lodging house

This term describes a low-cost residential establishment, often carrying a connotation of transience or economic necessity. It differs from a hotel in its lack of luxury and limited services, and from a boarding house in that it may not always provide regular meals. In modern urban contexts, it can sometimes imply a level of dilapidation or a temporary shelter for those in precarious financial situations.

While the term is still used, it is frequently replaced in contemporary English by terms like hostel, guesthouse, or bed and breakfast, depending on the quality and target demographic of the accommodation.