Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Housing

Living with Flatmates

Your goal: agree on house rules, raise a problem without drama, and renegotiate fairly.

1

Survival Phrases

Setting rules

  • Could we agree on a rota for cleaning?
  • What's the policy on having guests over?
  • Let's split the shared shopping — how do you want to do it?

Raising a problem

  • I don't want to make a thing of it, but the bins have been missed a few times.
  • Could we keep noise down after 11 on weeknights?
  • The heating's been left on all day — could we check the timer?

Money

  • Could we settle the bills at the end of each month?
  • I paid the internet — here's your half.
  • Can we set up a shared pot for cleaning stuff?

Renegotiating

  • My situation's changed — could we talk about the room?
  • Would it work if I took the bigger room and paid a bit more?
2

Model Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud twice — once for each speaker. Notice how B picks up A's words and adds something.

Marina: Hey, can we have a quick chat about the flat? Nothing heavy.

Ravi: Sure — what's up?

Marina: I don't want to make a thing of it, but the bins have been missed a couple of weeks. Could we do a rota?

Ravi: Fair. I forgot this week — sorry. A rota works.

Marina: Great. And noise — could we keep it down after 11 on weeknights? I've got early calls.

Ravi: No problem. Same for me, actually.

Marina: Perfect. Bills — shall we settle at the end of each month? I paid the internet, so here's your half.

Ravi: Send it over. Let's put cleaning stuff on a shared pot so no one's out of pocket.

3

Register: formal vs informal

SituationMore formalMore informal / natural
Opening gentlyI don't want to make a thing of it, but…Quick one — the bins.
ProposingCould we agree on a rota for cleaning?Shall we do a cleaning rota?
Raising moneyI paid the internet — here's your half.I covered the internet — you owe half.
RenegotiatingMy situation's changed — could we talk about the room?Can we chat about the room?
At B1/B2 the line between formal and informal is often tone and softeners (just, a bit, possibly), not different words. Soften requests when the stakes are higher.
4

Typical Mistakes (B1/B2 & Portuguese interference)

  • I want to talk about the house. → Could we have a quick chat about the flat? ((house → flat; soften))
  • You forgot the bin. → The bins have been missed a couple of weeks. ((passive, menos acusatório))
  • Let's make a rota of cleaning. → Could we agree on a cleaning rota? ((rota for/of cleaning))
  • I paid the internet, here is your half. → I paid the internet — here's your half. ((contração))
  • Can we reduce the noise after 11? → Could we keep noise down after 11? ((keep down))
  • My situation changed. → My situation's changed. ((present perfect))
5

Culture Note

  • Soft openings ('I don't want to make a thing of it, but…') keep flatmate chats from becoming fights.
  • Rotas and shared pots remove 'who paid last' friction — set them up early.
  • Passive voice ('the bins have been missed') raises problems without accusing a person directly.
  • Guests, noise and heating are the classic flashpoints — agree on them before they go wrong.
6

Practical Task

  1. Rebuild the dialogue with a different problem (someone's guest stayed a week).
  2. Record both roles, opening gently.
  3. Write one soft opener for raising a complaint.
  4. Real-life mission: find a real flatshare agreement template in English.

Before you finish, can you…

  • ☐propose a rota or rule without sounding bossy?
  • ☐raise a problem with a soft opener?
  • ☐settle money with a shared pot?
  • ☐renegotiate a room change fairly?
Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays a flatmate who gets defensive about the bins.