Renting basics
Lahore Rental Listing Terms Explained: Portion, Servant Quarter, Covered Area and More
A plain guide to the words in Lahore rental listings: marla, kanal, portion, servant quarter, covered area, possession, advance and more, and what to ask about each.
Updated 6 Oct 2026 · 5 min read · By the RentNest Lahore team
Lahore listings use short phrases that make sense to agents and owners but can confuse a new tenant. This glossary explains the most common ones. Usage varies from agent to agent, so treat these as the usual meaning and ask when you are unsure.
Size terms
- Marla and kanal: units of plot area. A kanal is 20 marla. In most Lahore listings a marla is 225 square feet. Our guide to marla to square feet shows the conversions.
- Plot area: the whole piece of land, including lawn, driveway and walls.
- Covered area: the built-up floor space inside the walls. Ask for it in square feet.
- Extra land: a bit of land beyond the standard plot size, often a side or front strip.
Type of home
- Full house: the whole house, ground and upper floors.
- Portion: one part of a house, usually the upper or lower floor, rented separately. See upper portion, lower portion or a full house.
- Upper portion / lower portion: the first floor, often with roof access, versus the ground floor, often with a driveway or lawn.
- Flat or apartment: a unit in a building, often with shared services.
Rooms and features
- Drawing room: a formal sitting room for guests.
- TV lounge: the family sitting area.
- Servant quarter: a small separate room, sometimes with a bathroom, usually near the gate or at the back. Ask whether it is included in the rent and whether it has its own entrance.
- Attached bath: a bathroom connected to a bedroom.
- Corner house: a house on the corner of two streets, usually with extra light and a longer frontage.
Money terms
- Asking rent: the rent the owner or agent wants. It is often open to negotiation.
- Advance: rent paid ahead of time, normally adjusted against later months.
- Security deposit: money held against damage or unpaid bills, returned under the terms of your agreement. See security deposit and advance rent.
- Commission: a fee to the property dealer. See who pays commission.
Condition and rules
- Possession: the property is vacant and you can move in.
- Separate meters: the portion has its own electricity and gas meters.
- Family only: the owner prefers or requires family tenants. Ask what the owner means, and get the rule in writing.
- Furnished or semi-furnished: fully or partly equipped. See furnished vs unfurnished.
- Gated society: a managed community with controlled entry, often with maintenance charges.
- Renovated or brand new: recently finished work. Ask when and what was done.
Questions to ask the agent
- What is the covered area, and which marla do you use?
- Is the rent per month, and what does it include?
- Which floor, and are there separate meters?
- Is the servant quarter included, and who uses it?
- What deposit, advance and commission do you expect?
- Is the property available now, and can I see the owner's details?
What we could not verify
- Exact meanings used by every agent or society. Terms vary, so always ask.
- Any standard measurement for servant quarters, drawing rooms or lounges.
Frequently asked questions
What does portion mean in a Lahore rental listing?
A portion is one part of a house, usually the upper or lower floor, that is rented separately from the rest of the house.
What is a servant quarter?
A small separate room, sometimes with its own bathroom, usually near the gate or at the back of the house. Ask whether it is included in the rent.
What is the difference between plot area and covered area?
Plot area is the whole land, including lawn and driveway. Covered area is the built-up floor space inside the walls.
What does possession mean in a listing?
It usually means the property is vacant and you can move in straight away. Confirm the date in writing.