GLOSSARY

Accommodation glossary

Definitions for furnished and serviced accommodation, including trust badges and safety metrics.

What does this glossary define?

It defines the terms guests meet when booking furnished or serviced apartments, from serviced apartment and all-in price to trust badge and safety metric, and explains how Nairofy Stays uses words such as verified apartment.

  • Serviced apartment: A serviced apartment is a furnished apartment managed by an operator that looks after the stay, typically including cleaning and guest support, instead of a private landlord. Inclusions such as utilities, linen and housekeeping frequency differ by building and operator, so they should be confirmed in writing before booking.
  • Furnished apartment: A furnished apartment is a rental home supplied with the furniture and basic household items needed to move in, such as beds, seating and kitchen equipment. The exact inventory, Wi-Fi, parking and backup power vary by property, so ask for the confirmed list of what is included before you pay.
  • Short-term rental: A short-term rental is accommodation booked for a limited period, from a few nights to a few weeks, rather than a long lease. Rates, minimum stay, cleaning and cancellation terms are set per property, so confirm the total price and the written terms before sending any payment or deposit.
  • Verified apartment (Nairofy definition): On this website a verified apartment is a property record that has been published and marked verified by the business, and that also has a featured photo, an area, bathrooms, a maximum guest number and a description. It is an internal completeness check, not an independent inspection or a star rating.
  • Enquiry-led booking: An enquiry-led booking is a reservation process where you send your preferred area, dates and guest count to a team that checks the apartment, price and terms with you before anything is confirmed. Choosing dates on a website does not hold the apartment until availability, terms and payment arrangements are agreed.
  • All-in price: An all-in price is the total you will actually pay for a stay, including cleaning, service charges, utilities where applicable and any taxes or fees, not just the nightly or monthly headline rate. Ask for it in writing, with the included charges listed, so you can compare accommodation options like for like.
  • Security deposit: A security deposit is an amount held against damage, unpaid charges or breach of house rules, normally returned after check-out if nothing is owed. Ask in writing how much it is, how and when it is refunded, what deductions are allowed and who holds the money, before you pay it.
  • Minimum stay: A minimum stay is the fewest nights a property will accept for a booking, which can differ by apartment, season or length of stay. If you need a shorter or longer period than advertised, ask before paying, because the minimum stay and the price for your dates are confirmed individually.
  • Self check-in: Self check-in means you enter the apartment using an agreed access method, such as a lockbox or smart lock, instead of meeting a host. It is not available at every property, so confirm whether it is offered, who to call out of hours and what happens if access fails before you travel.
  • Cancellation policy: A cancellation policy states whether you can cancel or change a booking and what is refunded or charged if you do. Read it before paying and keep a written copy, because refund periods, non-refundable amounts and rescheduling rules differ between operators and even between apartments.
  • House rules: House rules are the conditions guests agree to during a stay, such as visitors, noise, smoking, parties, pets and the maximum number of guests. Ask for them before booking, because breaking them can affect your deposit or the stay, and rules can differ from one building or apartment to another.
  • Official payment recipient: The official payment recipient is the company or account that a business confirms in writing as the only party to receive your payment for a booking. Compare the recipient name shown when you pay with that written confirmation, and do not pay anyone else, especially if instructions change late or you are pressured to hurry.
  • Corporate accommodation: Corporate accommodation is furnished housing arranged by a company for employees or project teams, often with invoicing, longer stays and several apartments. Requirements such as team size, dates, area and billing details are shared up front, and availability and commercial terms are then confirmed individually with the operator.
  • Trust badge: A trust badge is a label such as “verified” or “top-rated” shown next to a listing. Its meaning depends entirely on who awards it and what is checked, so read the criteria. Nairofy Stays does not display third-party badges, ratings or awards, and its own “verified apartment” label is defined separately.
  • Safety metric: A safety metric is a measurable indicator used to describe how safe a place or service is, such as response times, incident counts, inspection dates or documented fire and security arrangements. Nairofy Stays does not publish safety statistics, so ask for the specific arrangements at your apartment and get them in writing.