Guides
Furnished, semi-furnished, unfurnished: what the words mean here
The three furnishing tiers used across Greater Malé, who each one suits, and how they change the rent.
Listings in Malé and Hulhumalé use three words, and they do not always mean what a newcomer expects.
Fully furnished means move-in ready: beds, sofas, dining, appliances, often linen and kitchenware. It is the standard in the premium and corporate segment and the right choice for a quick start, a short placement, or anyone arriving with a suitcase. It carries the highest rent.
Semi-furnished means the fixed things are there and the loose things are not: fitted kitchen, wardrobes, usually air-conditioning and water heating, sometimes curtains. No beds, no sofas. It suits people who own furniture or want to choose their own, and it prices between the other two.
Unfurnished means the shell: walls, floors, bathrooms, kitchen plumbing, and often nothing else. It is typical for long family tenancies, where the household brings everything and stays for years, and it is the cheapest per month.
Two practical notes. Ask what "furnished" includes in writing before you agree; a concierge lists the inventory in the viewing notes so it ends up in the agreement. And for companies placing staff, Binga's corporate housing service will match the tier to the placement: furnished for quick starts, unfurnished for longer postings.
Sources and method
- Binga internal records and product documentation
Prices are asking prices as listed through Binga unless marked achieved, and are dated. Developer descriptions are reported as the developer's own. Facts the desk could not verify are left out. Spotted an error? Write to hello@binga.mv; corrections are noted at the foot of the piece.
Binga Properties is a real-estate concierge; it may represent homes and developments mentioned here.
