Lesson 11::Looking for Housing

1. Looking for Housing / I Want to Rent a House

• Expressions:
  • “This house is for rent/sale.”
  • “I want to rent a well/fully-furnished house with…”
• Types of Housing:
  • House/Villa
  • Condo
  • Townhouse

2. Inquiring About Available Apartments

• Questions to Ask:
  • “What kind of apartments do you have for rent?”
  • “Do you have any apartments available right now?”
  • “Do you still have a vacancy?”
• Terminology:
  • Tenant/Leaser
  • Leasing Agent
  • Landlord/Landlady

3. Viewing the House and Rent Inquiry

• Questions to Ask:
  • “Can I take a look at the house?” / “Can I look around?”
  • “What’s/how much is the rent?”

4. Utilities and Lease Agreement

• Utilities Inquiry:
  • “Are utilities included?” = “Does it include utilities?”
• Lease Agreement:
  • “Do I have to sign a lease for the house?”
• Amenities:
  • Bathroom, Refrigerator, Shower, Microwave Oven, Big Closet, Parking Place, Garage

Dialogues for Practice

Dialog 1: Signing a Lease and Security Deposit

• A: “Have you signed a lease for your apartment?”
• B: “No, I didn’t have to. But I paid a deposit.”
• A: “How much security deposit do you pay? And when is the rent due?”
• B: “They asked that I left a month’s rent as a deposit. And the rent is due no later than the fifth of the month.”
• Key Terms: Sign a contract, Lease an apartment, Security deposit, Due date

Dialog 2: Apartment Features

• A: “How many square feet is that studio?”
• B: “It’s 60 square feet.”
• A: “Is there a view?”
• B: “Yes, there’s a wonderful view. And it’s well furnished.”
• A: “Is there air conditioning?”
• B: “Yes, there’s central air conditioning and heating. How do you like it?”
• A: “I’m happy with it. And I’ll take it.”
• Key Questions: Apartment size, Views, Sunlight

Additional Vocabulary

• Maximum monthly rent
• Central area of town
• Dining room, Separate kitchen/Kitchen-diner
• Move-in date, e.g., September 1st
• Cloakroom, Garage, Noise level