Property Investment Terminology, Abbreviations and Acronyms

Property, like any industry, comes with its own jargon, terminology, abbreviations and acronyms. For the new, would-be investor, this can be daunting and even seasoned operators can sometimes struggle. Today we present a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms commonly used in the UK property sector.

Property Abbreviations and Acronyms

AIP	Application in Principle
APR	Annual Percentage Rate
AS	Assisted Sale
AST	Assured Short Hold Tenancy
ARLA	Association of Residential Letting Agents
AT	Assured Tenancy (Agreement)

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

CH	Central Heating
CML	Council Mortgage Lenders
COCR	Cash On Cash Return
CPO	Compulsory Purchase Order
CRM	Capital Repayment Mortgage
CT	Council Tax

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

EA	Estate Agent
EDC	Exchange with a Delayed Completion
EPC	Energy Performance Certificate
ERC	Early Repayment Charges

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

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

HA	Housing Authority
HB	Housing Benefit
HHSRS	Housing Health and Safety Rating System
HMO	House of Multiple Occupancy
HPI	House Price Index

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

JV	Joint Venture
JVP	Joint Venture Partner

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)

MV	Market Value

NAEA	National Association of Estate Agents
NALS	National Association of Letting Agents
NHBC	National House Building Council Scheme
NLA	National Landlords Association
NP	Net Profit

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

PA	Per Annum
PCM	Per Calendar Month
POA	Price On Application
PP	Planning Permission
PP	Purchase Price
PW	Per Week

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

SARB/SRB	Sale and Rent Back
SDLT	Stamp Duty Land Tax
SO	Standing Order
SSTC	Sold Subject To Contract
SV	Surveyor Valuation
SVR	Standard Variable Rate - Mortgage

TB	Tenant Buyer

UF	Unfurnished

VP	Vacant Possession