bedsit

A bedsit, short for bed-sitting room, is a type of rental accommodation typically consisting of a single main room that serves as both bedroom and living area, sometimes with a kitchenette, and with access to shared bathroom and cooking facilities in the building. It is usually part of a house or converted property.

The room is compact and typically furnished with a bed, a chair, and limited storage. Cooking facilities may be a kitchenette with hot plates or a shared kitchen; bathrooms are usually shared with other units. Heating and utilities are commonly billed separately.

Bedsits are most common in urban areas of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, and are often occupied by students, casual workers, and others seeking affordable housing. They are frequently found in houses converted into multiple occupancy dwellings.

Regulation and standards: Housing, safety, and tenancy regulations vary. In many places bedsits are subject to licensing or planning rules for HMOs, fire safety requirements, and minimum standards for ventilation, lighting, and egress.

In contrast to a studio apartment, a bedsit usually lacks a private kitchen and may rely on shared facilities, offering less privacy but lower rent. The term is most common in the UK and parts of the Commonwealth; in the United States similar units may be called efficiencies or studios.