | Build to Rent |
C
CGT | Capital Gains Tax |
CH | Central Heating |
CML | Council Mortgage Lenders |
COCR | Cash On Cash Return |
CPO | Compulsory Purchase Order |
CRM | Capital Repayment Mortgage |
CT | Council Tax |
D
DD | Due Diligence |
DG | Double Glazing |
DIP | Decision in Principle |
DLA | Disability Living Allowance |
DPC | Damp Proof Course |
DPM | Damp Proof Membrane |
DTV | Direct To Vendor |
E
EA | Estate Agent |
EDC | Exchange with a Delayed Completion |
EPC | Energy Performance Certificate |
ERC | Early Repayment Charges |
F
FENSA | Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme |
FH | Freehold |
FLEEA | Fire, Lightning, Earthquake, Explosion, Aircraft (Insurance) |
FMV | Fair Market Value |
FR | Fixed Rate |
FTB | First Time Buyer |
FURN | Furnished |
G
GCH | Gas Central Heating |
GDN | Garden |
GDV | Gross Development Value |
GF | Ground Floor |
GFCH | Gas Fired Central Heating |
GP | Gross Profit |
GR / NR | Gross Return / Net Return |
H
HA | Housing Authority |
HB | Housing Benefit (also known as Housing Allowance) |
HHSRS | Housing Health and Safety Rating System |
HMO | House of Multiple Occupation |
HPI | House Price Index |
I
IFA | Independent Financial Advisor |
IHT | Inheritance Tax |
IO | Interest-only: A mortgage where capital debt is held off until the end of the term. Interest payments to service the debt are made at regular periods. |
IRR | Internal Rate Retention / Internal Rate Of Return |
J
JV | Joint Venture |
JVP | Joint Venture Partner |
L
LH | Leasehold |
LHA | Local Housing Allowance |
LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
LL | Landlord |
LO | Lease Option |
LTB/L2B | Lease to Buy |
LTL/L2L | Lease to Let (Same as R2R) |
M
MV | Market Value |
N
NAEA | National Association of Estate Agents (know known as Property Mark) | |
NHBC | National House Building Council Scheme | |
NLA | National Landlords Association | |
NP |
|
|
NRLA | National Residential Landlords Association |
O
OCH | Oil Central Heating |
OIEO | Offers In Excess Of |
OIRO | Offers In The Region Of |
OMV | Open Market Value |
OO | Owner Occupier |
OPM | Other People’s Money: Using other people’s money to purchase property |
OTO | Open to Offers |
P
PA | Per Annum |
PBSA | Purpose Built Student Accommodation |
PCM | Per Calendar Month |
POA | Price on Application |
PP | Planning Permission |
PP | Purchase Price |
PRS | Private Rented Sector |
PW | Per Week |
R
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
RICS | Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors |
ROCE | Return on Capital Employed |
ROE | Return On Equity |
ROI | Return On Investment |
ROR | Rate of Return |
RPI | Retail Price Index |
S
SA | Serviced Accommodation |
SARB/SRB | Sale and Rent Back |
SDLT | Stamp Duty Land Tax |
SO | Standing Order |
SPV | Special Purpose Vehicle |
SSTC | Sold Subject To Contract |
SV | Surveyor Valuation |
SVR | Standard Variable Rate - Mortgage |
T
TB | Tenant Buyer |
U
UF | Unfurnished |
V
VP | Vacant Possession |