EFE learning modules / Renting, Moving & Housing

scenario 1 sarah is meeting mr miller to view a po

Scenario Context

"Sarah is meeting Mr. Miller to view a potential new apartment and discuss the terms of the lease agreement and the process of moving in."

Speakers
S

Sarah

An intermediate English learner searching for her first independent apartment in the city.

M

Mr. Miller

A professional property manager who explains rental terms and legal requirements.

The Dialogue

Tap highlighted words to view vocabulary cards below.

Sarah
Hello, Mr. Miller. Thank you for meeting me today to show me the apartment.
Mr. Miller
Hello, Sarah. It is my pleasure. Welcome to the Sunnybrook Apartments.
Sarah
The lobby looks very nice. Is this the unit we discussed over the phone?
Mr. Miller
Yes, this is the two-bedroom unit on the third floor. Let's head up.
Sarah
It looks very bright and spacious. How many square feet is it?
Mr. Miller
It is about 900 square feet. It was recently renovated.
Sarah
That is a good size. Are the included in the monthly rent?
Mr. Miller
Water and trash removal are included, but electricity and gas are separate.
Sarah
I see. What are the building's for the residents?
Mr. Miller
We have a fitness center, a rooftop garden, and a laundry room on each floor.
Sarah
Is the apartment fully or do I need my own furniture?
Mr. Miller
It is unfurnished, but it includes all major kitchen appliances.
Sarah
That works for me. What exactly is the monthly rent?
Mr. Miller
The rent is $1,200 per month, due on the first day of each month.
Sarah
Do I need to pay a before I move in?
Mr. Miller
Yes, a equal to one month's rent is required at signing.
Sarah
Is the refundable when I decide to leave?
Mr. Miller
Yes, provided there is no damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear.
Sarah
How long is the standard ?
Mr. Miller
Our standard is for twelve months.
Sarah
What happens if I need to move out early and break the lease?
Mr. Miller
There is a penalty fee, or you can find a suitable to take over.
Sarah
Can I the room to a friend for a few months?
Mr. Miller
Subletting is only allowed with written permission from the .
Sarah
Who handles if the sink leaks or the heater breaks?
Mr. Miller
We have a team available 24/7 for all necessary repairs.
Sarah
Are pets allowed in this building? I have a small cat.
Mr. Miller
Small pets are allowed, but you must pay a non-refundable pet deposit.
Sarah
Can I see a copy of the today?
Mr. Miller
Certainly. I have a draft right here for you to review.
Sarah
Does the have to pay for a parking spot?
Mr. Miller
One parking spot is included in the rent; a second one costs $50.
Sarah
Great. When would be the earliest date I can move in?
Mr. Miller
You can move in next Monday once the background check is approved.
Sarah
How long does the background check usually take?
Mr. Miller
It typically takes about two to three business days.
Sarah
I am very interested. I will fill out the application right now.
Mr. Miller
Excellent choice, Sarah. Let's go to my office to finalize the paperwork.
Sarah
Thank you for explaining everything so clearly.
Mr. Miller
You are very welcome. I look forward to having you as a .

Scene Vocabulary

Practice vocabulary words & meanings.

Lease Agreement

/ሊዝ አግሪመንት/

የኪራይ ውል

A legal contract specifying the terms under which one party agrees to rent property owned by another party.

አንድ ወገን የሌላውን ሰው ንብረት ለመከራየት የሚስማማበትን ውል የሚገልጽ ህጋዊ ስምምነት።

Tenant

/ቴናንት/

ተከራይ

A person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord.

ከአከራይ ተከራይቶ መሬትን ወይም ንብረትን የሚጠቀም ሰው።

Landlord

/ላንድሎርድ/

አከራይ

A person who rents out land, a building, or accommodation.

መሬትን፣ ሕንፃን ወይም መኖሪያን የሚያከራይ ሰው።

Security Deposit

/ሴኪውሪቲ ዲፖዚት/

የመያዣ ገንዘብ

A sum of money paid by a tenant to a landlord before moving in to cover potential damages.

ሊደርሱ ለሚችሉ ጉዳቶች ሽፋን እንዲሆን ተከራይ ወደ ቤት ከመግባቱ በፊት ለአከራይ የሚከፍለው የገንዘብ መጠን።

Utilities

/ዩቲሊቲስ/

የመገልገያ አገልግሎቶች

Services such as electricity, gas, water, and trash collection.

እንደ ኤሌክትሪክ፣ ጋዝ፣ ውሃ እና የቆሻሻ አወጋገድ ያሉ አገልግሎቶች።

Amenities

/አመኒቲስ/

መገልገያዎች

Useful features or facilities of a building or place that make it more comfortable.

አንድን ሕንፃ ወይም ቦታ የበለጠ ምቹ የሚያደርጉ ጠቃሚ መገልገያዎች።

Furnished

/ፈርኒሽድ/

የቤት ዕቃ የተሟላለት

An apartment or house that is available to rent with furniture already in it.

አስፈላጊ የቤት ዕቃዎች ተሟልተውለት የሚከራይ ቤት።

Maintenance

/ሜይንቴናንስ/

ጥገና

The process of keeping something in good condition or repairing it.

አንድን ነገር በጥሩ ሁኔታ የመጠበቅ ወይም የመጠገን ሂደት።

Sublet

/ሰብሌት/

መልሶ ማከራየት

To lease a property that one is already renting to another person.

የተከራዩትን ንብረት ለሌላ ሰው መልሶ ማከራየት።

Eviction

/ኢቪክሽን/

ከቤት ማስወጣት

The legal process of removing a tenant from a rental property.

ተከራይን ከተከራየው ቤት በህጋዊ መንገድ የማስወጣት ሂደት።