Listening Exercises B1 – Living away from home

a   He’s going to share with a friend.

b   He wants to rent.

b   flat

c   near Trinity College

d   two

e   two

f   No

g   No

h   a garage

i   €1,400

Transcript

(Agent = Irish; Oleg = Russian)

Agent:     Carter Property Management. Can I help you?

Oleg:     Oh, hello. Erm. Yes. I’m looking for a place near Trinity College.

Agent:     I see. Can I take your name, please?

Oleg:     Yes, it’s Oleg Markov.

Agent:     How do you spell that?

Oleg:     O-L-E-G, Markov, M-A-R-K-O-V. Yes. I’m looking for a flat, with two bedrooms.

Agent:     Near Trinity College, you say?

Oleg:     Yes. It’s for me and a friend.

Agent:     OK. Do you have any pets?

Oleg:     No, we don’t.

Agent:     And are either of you smokers?

Oleg:     No. Oh, and we’d like a place with a garage, too. My friend has car.

Agent:     And how much rent are you looking to pay per month?

Oleg:     Not more than €1,400. That’s our limit.

Agent:     OK. I’ll just have a look at what we have. One moment, please.

74 North Foley Road

Transcript

Agent:     Hello?

Oleg:     Yes. Did you find anything?

Agent:     Well, there’s one at 1,200 a month in Ivy Court. That has two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Oleg:     Hmm. I know Ivy Court. Do you have anything closer to the city centre?

Agent:     There’s one in Joyce Street, but that has three bedrooms. It’s 1,400. Oh, and one on North Foley Road, too, at 1,250. They all come furnished.

Oleg:     OK. I would like to take a look at the last one, I think.

Agent:     Fine, when would you like to see it, then?

The agent covers all the questions.

a   $795 per month.

b   On the first of each month.

c   Equivalent to six weeks’ rent.

d   Yes.

e   No.

Transcript

(Property agent = American)

Yeah, well, the rent for this one is $795 per month. It’s payable one month in advance, on the first of each month. We also need a deposit equivalent to six weeks’ rent. This is refundable at the end of your tenancy, less any breakages or damage which you are liable for, of course. Bills such as gas, electricity and telephone are not included, so you need to set those up yourself.

1 e   2 c   3 b   4 f   5 a   6 d

a   False

b   True

c   True

d   False (Repairs are no charge)

e   False (It starts from the beginning of the month you move in.)

f   False (You can be evicted.)

Transcript

a   If you want to move on before the end of the lease, then you need to tell us in writing at least one month beforehand.

b   Buildings insurance is included, but not contents insurance.

c   No. The rent can only increase after the term of your tenancy has expired.

d   If the washing machine breaks down or anything like that, then call use out and we will send someone to repair it at no charge.

e   It’s for a year. That means twelve full calendar months, starting at the beginning of the month you move in.

f   Absolutely not. You cannot rent out any rooms. If you do, you will break the terms of your tenancy agreement and you can be evicted.

a   The cooker is broken

b   Three days ago

c   To get someone to fix it today.

d   The washing machine doesn’t work.

e   A week ago.

f   To call repair company again.

Transcript

(Lucy = Australian; Samir = Egyptian)

Mr Lee:     Hello?

Lucy:     Mr Lee. It’s Lucy again.

Mr Lee:     Oh, yes?

Lucy:     I’m afraid I’m still waiting for someone to come and fix the cooker. Do you know how long it will take?

Mr Lee:     I don’t know. I haven’t found anyone yet.

Lucy:     What? This is an emergency. I can’t cook anything!

Mr Lee:     I’ll try to find someone.

Lucy:     It’s been three days now. I’m not very happy about this at all.

Mr Lee:     OK, OK. I’ll get someone to fix it today.

Mr Lee:     Hello?

Samir:     Mr Lee?

Mr Lee:     Yes.

Samir:     I’m Samir … at 23 Cavendish Lane.

Mr Lee:     Oh, yes. I was going to call you. Has the man been to fix the washing machine yet?

Samir:     No, it’s still broken. I told you about this a week ago.

Mr Lee:     I called the repair company and they said they would send someone round.

Samir:     Well, nobody has been. I’d like to know what you’re going to do about it.

Mr Lee:     I’ll call them again.