B2English

Renting & the Lease

Use these phrases to negotiate rental terms, understand your legal responsibilities, and successfully sign a new lease.

Key Phrases

Voice
Asking about lease length · 2 ways to say it

Do you know how long the lease for this apartment is going to be?

casual

US - 'lease' and 'apartment' are standard American terms for renting.

Could you tell me how long the tenancy agreement for this flat is?

neutral

UK - 'tenancy agreement' and 'flat' are the formal British equivalents.

Asking about included utilities · 2 ways to say it

Does the rent cover any utilities, or am I paying for everything separately?

casual

Use this when chatting informally with a landlord during a viewing.

Could you clarify exactly which utilities are included in the monthly rent?

polite

Good for formal emails or when speaking with a property management company.

Asking about the deposit · 2 ways to say it

How much is the security deposit for the apartment, and when is it due?

neutral

US - 'security deposit' is the standard term for the upfront damage payment.

Could you confirm the exact tenancy deposit that is required for this flat?

polite

UK - 'tenancy deposit' is the standard formal term used in British contracts.

Asking about the notice period · 2 ways to say it

How much heads-up do you need if we decide to move out?

casual

'Heads-up' means advance notice; very natural in casual spoken English.

How much notice is required by the landlord before terminating the agreement?

polite

Use this in formal situations or when clarifying the contract's written terms.

Asking about breaking the lease

What would the penalty be if I had to break the lease early?

neutral

Important to ask in case your circumstances change unexpectedly.

Discussing the inspection · 2 ways to say it

Are we going to do a walk-through to document the current condition?

casual

US - a 'walk-through' is an informal physical inspection done together.

Will a full inventory report be provided to sign before the move-in date?

neutral

UK - an 'inventory' is a formal list of the property's contents and condition.

Clarifying maintenance

Who should I contact to handle repairs if something like the plumbing breaks down?

neutral

Establishes exactly who to call for major property issues or emergencies.

Asking about signing · 2 ways to say it

Could you explain the process for getting the paperwork signed and finalized today?

casual

A natural, confident way to show you are ready to rent the property.

I would like to move forward; what are the next steps for signing?

polite

A highly professional way to officially accept the rental offer.

Practice Dialogue

Prospective Tenant
So, if I wanted to move forward, how much is the security deposit for the apartment?
Leasing Agent
It's one month's rent, plus the first month upfront. You'd pay it when signing.
Prospective Tenant
Right, that makes sense. And does the rent cover any utilities, or am I paying for everything separately?
Leasing Agent
Water and trash are included in the price, but you'll have to set up electricity and internet yourself.
Prospective Tenant
Okay, got it. What would the penalty be if I had to break the lease early for work?
Leasing Agent
Well, normally you'd lose your deposit, but we can review the specific termination clause during the walk-through.
Prospective Tenant
Sure, that seems fair enough. What's the process for getting the paperwork signed and finalized today?
Leasing Agent
I'll email you the application link right now, and once you're approved, we'll draft the official lease.

More Renting & Housing (B2)

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