Why This Vocabulary Matters
Renting is one of the first big things people do after moving to a new city — and one of the easiest places to make an expensive mistake. If you understand the ad, ask good questions and know what your lease says, you can avoid many problems.
People and Places
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| landlord / landlady | the person who owns the home and rents it to you |
| tenant / renter | the person who rents the home |
| property manager | a person or company that manages the building for the owner |
| roommate (US/Canada) / flatmate (UK) | a person you share a home with |
| apartment (US/Canada) / flat (UK) | a home on one floor of a building |
| basement suite | an apartment under a house (common in Canada) |
| condo | an apartment that someone owns (it may be rented out) |
| studio / bachelor | one room for living and sleeping, plus a bathroom |
Reading a Rental Ad
2BR/1BA apt, downtown. $2,100/mo. Utilities incl. except hydro. Furnished. In-suite laundry. No pets, N/S. Available Oct 1. 1-year lease. Ref. required.
| Abbreviation / word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 2BR / 1BA | two bedrooms / one bathroom |
| /mo | per month |
| utilities | water, heating, electricity, gas |
| incl. | included in the rent |
| hydro (Canada) | electricity |
| furnished / unfurnished | with furniture / without furniture |
| in-suite laundry | a washing machine inside the apartment |
| N/S | non-smoking |
| Ref. | references — people who can say you are a good tenant |
Questions to Ask at a Viewing
- How much is the rent, and what does it include?
- Are utilities included? If not, how much are they usually?
- How much is the deposit?
- How long is the lease?
- Is parking included?
- Are pets allowed?
- Who do I contact for repairs?
- When is the apartment available?
- Is there storage space?
- How is the heating controlled?
Understanding the Lease
A lease (or rental agreement) is the contract between you and the landlord. Key words:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| term | how long the lease lasts (e.g. 12 months) |
| month-to-month | no fixed end date; renewed every month |
| security / damage deposit | money you pay at the start; you get it back if there is no damage |
| to sign a lease | to agree to the contract |
| to renew | to continue the lease for another period |
| notice | an official message that you will leave (e.g. one month's notice) |
| to move in / move out | to start / stop living there |
| rent increase | when the rent goes up |
| to sublet | to rent your home to someone else while you are away |
| wear and tear | normal damage from everyday use (not your fault) |
Important: rules for deposits, rent increases and notice are different in each country and province. Always check your local tenant rights before you sign.
Talking to Your Landlord About Problems
| Problem | How to say it |
|---|---|
| Something is broken | The dishwasher isn't working. / The window is broken. |
| Water | There's a leak under the kitchen sink. / The toilet is blocked. |
| Heating | The heating isn't working, and it's very cold. |
| Pests | I think we have mice / bedbugs / cockroaches. |
| Noise | The neighbours are very loud late at night. |
| Mould | There's mould on the bathroom ceiling. (US: mold) |
A polite repair request
Hi Mr. Chen, this is Irina from Unit 4B. I'm writing because there's a leak under the kitchen sink. It started yesterday, and water is getting on the floor. Could you please send someone to fix it this week? I'm home after 5 p.m., or you can enter with your key if I'm not here. Thank you!
Tip: always report problems in writing (email or text), with the date. This protects you if there is a disagreement later.
Example Dialogue: At a Viewing
Landlord: So this is the living room. The kitchen is through there. Maria: It's very bright. How much is the rent exactly? Landlord: It's $1,850 a month. Heat and water are included, but you pay for hydro. Maria: OK. And how much is the deposit? Landlord: Half a month's rent — $925. Maria: Is the lease for one year? Landlord: Yes, one year, and then it goes month-to-month. Maria: And are pets allowed? I have a small cat. Landlord: A cat is fine, but no dogs. Maria: Great. Can I apply today?
Common Mistakes
- "I rent my apartment to Mr. Chen." (when Mr. Chen is the owner) → I rent my apartment from Mr. Chen. The tenant rents from; the landlord rents to.
- "The rent is including utilities." → The rent includes utilities. / Utilities are included.
- "I will give notice of one month." → I will give one month's notice.
- "Furnitures" → furniture is uncountable.
Practice Tips
- Read five real rental ads in your city and write down every abbreviation you don't know.
- Write a repair request for a real or imagined problem using the model above.
- Make a viewing checklist with the ten questions from this lesson and keep it on your phone.