Accommodation vs. Residence — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 2, 2024
Accommodation refers to any living space, temporary or permanent, while residence implies a more permanent home.
Difference Between Accommodation and Residence
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Accommodation encompasses a wide range of living spaces, from hotels and hostels to apartments and houses, without specifying ownership or duration of stay. It can be temporary, such as a hotel room during a vacation, or longer-term, like a rented apartment. On the other hand, residence refers specifically to a person's home or permanent place of living, often implying a sense of belonging or legal ties to the location.
In legal and formal contexts, accommodation might refer to adjustments made to a space to suit the needs of its occupants, such as those for individuals with disabilities. Whereas residence is used in legal documents and formal language to denote a person's official home or domicile, often linked to tax status, voting rights, and personal identification.
Culturally, the term accommodation can imply a temporary or provisional solution to one's living situation, often associated with travel, study, or short-term employment. In contrast, residence evokes a sense of permanence and stability, suggesting a long-term commitment to a community or location.
The choice between the two terms can also reflect one's stage in life; students and travelers might seek accommodation, reflecting a transient lifestyle, while families and long-term residents are more concerned with establishing a residence, indicating a desire for roots and a fixed abode.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A place to live, temporary or permanent.
A person’s permanent home.
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Duration of Stay
Can be short-term or long-term.
Implies long-term habitation.
Legal Implications
Can include temporary adjustments for accessibility.
Tied to rights and responsibilities like voting.
Cultural Connotation
Often seen as temporary or provisional.
Suggests permanence and belonging.
Usage Scenario
Travel, study, short-term work.
Establishing a home, family life.
Compare with Definitions
Accommodation
Any place where one can stay.
Finding affordable accommodation in the city can be challenging.
Residence
Often associated with stability and community ties.
Their residence in the neighborhood spanned several generations.
Accommodation
Temporary lodging for travelers.
We booked our accommodation near the beach.
Residence
Indicates a sense of belonging to a place.
After years abroad, they established their residence in their hometown.
Accommodation
Short-term rental properties.
They found a short-term accommodation while their house was being renovated.
Residence
A home owned by the occupant.
Their new residence includes a large backyard.
Accommodation
Living spaces for students or employees.
The university provides student accommodation on campus.
Residence
Used in legal contexts to indicate domicile.
Your tax rates depend on your state of residence.
Accommodation
Adaptations for accessibility.
The building’s accommodation for wheelchairs includes ramps and elevators.
Residence
A place where one lives permanently.
The family's residence is in a quiet suburb.
Accommodation
A room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay
They were living in temporary accommodation
Residence
A residence is a place (normally a building) used as a home or dwelling, where people reside.
Accommodation
A convenient arrangement; a settlement or compromise
The prime minister was seeking an accommodation with Labour
Residence
A person's home, especially a large and impressive one
The youth hostel has been adapted from a private residence
Accommodation
The process of adapting or adjusting to someone or something
Accommodation to a separate political entity was not possible
Residence
The place in which one lives; a dwelling.
Accommodation
The act of accommodating or the state of being accommodated; adjustment.
Residence
The act or a period of residing in a place.
Accommodation
Something that meets a need; a convenience.
Residence
A medical residency.
Accommodation
Room and board; lodgings.
Residence
The official home or location of a corporation.
Accommodation
A seat, compartment, or room on a public vehicle.
Residence
The place where one lives (resides); one's home.
Accommodation
Reconciliation or settlement of opposing views.
Residence
A building or portion thereof used as a home, such as a house#Noun or an apartment#Noun therein.
Accommodation
(Physiology) The automatic adjustment in the focal length of the lens of the eye to permit retinal focus of images of objects at varying distances.
Residence
The place where a corporation is established.
Accommodation
A financial favor, such as a loan.
Residence
The state of living in a particular place or environment.
Accommodation
Lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or prisoners, etc.
The accommodations at that hotel were quite luxurious.
Residence
Accommodation for students at a university or college.
Accommodation
(physical) Adaptation or adjustment.
Residence
The place where anything rests permanently.
Accommodation
The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment.
Residence
Subsidence, as of a sediment
Accommodation
A convenience, a fitting, something satisfying a need.
Residence
That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.
Accommodation
The adaptation or adjustment of an organism, organ, or part.
Residence
(espionage) rezidentura
Accommodation
The adjustment of the eye to a change of the distance from an observed object.
Residence
The act or fact of residing, abiding, or dwelling in a place for some continuance of time; as, the residence of an American in France or Italy for a year.
The confessor had often made considerable residences in Normandy.
Accommodation
(personal) Adaptation or adjustment.
Residence
The place where one resides; an abode; a dwelling or habitation; esp., a settled or permanent home or domicile.
Johnson took up his residence in London.
Accommodation
Willingness to accommodate; obligingness.
Residence
The residing of an incumbent on his benefice; - opposed to nonresidence.
Accommodation
Adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation; settlement; compromise.
Residence
The place where anything rests permanently.
But when a king sets himself to bandy against the highest court and residence of all his regal power, he then, . . . fights against his own majesty and kingship.
Accommodation
(countable) The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something not originally referred to or intended.
Residence
Subsidence, as of a sediment.
Accommodation
A loan of money.
Residence
That which falls to the bottom of liquors; sediment; also, refuse; residuum.
Accommodation
An accommodation bill or note.
Residence
Any address at which you dwell more than temporarily;
A person can have several residences
Accommodation
An offer of substitute goods to fulfill a contract, which will bind the purchaser if accepted.
Residence
The official house or establishment of an important person (as a sovereign or president);
He refused to live in the governor's residence
Accommodation
(theology) An adaptation or method of interpretation which explains the special form in which the revelation is presented as unessential to its contents, or rather as often adopted by way of compromise with human ignorance or weakness.
Residence
The act of dwelling in a place
Accommodation
The place where sediments can make, or have made, a sedimentation.
Residence
A large and imposing house
Accommodation
Modification(s) to make one's way of communicating similar to others involved in a conversation or discourse.
Accommodation
The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or adapted; adaptation; adjustment; - followed by to.
Accommodation
Willingness to accommodate; obligingness.
Accommodation
Whatever supplies a want or affords ease, refreshment, or convenience; anything furnished which is desired or needful; - often in the plural; as, the accommodations - that is, lodgings and food - at an inn.
Accommodation
An adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation; settlement.
Accommodation
The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy, to something not originally referred to or intended.
Many of those quotations from the Old Testament were probably intended as nothing more than accommodations.
Accommodation
A loan of money.
Accommodation
Making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
Accommodation
A settlement of differences;
They reached an accommodation with Japan
Accommodation
In the theories of Jean Piaget: the modification of internal representations in order to accommodate a changing knowledge of reality
Accommodation
Living quarters provided for public convenience;
Overnight accommodations are available
Accommodation
The act of providing something (lodging or seat or food) to meet a need
Accommodation
(physiology) the automatic adjustment in focal length of the lens of the eye
Common Curiosities
Can accommodation become a residence?
Yes, if a temporary accommodation becomes someone's long-term home, it can be considered their residence.
Is a hotel considered an accommodation or a residence?
A hotel is typically considered accommodation due to its temporary nature for most guests.
How does legal residence affect taxes?
Legal residence determines one's tax obligations, with different jurisdictions having different tax rates and requirements.
Why might someone need special accommodations in housing?
Individuals with disabilities may require special accommodations to ensure their living space is accessible and comfortable.
What is a primary residence?
A primary residence is the main home where a person lives for the majority of the time and is often used for legal or tax purposes.
Can a residence be a place of business?
Yes, some residences also serve as places of business, especially for small businesses or home offices.
What's the significance of establishing a permanent residence?
Establishing a permanent residence can affect one’s legal rights, community ties, and sense of belonging.
What distinguishes accommodation from residence?
Accommodation can be temporary or permanent, focusing on where one stays, while residence implies a permanent and legal home.
Can the term residence refer to more than one home?
Yes, if a person has multiple homes where they live throughout the year, each can be considered a residence.
How do universities provide accommodation for students?
Universities often offer dormitories or apartments as student accommodation on or near campus.
How do accommodations vary internationally?
Accommodations can vary greatly, from hostels and guesthouses to short-term rentals, reflecting local culture and living standards.
Are there legal documents that prove residence?
Legal documents like utility bills, a driver’s license, or property deeds can serve as proof of residence.
What role does residence play in voting rights?
Residence determines one's voting district and eligibility for local and national elections.
What challenges do people face when seeking accommodation?
Challenges can include high costs, limited availability, and finding locations that meet personal needs or preferences.
How is residence status determined for tax purposes?
Tax authorities consider factors like physical presence, domicile, and financial ties to determine residence status.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
