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English Phrases for Renting an Apartment

Looking for a place to live abroad? These phrases help you call landlords, view apartments, understand a lease and report problems once you move in.

35 phrases · By LearnLingo Team · Updated

Tap to hear a phrase. Levels follow the CEFR scale. American English is the default; British variants are noted.

Contacting the landlord

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Hi, I'm calling about the apartment for rent.

A2

UK: flat instead of apartment.

Merhaba, kiralık daire için arıyorum.
  • Sure, which one did you see?
  • Yes, it's still on the market.

Is the apartment still available?

A1
Daire hâlâ boş mu?
  • Yes, it is.
  • Sorry, it's already been rented.

How much is the rent per month?

A1
Aylık kira ne kadar?
  • It's $1,200 a month.
  • Rent is due on the first of each month.

Are utilities included in the rent?

A2

Utilities = electricity, water, gas. UK: bills included?

Faturalar kiraya dahil mi?
  • Water is included, but electricity isn't.
  • No, you pay them separately.

When can I come and see it?

A2
Ne zaman gelip görebilirim?
  • How about Saturday morning?
  • I can show it to you tomorrow at six.

Is it furnished or unfurnished?

A2
Eşyalı mı, eşyasız mı?
  • It's partly furnished.
  • It comes with a bed and a sofa.

When is it available from?

A2

Natural word order: the preposition goes at the end.

Ne zamandan itibaren müsait?
  • From the first of next month.
  • You could move in right away.

Are pets allowed?

A2
Evcil hayvana izin var mı?
  • Cats are fine, but no dogs.
  • Sorry, it's a no-pets building.

At the viewing

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

How many bedrooms does it have?

A1

A 2+1 in Turkey is usually called a two-bedroom apartment.

Kaç yatak odası var?
  • Two bedrooms and one bathroom.
  • It's a studio, so just one room.

Is there a washing machine?

A1
Çamaşır makinesi var mı?
  • There's a laundry room in the basement.
  • Yes, in the kitchen.

How is the heating?

A2
Isınma nasıl?
  • It has central heating.
  • There are electric heaters in each room.

Is there parking?

A1
Otopark var mı?
  • There's street parking only.
  • A parking space costs extra.

How far is it from the subway?

A2

UK: the tube (London) or the underground.

Metroya ne kadar uzak?
  • It's about a five-minute walk.
  • There's a bus stop right outside.

Who lives in the other units?

B1
Diğer dairelerde kimler oturuyor?
  • Mostly young families.
  • A lot of students, actually.

Is the neighborhood quiet at night?

B1

UK spelling: neighbourhood.

Mahalle geceleri sessiz mi?
  • Yes, it's very quiet.
  • It can get a bit noisy on weekends.

Has anything been repaired recently?

B1
Yakın zamanda bir şey tamir edildi mi?
  • We replaced the windows last year.
  • The kitchen was renovated in the spring.

The lease and the money

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

How long is the lease?

A2

Lease is American; UK: tenancy agreement.

Kira sözleşmesi ne kadar süreli?
  • It's a one-year lease.
  • We also offer month-to-month.

How much is the security deposit?

A2
Depozito ne kadar?
  • It's one month's rent.
  • Two months, paid before you move in.

Do I get the deposit back when I move out?

B1
Çıkarken depozitoyu geri alıyor muyum?
  • Yes, as long as there's no damage.
  • Minus any cleaning costs.

What documents do you need from me?

A2
Benden hangi belgeleri istiyorsunuz?
  • A copy of your ID and proof of income.
  • A reference from your last landlord.

Can I pay the rent by bank transfer?

A2
Kirayı havaleyle ödeyebilir miyim?
  • Yes, I'll send you the details.
  • We prefer an online payment portal.

Is the rent negotiable?

B1

Polite and common; softer: Is there any flexibility on the rent?

Kirada pazarlık payı var mı?
  • I'm afraid it's fixed.
  • Maybe a little if you sign for two years.

Can I have a few days to think about it?

A2
Düşünmek için birkaç gün alabilir miyim?
  • Sure, but other people are interested.
  • Let me know by Friday.

I'd like to read the contract before I sign.

B1
İmzalamadan önce sözleşmeyi okumak istiyorum.
  • Of course, take your time.
  • I'll email you a copy.

What happens if I need to break the lease?

B2

Break the lease = leave before the contract ends.

Sözleşmeyi erken feshetmem gerekirse ne olur?
  • You'd pay two months' rent as a fee.
  • You'd need to find someone to take over.

Living there: repairs and problems

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

The heating isn't working.

A2
Kalorifer çalışmıyor.
  • I'll send someone tomorrow.
  • Have you checked the thermostat?

There's a leak under the kitchen sink.

B1
Mutfak lavabosunun altında sızıntı var.
  • Turn off the water and I'll call a plumber.
  • How bad is it?

Could you send someone to fix it?

A2
Tamir için birini gönderebilir misiniz?
  • The maintenance guy can come on Monday.
  • I'll take care of it this week.

The neighbors are very loud at night.

A2

UK: neighbours.

Komşular geceleri çok gürültü yapıyor.
  • I'll speak to them.
  • Have you talked to them directly?

I've been waiting a week for this repair.

B1

Present perfect continuous: for + a period of time (a week), since + a starting point (Monday).

Bu tamir için bir haftadır bekliyorum.
  • I'm sorry, the repair company is very busy.
  • I'll chase them up today.

Who is responsible for this repair?

B1
Bu tamirden kim sorumlu?
  • That's covered by the landlord.
  • Small repairs are the tenant's responsibility.

Moving in and out

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

When can I pick up the keys?

A2
Anahtarları ne zaman alabilirim?
  • On the day your lease starts.
  • I'll meet you there at ten.

Can we do a walk-through before I move in?

B2

Walk-through = checking the condition together. UK: inventory check.

Taşınmadan önce evi birlikte kontrol edebilir miyiz?
  • Good idea, let's take photos too.
  • Sure, I'll bring the checklist.

I'd like to give notice. I'm moving out at the end of next month.

B1

Give notice = officially tell the landlord you are leaving.

Çıkacağımı bildirmek istiyorum. Gelecek ayın sonunda taşınıyorum.
  • Thanks for letting me know. Please put it in writing.
  • Okay, we'll schedule a final inspection.

When will I get my deposit back?

A2
Depozitomu ne zaman geri alacağım?
  • Within thirty days after you move out.
  • After the final inspection.

Sample dialogues

Calling about an ad

You
Hi, I'm calling about the two-bedroom apartment on Oak Street.
Merhaba, Oak Street'teki iki yatak odalı daire için arıyorum.
Landlord
Hi there. Yes, it's still available.
Merhaba. Evet, hâlâ boş.
You
Great. How much is the rent per month?
Harika. Aylık kira ne kadar?
Landlord
It's $1,200 a month, and water is included.
Ayda 1.200 dolar, su da dahil.
You
And what about electricity and internet?
Peki elektrik ve internet?
Landlord
Those you pay separately.
Onları ayrıca ödüyorsunuz.
You
I see. When can I come and see it?
Anladım. Ne zaman gelip görebilirim?
Landlord
How about Saturday at eleven?
Cumartesi saat on bire ne dersiniz?
You
Saturday at eleven works for me. Thank you.
Cumartesi on bir bana uyar. Teşekkürler.

Reporting a problem

You
Hi, it's Elif from apartment 4B.
Merhaba, 4B dairesinden Elif.
Landlord
Hi Elif. Is everything okay?
Merhaba Elif. Her şey yolunda mı?
You
Not really. The heating isn't working, and it's freezing in here.
Pek değil. Kalorifer çalışmıyor, içerisi buz gibi.
Landlord
Oh no. Since when?
Eyvah. Ne zamandan beri?
You
Since last night. Could you send someone to fix it?
Dün geceden beri. Tamir için birini gönderebilir misiniz?
Landlord
I'll call the repair company right now.
Tamir şirketini hemen arıyorum.
You
Thanks. I'm home all afternoon.
Teşekkürler. Bütün öğleden sonra evdeyim.
Landlord
Perfect. Someone should be there by three.
Harika. Saat üçe kadar biri orada olur.

Common mistakes Turkish speakers make

How much is the kira?

How much is the rent?

Rent is the money you pay; to rent is the verb. Avoid mixing in Turkish words.

Is the house empty?

Is the apartment still available?

Turkish "boş mu?" means available here. Empty sounds like you are asking if there is furniture.

I want to hire this apartment.

I'd like to rent this apartment.

You hire people or (in the UK) cars, but you rent a home.

I will give the depozit.

I'll pay the security deposit.

The English word is deposit, and the most natural verb is pay: pay the deposit.

The kombi is broken.

The boiler isn't working.

Kombi is not an English word. Say boiler, heater or heating.

Quick quiz

Eight questions to check what you remember. Pick an answer to see if it is right.

  1. 1. What do you call the money you pay every month to live in an apartment?

  2. 2. Which question asks if water and electricity are part of the price?

  3. 3. In British English, an apartment is usually called a...

  4. 4. Choose the natural sentence.

  5. 5. What does "give notice" mean?

  6. 6. Which verb fits? "I'd like to ___ this apartment."

  7. 7. "I've been waiting ___ a week for this repair."

  8. 8. What is a "furnished" apartment?

0 of 8 answered

Show all answers
  1. Rent
  2. Are utilities included?
  3. flat
  4. When is it available from?
  5. Officially say you are leaving
  6. rent
  7. for
  8. One that comes with furniture

See what the B1 English course covers, or test your level first.

People also ask

What is the difference between rent and lease?+

Rent is the money you pay. A lease is the contract that says how long you will stay and what the rules are. In the UK it is often called a tenancy agreement.

How do I ask about the price politely?+

Say "Could you tell me how much the rent is?" or simply "How much is the rent per month?" Both are normal and polite with a friendly tone.

What should I ask before signing a lease?+

Ask how long the lease is, how much the deposit is, which bills are included and what happens if you need to leave early. Ask to read the contract before you sign.

Is "flat" or "apartment" correct?+

Both are correct. Americans say apartment and British speakers usually say flat. Either will be understood.

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