Finding a Place to Live: Renting English for New Countries

⏱ 5 MIN · CEFR B1

Finding a Place to Live: Renting English for New Countries

🏠 From my notebook:

Finding my first room in Strathfield, Sydney, took me two weeks of reading listings I didn’t fully understand. ‘Util incl’ meant utilities are included — I didn’t know that. ‘No pets, no smokers’ — I was neither. ‘Bond required’ — I had to ask four people what ‘bond’ meant. It means a deposit. Two weeks of confusion one word could have saved.

🎯 By the end you will:

• Read and understand a rental listing
• Ask questions about a property
• Know key renting vocabulary

📖 Key vocabulary (B1):

Word	Meaning
bond / deposit	money paid upfront, returned at end
utilities	electricity, water, gas
lease / contract	written agreement between renter and owner
furnished / unfurnished	with / without furniture
landlord / tenant	owner / renter

✅ Quick check: What is a ‘bond’ in a rental context?

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✍️ Try it (2 min):

Write 3 questions you would ask a landlord before signing a lease.
Use indirect forms: Could you tell me…? / I’d like to know…

💡 Teacher’s tip:

Use a real rental listing (print or screen). Authentic materials create genuine curiosity. Students with housing experience will contribute vocabulary you didn’t plan — use it.