This lesson is suitable for intermediate-level learners. After listening, test your knowledge with our quiz.
Learning notes
Different questions to ask when visiting a home you want to rent:
- Is the rent inclusive of utilities like water and electricity?
- Can you tell me more about the amenities available?
- How much is the bond/security deposit?
- How long is the lease term?
Different phrases you can use when visiting a home you want to rent:
- I’m considering making an application. / I would like to apply for this property.
- I like the layout.
- I like the amenities.
- It’s a bit above my price range. / It’s within my price range.
Learning focus:
There are different types of question forms in the dialogue.
- In questions using ‘is’ we simply reverse the verb and the subject as in:
- Is the rent inclusive of …?
(is + subject + adjective)
- When we add a questioning phrase such as how much/ how long, we also simply reverse the verb is and the subject as in
- How much is the bond?
(question phrase + is + subject) - How long is the lease term?
(question phrase + is + subject)
- If we make a question which has an auxiliary (helping) verb such as are, will or can, we reverse the helping verb and the subject as in:
- Are you considering…?
(helping verb + you + verb) - Will the rent increase?
(helping verb + subject + verb) - Can you tell me… ?
(helping verb + subject + verb)
Colloquial expressions:
If you’re considering making an application, you’re thinking about formally applying to rent the property.
Inclusive of means ‘includes’. We use it when we are talking about whether or not particular costs are included, for example, whether rent is inclusive of other payments like power bills.
When something is above your price range, it costs more than you can afford or are willing to pay.
When something is within your price range, it costs an amount that you can afford or are willing to pay.
Vocabulary:
A rent inspection is a visit to a property – that is house or apartment, that you are interested in renting.
An application, in this context, is a form you fill out to officially apply to rent a property.
A real estate agent is a person whose job is to help people buy, sell, or rent properties like houses, apartments or land.
A potential renter is someone interested in renting.
A housing crisis is a situation in which there aren't enough homes for everyone who needs one.
The layout of a house or apartment is the way that the rooms are arranged.
Utilities are services that are provided to a property such as water, gas, and electricity.
Amenities are things and services that make living more comfortable and enjoyable such as a gym, swimming pool, garden and so on.
The landlord is the person who owns the property you're renting.
The bond - sometimes also called security deposit - is money you pay before you move into a rental property. The landlord can keep some or all of this money when you move out if there is any damage to the property.
A holding deposit or fee is the money you pay before renting to reserve the place.
The lease term is how long you agree to rent a place.
The contract covers the lease term and other things such as how much rent you will pay and the rules that you and the landlord must follow.
Cultural Information:
Rental rules in Australia vary depending on the state or territory where you live. It's important to check the specific regulations that apply to your area before renting a property.
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offers free interpreting services if you need help understanding rental rules or the lease before signing.
Transcript:
(Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript)
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands, and waterways throughout Australia.
Since I came to Australia, one thing that’s been a constant topic of conversation among my friends, is finding the right place to live. Some homes are too far from our workplaces and schools, while others, well, they cost too much. And when you finally find one that is right for you, there are too many people who are also interested in renting the same house or apartment.
Hi, my name is Josipa, and unfortunately, I can’t help you with renting your next home. But I can help you feel more confident about what to say when inspecting, or looking at a property you are considering renting.
So, if you’re going to an inspection, you’re going to visit a property – that is a house or apartment, that you are interested in renting. It is a time when you can look around the home to see whether it is suitable for you, what condition it is in and ask questions before you decide to rent it.
Today, Claire is a real estate agent, that is, a person whose job is to help people buy, sell, or rent properties like houses, apartments or land. She is about to finish showing a rental property to someone who is interested in renting it. Let’s see how she’s doing.
Claire
So, that’s it. Are you considering making an application?
Allan
Hmm...I like the layout. Is the rent inclusive of utilities like water and electricity?
Claire
The rent covers water, but electricity and internet are separate.
Allan
I see. Can you tell me more about the amenities in the building?
Claire
Sure! There’s a gym on the third floor, a swimming pool on the ground floor, and a communal garden on the rooftop.
Allan
Ok. That sounds nice. How much is the bond?
Claire
It’s one month's rent.
Allan
Right, and how long is the lease term?
Claire
The standard lease term is one year.
Allan
And will the rent increase after one year?
Claire
I can’t say for sure. That depends on the landlord.
Allan
I see... I’ll have to have a think about it because it’s already a bit above my price range.
The housing crisis is a big issue in Australia right now. Everybody is talking about it.
A housing crisis happens when there aren't enough homes for everyone who needs one. So, it can be tough to find the right home at the right price! However, a first step is to go to a rental inspection.
We’ve just heard some phrases that can be useful during a rental inspection so let’s get practising!
After Claire finished showing Allan the apartment, she said,
Are you considering making an application?
She is asking Allan if he is thinking about formally applying to rent the property. It's the next step if you have seen a place at an inspection that is suitable for you, and you would like to rent it.
In this context, the application, is a form that you fill out to officially apply to rent the property.
Allan said that he likes the layout, that is, the way the rooms are arranged, but instead giving Claire a clear answer, he had a question about the cost,
Is the rent inclusive of utilities like water and electricity?
Is the rent inclusive of utilities like water and electricity? Allan wanted to know if the rent also covered the services that are provided to a property such as water, gas, and electricity - the utilities.
In this case, it seems that only the water connection was covered, and he would have to pay for electricity and his internet usage himself.
While utilities are the services we need for everyday living, properties can also have extra features that make it more comfortable or enjoyable. These are called amenities, and they can include things like a gym, swimming pool, garden, and so on.
So, if you want to know if the property you are considering renting has any of these extras, you can ask,
Can you tell me more about the amenities in the building?
The place I’m currently renting has a very small gym, a hot tub, and a sauna for everyone to share. I would be lying if I said I’m making the most of all of these amenities because you’ll rarely find me in the gym. But I do love the sauna, and you can find me there having a good sweat every weekend!
Allan also asked,
How much is the bond?
The bond - sometimes also called security deposit - is money you pay before you move into a rental property. This money is used to cover any damage you might cause or if you don’t pay your rent. And if you take good care of the place and pay all your rent on time, you usually get this money back when you move out.
In Australia, depending on where you live, real estate agents might ask you for a holding deposit or fee. This is money you pay before you actually move into a place to reserve it for you. You should get this money back once you sign the contract.
Talking about the contract, let's hear Allan's next question.
How long is the lease term?
The lease term is how long you agree to rent a place. This is stated in a contract that also covers other things such as, how much rent you will pay and the rules that you and the landlord must follow.
The landlord. You'll hear this word a lot if you're renting because the landlord is the person who owns the property you're renting.
At the end of the rent inspection with Claire, Allan said,
I’ll have to think about it because it’s already a bit above my price range.
If something is ‘above your price range’, it costs more than you can afford or are willing to pay. You can use this expression in a lot of different situations.
For example, the other day I saw a dress that I really liked, but I didn’t buy it because it was above my price range, so I bought a lovely green skirt instead that was within my price range.
Yep, you guessed it! When something is ‘within your price range’, it costs an amount that you can afford or are willing to pay.
A big thank you to our educational consultant, Professor Lynda Yates, and our guest Imran Haq.
Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan voiced the characters of Allan and Claire.
