Apartment Rentals
Pre-Listening
What are some things that you look for in a new apartment (amenities, location, etc.)?
Listen and Read
Listen, answer the questions, and read along with the audio recording.
Listening Quiz
Select the best answer for each question, then press Check Answers.
Use arrow keys to choose between options within each question.
1. How did the man find the apartment?
2. How many bedrooms does the apartment have?
3. How much is the rent?
Last month, I decided to move out of my parents’ place and start living on my own. I searched in the newspaper for apartment listings and found a place not too far from my work. The landlord showed me around the apartment, and because it suited my needs, I signed the rental agreement and paid a deposit, some of which I might get back when I move out. The apartment has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, and kitchen. It also has a small utility room where I keep my washer and dryer. Right before I moved in, the landlord put in new carpet and had the walls painted, so it looks like a new place.
The rent is about $1,700 a month, not including utilities. I pay about $200 for gas, electricity, water, sewage, and internet service. Unfortunately, the apartment complex doesn’t allow pets, so my dog has to stay with my parents now. I might get a roommate at some point to share expenses, but I haven’t decided on that yet. The place looks a little empty because it isn’t furnished, but for the time being, I only have the basics: a bed, a table, a small sofa in the living room, and a TV. It’s not as liveable and cozy as my parents’ place, but it will have to do for now.
Vocabulary and Expressions From the Audio
- move out (phrasal verb): to leave a place where you have been living and take your belongings with you
- She gave her landlord 30 days notice before she moved out of the apartment.
- searched (verb): to look carefully for something
- He searched online for available apartments in his price range.
- listing (noun): an advertisement or posted description of a property that is available to rent or buy
- She found a great apartment through an online listing that included photos and the monthly rent.
- landlord (noun): a person who owns a property and rents it out to tenants
- The landlord agreed to fix the broken heater before the new tenants moved in.
- suited (adjective): right for a particular person, purpose, or situation
- The small studio apartment was perfectly suited for someone living alone.
- deposit (noun): an amount of money paid upfront when renting a property, which is held by the landlord and returned at the end of the rental if there is no damage
- She paid a security deposit equal to one month’s rent before moving in.
- utilities (noun): basic services such as electricity, water, gas, and internet that are needed in a home
- The rent was affordable, but the utilities were not included, so he had to pay those separately.
- allow (verb): to permit something or give permission for something to happen
- The landlord did not allow pets in the building.
- share (verb): to use or occupy something together with others
- To save money, the two friends decided to share a two-bedroom apartment.
- furnished (adjective): describing a rental that already includes furniture such as a bed, sofa, and table
- Because she was moving from another city, she looked for a furnished apartment so she wouldn’t have to buy furniture right away.
- cozy (adjective): small but comfortable and inviting
- The apartment was small, but the warm lighting and soft rugs made it feel very cozy.
Discussion
What is the process of finding an apartment in your hometown? Can you contact the landlord directly, or do you have to go through a real estate agent? On average, how much does it cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment? Are most apartments already furnished, or do you have to furnish it yourself?
Role Play
You have lived with your roommates for six months, but you’ve decided to move out because they haven’t taken care of the place . . . pizza boxes tossed everywhere, dirty socks on the kitchen table, and a pet snake loose somewhere in the sofa. Tell your partner about your current situation, and then explain what kind of place you are looking for.
Online Investigation
Suppose you are planning on moving to a major city in the United States, and you have to find a 2-bedroom apartment for you and your small family (your spouse and two small children, ages 7 and 4). You have a limited budget of under $2000 a month for both rent and all utilities. Search the internet for an apartment in the city of your choosing and report on the place you find. Be sure to prioritize your reasons for choosing the place.
Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com and www.trainyouraccent.com):
- Apartments for Rent: Listening Conversation
- Great Apartment Living: Listening Conversation
- Apartment Rentals: Pronunciation Practice
- Housing: Vocabulary Building
- Apartment Rentals: Vocabulary Building
- Home Repairs: Listening Conversation
- Housing Complaints: Listening Conversation
- Neighborhood Apartments: Video Activity