Bedsit

A bedsit is a form of rented accommodation consisting of a single room with a shared bathroom and lavatory. In some cases the room has a small formal kitchen area but it is common for the tenants to have no more than an electric kettle and single electric ring.

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Bedsits arose from the subdivision of larger dwellings into small low-cost accommodations at low conversion cost. This became necessary to house urban populations that were expanding faster than housing stock could be constructed. In the UK a growing desire for personal independence after World War 2 led to a reduced demand for traditional boarding houses with communal dining.

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Bedsits provided the settings for television situation comedies such as Rising Damp because they offered restricted sets that reduced production costs.

Related Topics:
Situation comedies - Rising Damp

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In Austria a bedsit is called a Bassena; although it lacks the overtones of poverty associated with the English word. An Austrian bassena is a single room apartment, equipped with a bed and a small kitchen. The shared lavatory and bathroom are situated on the corridor.

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