Apartments glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a apartments provider in Greater Dallas.
- What are Class A, B, and C apartments?
- Class A, B, and C apartments are three tiers that Dallas property managers use to categorize apartment complexes by age, physical condition, amenities, and market position.
- What is a common area maintenance fee?
- A common area maintenance (CAM) fee is a charge added to rent that covers the upkeep, repair, and management of shared spaces in an apartment complex, such as lobbies, hallways, parking areas, and grounds.
- What is a concession in apartment leasing?
- A concession is a financial incentive or benefit offered by a landlord or property manager to attract or retain tenants, such as free rent, reduced security deposits, or waived application fees.
- What is a garden-style apartment?
- A garden-style apartment is a residential community with multiple low-rise buildings (typically 2-3 stories) arranged across a landscaped property with shared grounds, trees, and walkways, rather than a single tall structure.
- What is a lease-up period?
- A lease-up period is the initial phase after a new apartment community opens when management actively fills vacant units through marketing and promotional incentives to reach stabilized occupancy.
- What is a mid-rise apartment?
- A mid-rise apartment building is typically 4 to 8 stories tall, occupying the scale between garden-style complexes and high-rise towers. These structures are common in urban and mixed-use Dallas neighborhoods.
- What is a notice to vacate?
- A written notice a tenant submits to their landlord stating they intend to move out when their lease expires, typically required to be given 30 to 60 days before the end date depending on the lease terms.
- What is a resident portal?
- A resident portal is a web-based or mobile account where apartment residents can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, view lease documents, and message their property management team.
- What is a Section 8 voucher?
- A Section 8 voucher is a federal housing subsidy that allows eligible low-income renters to pay a reduced portion of rent at participating apartment communities, with the government covering the difference.
- What is a submarket in Dallas apartment rental?
- A submarket is a defined geographic area within the Dallas-Fort Worth metro used to segment the multifamily rental market for pricing, supply, and demand analysis.
- What is a TAA lease?
- A standardized residential lease form developed by the Texas Apartment Association that establishes the terms of tenancy, rent payment, maintenance responsibilities, and legal remedies between landlords and tenants in Texas.
- What is an amenity fee?
- An amenity fee is a monthly charge billed separately from rent that residents pay to access shared community facilities and services such as fitness centers, pools, lounges, and maintenance.
- What is an emotional support animal letter?
- An emotional support animal letter is written documentation from a licensed mental health professional stating that a tenant has a disability-related need for an animal to provide emotional comfort or stability, which can override a landlord's pet policies under federal fair housing law.
- What is an income-restricted unit?
- An income-restricted unit is a rental apartment reserved for households whose annual earnings fall below a set threshold, typically 30-80% of area median income, with eligibility verified through income documentation.
- What is an LIHTC property?
- An LIHTC property is a rental apartment complex financed through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which requires it to remain affordable for residents earning below area median income for a specified period.
- What is area median income (AMI)?
- Area median income (AMI) is the middle income level for a geographic area, used to calculate eligibility thresholds for affordable housing units in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.
- What is effective rent?
- Effective rent is the actual average monthly cost of a lease after accounting for concessions such as free rent, reduced deposits, or waived fees, typically lower than the advertised face rent.
- What is face rent?
- Face rent is the published monthly rent amount advertised for an apartment before any landlord concessions, such as move-in discounts or free months, are subtracted.
- What is joint and several liability in a lease?
- A lease provision that makes each tenant legally responsible for the full rent and lease terms, not just their individual share, meaning any roommate can be pursued for the entire amount owed.
- What is podium construction?
- Podium construction is a building method that uses a reinforced concrete base (typically for parking or retail) with wood-frame residential floors built above it, common in Dallas mixed-use developments.
- What is prorated rent?
- Prorated rent is the adjusted rent amount charged for a partial month when a tenant moves in or out before the end of a standard lease period.
- What is square footage disclosure?
- Square footage disclosure is the reporting of a rental unit's total living area in listings, measured from interior walls and typically including bedrooms, living areas, kitchens, and bathrooms.
- What is surrender vs abandonment in Texas lease law?
- Surrender occurs when a tenant and landlord mutually agree to end a lease early; abandonment occurs when a tenant vacates without permission or notice, leaving the landlord to pursue unpaid rent.
- What is Walk Score?
- Walk Score is a 0-100 metric that rates how easily residents can access nearby shops, restaurants, transit, parks, and schools on foot from a specific address.