Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Housing

Asking for Repairs

Your goal: report a repair clearly, follow up, and know your rights on timing.

1

Survival Phrases

Reporting

  • The boiler's stopped working — there's no hot water.
  • There's a leak under the kitchen sink.
  • The front lock is sticking — I can't always get in.

Giving detail

  • It started two days ago, and it's getting worse.
  • It's a steady drip, not just a damp patch.
  • I've turned the water off at the valve to stop it.

Following up

  • I reported this last week — has someone been assigned?
  • It's now a week — could you give me a date?
  • This is urgent — there's water everywhere.

Urgency & rights

  • Is this classed as an emergency?
  • What's the response time for something like this?
2

Model Dialogue

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

Marina: Hi, I'm reporting a repair — the boiler's stopped, no hot water.

Agent: When did it start?

Marina: Two days ago, getting worse. I've got no heating either.

Agent: Right — no heating and no hot water counts as an emergency. I'll send someone today.

Marina: Great. What time roughly? I work from home but I've got calls at 2.

Agent: Morning, then — I'll text you a slot. They'll text when they're twenty minutes out.

Marina: Perfect. And if it can't be fixed today?

Agent: They'll do a temporary fix and order the part. I'll keep you posted.

Marina: Thanks — appreciate the quick response.

3

Register: formal vs informal

SituationMore formalMore informal / natural
ReportingI'm reporting a repair — the boiler's stopped working and there's no hot water.The boiler's gone — no hot water.
DetailingIt started two days ago and it's getting worse — a steady drip, not just damp.Two days, getting worse.
Following upI reported this last week — has anyone been assigned?Reported last week — anyone coming?
UrgencyNo heating and no hot water — is this classed as an emergency?No heat, no hot water — is this an emergency?
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)

  • The boiler is broken. → The boiler's stopped working. / The boiler isn't working. ((stopped working é mais comum))
  • There is water everywhere. → There's a steady leak — water everywhere. ((give detail))
  • I turned off the water. → I've turned the water off at the valve. ((specific))
  • When you come? → What time roughly will they be here? ((ordem + roughly))
  • I reported last week. → I reported this last week. ((this for emphasis))
  • It is urgent. → It's getting worse — no heating or hot water. ((show urgency com facts))
5

Culture Note

  • No heating/hot water in winter is usually classed as an emergency (24h response) — say it clearly.
  • Giving detail ('steady drip, not just damp') gets you the right tradesperson faster.
  • Asking 'what time roughly?' respects both your schedule and theirs; agents will text slots.
  • If it can't be fixed same day, a temporary fix + part on order is normal — keep the agent posting updates.
6

Practical Task

  1. Rebuild the dialogue for a leak under the sink.
  2. Record both roles, giving detail and asking for a slot.
  3. Write a follow-up for a repair that's now a week late.
  4. Real-life mission: read a real landlord/agent repairs page and find response-time terms.

Before you finish, can you…

  • ☐report a repair with what's wrong and since when?
  • ☐give detail that gets the right trade?
  • ☐ask for a slot and follow up?
  • ☐frame an emergency clearly?
Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays an agent who says 'it's not urgent' and you must push back.