Fluvia

Renting

Practise English for a flat viewing and for calling your landlord

Viewing a flat and calling the landlord are the two conversations that cost you real money when you do not follow them. Here you view a place with an agent who glides past the bills, and you phone a landlord about something that has been broken for weeks. Free, no sign-up.

Situations
2, the viewing and the call
Who you meet
a letting agent, your landlord
What you practise
asking about the deposit and the bills
Correction
as you speak, not at the end
Sign-up
none
Price
free

The two conversations

  • Viewing an apartment to rent

    You are viewing a flat this week.

    Tom — a landlord showing a flat to a prospective tenant

    Ask detailed questions and negotiate the rental terms politely.

    Start →

  • Calling the landlord about a leak

    Something in your flat is broken and you have to call the landlord.

    Gary — a landlord who would rather not spend the money

    Get a specific day for the repair, not a vague promise.

    Start →

Why these two and not a list of household words

Knowing the word deposit is worth nothing if you never ask about it. At the viewing the agent shows you the light, talks up the neighbourhood, and slides past what the rent includes and when you would get the deposit back. If you do not ask, it does not come up.

The call to the landlord is the other half. Something has been broken for weeks and you have already mentioned it twice. That conversation is not won by getting angry. It is won by saying what is broken, since when, and what you expect to happen and by which day.

When you finish you have the whole conversation in writing, with what you said and how it could have been said better, and the page tells you whether you got what you called for.

Frequently asked questions

How do I practise English for a flat viewing?
By speaking the whole viewing out loud before you do it. Here an agent shows you round and you have to ask about bills, the deposit and the contract, which is exactly what people forget in the moment.
What do I say to a landlord when something has been broken for weeks?
Say what is broken, since when, that you have raised it before, and ask for a specific date. "It's been three weeks now — when can someone come out?" works far better than complaining.
What is a deposit and when do I get it back?
It is money paid up front and returned at the end if there is no damage beyond normal wear and tear. At the viewing you practise asking how much it is and how long it takes to come back.
Do I need a microphone?
Yes, it is a spoken conversation. It runs in a phone or desktop browser with nothing to install.

FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY

Rehearse the viewing before anyone shows you round

Eight minutes with an agent who does not make it easy, and you stop signing things you did not follow.

Practise the viewing