Renting a House or Apartment in English - Vocabulary and Conversation

旅游英语 - 租房屋或公寓实用英语

Hi, I’m Kasia.

嗨，我是Kasia。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English!

In this lesson, you can learn useful language for renting an apartment or a house in English.

在本节课，您可以学到在租一间公寓 或一栋房屋时有用的英语。

Before we start, have you been to our website?

我们开始之前，请问您有浏览过我们的网站吗？

Go check it out: Oxford Online English dot com.

来浏览一下： Oxford Online English dot com。

Do you find it difficult to listen to English for long periods?

您觉得长时间听英语有困难吗？

No problem – use the English subtitles to help yourself understand!

没问题 – 使用英语字幕帮您理解！

Turn them on now; just click the ‘CC’ button in the bottom right of your video player.

现在打开它们；就按一下 视频播放器右下角的“CC”键。

Now, let’s look at the first step if you want to rent a new place: phoning the estate

现在，我们看下第一步， 如果您想租一个新地方：打电话

agent.

给房地产中介。

Hello, Broom Cupboard Real Estate, how can I help?

您好，Broom Cupboard房地产中介公司， 我有什么可以帮您的？

Hello, I’m looking to rent an apartment.

您好，我在寻租一件公寓。

A friend of mine told me about your agency, and I was hoping you could help me.

我的一个朋友告诉我你们是房地产中介， 我希望你们可以帮我。

Of course!

当然!

Do you have a specific property in mind?

您有自己想要的特定房子吗?

No, not yet.

没有，还没有。

No problem.

没问题。

First question: do you know which area you’d like to live in?

第一个问题：您知道您想住在哪一个区域吗？

Well, I work in Cowley, so somewhere in the east would make sense.

好，我在Cowley上班，所以在东边会感觉比较好。

Sure, and…

当然，那么…

Are you looking to rent just for yourself?

您只为您自己寻租吗？

I’m planning to share with a friend.

我计划和一个朋友分租。

So, a two-bed?

那么，一张双人床？

Right.

对啊。

And, do you have an idea of your budget?

那么，您对预算有什么想法？

You don’t have to be exact, but if you could give me a range, that would be useful.

您不必给我一个准确的，但是如果 您可以给我一个预算范围，那会很有用。

As cheap as possible, really.

尽可能便宜，真的。

I see…

我看…

Well, two-bedroom flats are generally around eight to twelve hundred a month at the lower

好，双人床公寓在低价位的 一般是800

end.

到1200镑一个月。

Hmmm…

嗯…

OK.

好。

One more important question: are you looking for a furnished place?

一个重要的问题： 您是在找一个有家具的地方吗？

Yes, furnished.

是的，有家具的。

That’s fine.

那很好。

Is there anything else you need?

有什么是您需要的呢？

For example, do you have pets?

例如，您有宠物吗？

Do you need a place with off-street parking?

您需要一个地方可以街边停车的吗？

Do you want a garden?

您想要一个花园吗？

No, no pets.

没有，没有宠物。

I don’t have a car.

我没有小轿车。

A garden would be a plus but it’s not necessary.

有花园是更好，但不必要。

Got it.

了解了。

I’ll take a look at what’s available and get back to you in half an hour or so.

我会看一下有什么是可以给您选的， 大约一个半小时左右这样再回复您。

Can I just take a phone number…

我能记下您的电话号码吗…

Look at four questions you heard.

看看您听到的四个问题。

Can you remember how to complete these questions?

您能记得怎样去回答这些问题吗？

If you want, you can go back and watch the dialogue again.

如果您想，您可以回头 再看一下对话。

Ready?

准备好了吗？

Let’s see the full questions.

让我们看看全部的问题。

Next, do you remember the answers from the dialogue?

接下来，您记得对话里的回答吗？

Also, if you were answering these questions, what would your answers be?

同样，如果您回答这些问题， 什么是您要回答的？

In the dialogue, you heard these answers.

在对话里，您听到了这些回答。

Of course, you could give different answers.

当然，您可以有不同的回答。

For example: ‘I’m looking for something in the northern suburbs.’

例如，”我在找北边郊区的一些房子。“

‘Yes, I’d like to rent a place just for myself.’

”是的，我只想为我自己租一个地方。“

‘My maximum is six hundred per month.’

”我的最大预算是600镑每月。“

‘No, I have furniture, so I’d like something unfurnished.’

”没有，我有家具了， 所以我想找没家具的房子。”

If you can talk about these ideas – area, size, budget and whether you need a furnished

如果您可以聊这些想法—区域、 大小、预算和是否您需要一个

place or not – then you should be able to tell an estate agent what you need in general

有家具的地方— 那么您必须可以和 一个房地产中介谈在一般条件下

terms.

您需要什么。

Try it!

试一下！

If you were looking to rent an apartment – or a house – what would you look for?

如果您在寻租一间公寓或是一栋房屋， 您找什么？

Try to make a few sentences describing what you need.

试下造几个句子描述您需要的。

Say your sentences out loud.

大声地说您的句子。

Pause the video and do it now!

暂停视屏，做吧！

How was that?

怎样？

Remember that you can always review a section if you need to.

记得如果您需要， 您总是可以复习一个单元。

Next, let’s see some useful language for looking around a property.

接下来，让我们看看一些对环顾一个房产 有用的说法。

Right, so this is the living room…

好的，那么这是起居室…

Is all the furniture included?

所有的家具都包含在内吗？

Most of it should be.

大部分必须在内。

It’s possible that some items belong to the current tenant, but I can send you a copy

可能有一些东西属于现在的承租人， 但是我可以寄给您一个清单的附件，

of the inventory, so you can check for yourself.

这样您可以自己核对一下。

That would be good.

那很好。

The bathroom is through here.

浴室是经过这。

It’s pretty mouldy…

有很多发霉…

Yes, it doesn’t look great, does it?

是的，看上去不是很好，不是吗？

Don’t worry.

不用担心。

We’ll contact the landlord and make sure that it’s dealt with before you move in.

我们会联络房东， 确定在您搬进来之前会处理好。

I had a question: can we redecorate the place ourselves, or paint a room, if we want?

我有一个问题：如果我们想，我们可以自己装修一下 租的地方吗，或者是粉刷一个房间？

Possibly, but you need the landlord’s permission if you’re going to do anything which significantly

可能可以，但是如果您要 对物业做任何的明显改变，

changes the appearance of the property.

您需要房东的许可。

Generally, landlords will be happy to let you do things which improve the place.

一般来说，业主会很高兴让您 做能改善居所的事情。

I see…

我看看…

Well, it looks OK, but there’s obviously some work that needs doing.

好，看上去不错，但是绝对有一些事要做。

The kitchen is filthy!

厨房有点脏！

Yes, I understand.

是的，我理解。

It won’t be like that if and when you move in.

当您搬进来时，情况不会像那样。

If the current tenant doesn’t clean everything thoroughly, we hire cleaners so that everything

如果现在的房客没清理干净每一样东西， 我们会请清洁工为新房客把每一样

is spotless for the new tenant.

东西清理得干干净净的。

OK.

好的。

Anyway, I’d like to take a couple of days to think about it.

好吧，我需要考虑几天。

No problem, although if you’re interested, I’d advise you to move quickly.

没问题，如果您感兴趣，我建议您尽快搬进来。

Places in this area get snapped up fast.

这个区域的房子很抢手。

Let’s look at some key vocabulary from this dialogue.

让我们看一下这个对话里面一些关键的词汇。

Could you explain what these words mean?

您可以解释一下这些单词是什么意思？

Or, can you guess the general meaning from the context?

或者，您可以猜一下在这段内容里面 的一般意思吗？

Think about it.

考虑一下。

Before you move into a rented property, you’ll do an inventory with the estate agent.

在您搬进一个租来的物业之前， 您会和房地产中介做一个清单。

An inventory is a list of everything which is in the apartment, and its condition.

这个清单是所有的在这个公寓里面的东西的明细， 以及它们的状况。

If anything is damaged or dirty, you’ll write it down on the inventory.

如果任何东西是破损的，或脏的， 您会写在清单上。

Then, when you move out, the estate agent will check the property using the inventory.

然后，当您搬出时，房地产中介会用这个清单 来检查物业。

If anything is missing or damaged, you’ll usually have to pay for it.

如果任何东西遗失了或损坏了， 您通常要赔偿这些。

Mould can be a problem in cold, damp countries – like the UK!

在那些寒冷潮湿的国家，像是英国， 霉菌可能是一个问题。

Mould is something like a plant, which can grow in dark, damp places, so it’s commonly

霉菌是那些像是植物的东西， 能生长在黑暗潮湿的地方，

found in bathrooms.

这通常可以在浴室里找到它们。

It can make your bathroom look bad, and smell bad.

这会让您的浴室看起来很糟糕， 很难闻。

If you redecorate your home, you change and improve how it looks.

如果您重新装修您的家， 您可以改变或改善这些外观。

Maybe you paint the walls a different colour, or change the carpets, or add some ornaments.

也许您用不同的颜色粉刷墙壁， 或换地毯，或添加一些装饰品。

‘Spotless’ means extremely clean.

“Spotless”意思是极其干净。

You heard an adjective with the opposite meaning in the dialogue – ‘filthy’, which means

您也在对话中听到一个反义的形容词 – “filthy”，它的意思是

‘extremely dirty’.

“极脏”。

When the estate agent said ‘places in this area get snapped up fast’, he meant that

当房地产中介说”places in this area get snapped up fast“，他的意思是

there is high demand for apartments in this neighbourhood.

在这周边地区，对公寓有很高的需求量。

‘Snap something up’ literally means to eat something

”Snap something up“字面意思是 吃某些东西

very fast, like a crocodile; here it has the meaning of getting something before anyone

吃得很快，像一只鳄鱼；这有抢先任何人得到

else can.

某些东西的意思。

What next?

接下来怎样？

Well, if you look around a property and you like it, you’ll need to pay a deposit and

好，如果您环顾一个物业，您喜欢他， 您要付一个定金并且

sign a tenancy agreement.

签一个租房合同。

Let’s see how that works.

让我们看看怎样操作。

Hello, Broom Cupboard, Daniel speaking.

您好，我是Broom Cupboard的Daniel。

Hello, yes, this is … I’m calling about the flat on Wesley Close?

您好，我是 … 我打电话是因为 在Wesley Close的公寓?

Ah, yes!

哦，是的！

Hello.

您好。

What can I do for you?

我有什么可以帮您？

We’ve decided to go ahead.

我们决定租下来。

We’ll take a 12-month lease.

我们签12个月的租约。

That’s great!

那太棒了！

So, what are the next steps?

那么，下面的步骤是怎样的？

The first thing is to pay a holding deposit.

第一件事是支付一笔预租定金。

It’s two hundred pounds, and that lets us take the property off the market while we

是200镑，这样可以让我们在处理您的申请的同时，

process your application.

将物业从市场上移除。

Do we get that back?

我们可以取回定金吗？

If your application is successful, then it’s offset against your rental deposit, so generally

如果您的申请成功了， 这笔预租定金会转为您的租房押金，

yes.

通常是这样的。

If your application is not successful, then you won’t, but that’s rare.

如果您的申请没成功，那么预租定金 不会退回给您，但是那是极少的。

What else do we need?

我们还需要做什么？

You need to supply at least two references, either from landlords or from employers.

您需要提供至少两个推荐信， 从您的房东们那的，或从雇主们那的。

There are two of us; does that mean we need two references each?

我们有两个人；是不是说 我们每个人都需要提供两封推荐信？

Yes, you do.

是的，没错。

The sooner you can get them to us, the better, but we must have them by the end of next week.

你们能尽快给这些推荐信给我们，那更好，但是， 在下周周末之前，我们必须拿到这些信。

OK, that shouldn’t be a problem.

好的，没问题。

Anything else we need to do?

还有我们要做的吗?

Not right now.

目前没有了。

Once your application is processed, you’ll need to pay the tenancy deposit and the first

一旦你们的申请启动了， 你们将需要支付租房押金和

month’s rent, and sign the agreement.

首月的租金，并签租房合同。

How much is the tenancy deposit?

租房押金是多少钱？

It’s one month’s rent, so nine hundred.

租房押金是一个月的租金，这样就是900镑。

So we need to pay eighteen hundred?

所以，我们要付1800镑？

That’s right.

没错。

Right…

好的…

And, assuming everything goes smoothly, when could we move in?

另外，假设一切顺利， 什么时候我们可以搬进去？

It really depends on you.

这实际上取决于你们。

Once we get your references, we can have the agreement drawn up within one working day.

一旦我们有了你们的推荐信， 我们可以在一个工作日内起草好租房合同。

Then, as soon as you sign it and make the payment, we can give you the keys.

然后，你们尽快签约，付款， 我们可以给你们钥匙。

OK, well, thanks for your help.

行，好的，感谢您的帮助。

I’ll try to get the references to you as quickly as possible.

我会尽快地给您推荐信。

In your country, what do you need to do before you can move into a rented house or apartment?

在您的国家，在您搬入一栋租来的房子 或一间公寓之前，您需要做什么？

Of course, these things can be different depending on where you live.

当然，基于您生活的地方不同， 事情可能会不同。

In the UK, you generally have to pay a deposit, pay the first month’s rent, provide references,

在英国，您通常要付一笔押金， 支付第一个月的租金，提供推荐信，

and sign a contract.

并签一个租房合同。

In most cases, you get your deposit back when you move out, so long as you haven’t damaged

在大部分的案例中，当您搬出时， 以及您没有损坏任何东西，

anything.

押金会退回给您。

Once you’ve provided everything you need to, you can sign the agreement, pick up the

一旦您提供了您需要提交的所有东西， 您可以签合同，取钥匙，

keys, and move into your new place!

再搬进新地方。

Now let's look at some questions: Try to answer these questions by speaking

现在，让我们看一些问题： 试一下大声地用整句话

out loud, in full sentences.

来回答这些问题。

Pause the video and do it now!

暂停视屏，现在开始做！

Could you do it?

您可以做吗？

If so, great!

如果可以，那很棒！

If not, we suggest you review the dialogue, and try again.

如果不能，我们建议您复习对话， 再试下。

Try as many times as you need.

根据您的需要多试几次。

Finally, let’s imagine that you’ve come to the end of your contract, and it’s time

最后，让我们想像一下您住到了合同期满， 是时候

to move out.

搬走了。

Hello?

你好！

Hi, it’s Daniel, from the real estate agency.

嗨，我是房地产中介公司的Daniel。

I just wanted to confirm a few details about your moving out date?

我只想确认一下关于您搬出日期 的几个细节？

Oh right, sure.

噢，好吧，行。

So, are you definitely planning to vacate the property on the last day of your tenancy?

那么，您确定要在租期的最后一天 搬离物业吗？

Probably one or two days earlier.

可能提早一到两天。

OK, no problem, but can you let us know when you know for sure?

好的，没问题，但是当您知道确切日期， 您能让我们知道吗？

Yeah, can do.

是的，我会的。

Either when you move out or shortly afterwards, we need to do the final inventory.

无论您搬出了或是不久要搬， 我们要检查最后的清单。

Do we have to be there for that?

为此，我们必须在那吗？

No, but it’s advisable.

没有，但是我们建议这样做。

OK, what about our deposit?

好的，我们的押金怎么办？

When do we get that back?

什么时候我们可以拿回来？

Well, we need to do the inventory first, and then you’ll get your deposit back within

好吧，首先我们需要检查清单， 然后您会在大约一周内

about one week.

拿回您的押金。

Have you read the information on our website about cleaning?

您有在我们的网站上看到关于清洁的信息吗？

No, I haven’t.

没有，我没看。

Well, you’re responsible for cleaning the place before you leave.

好吧，在您离开之前，您要负责 把那个地方清洁干净。

If anything isn’t clean when we come to check, we hire a cleaning company to come,

当我们检查时，如果发现任何东西没有清洁 干净，我们会雇用一个清洁公司来做。

and the cost is taken out of your deposit.

费用要从您的押金里扣。

I see.

我看看。

One tip: pay extra attention to the oven.

有个诀窍：留意烤箱。

It can be really difficult to get an oven clean.

把烤箱清理干净真的很困难。

You might want to get a cleaner just to do that.

您可能需要一个清洁工去专门做那个。

It might be cheaper if you do it on your end, rather than paying for our cleaning company.

如果您那边自己做，可能会便宜过 支付给我们的清洁公司。

OK, got it.

好的，明白了。

So, could we arrange a time for the final inventory now?

那么，我们现在可以安排一个时间来做 最后的清单检查吗？

I need to check my work schedule.

我需要看下我的工作行程表。

Let me call you back.

我等下打回给您。

Look at some sentences from the dialogue.

看看对话里的一些句子。

Can you remember how to complete these sentences?

您能记得怎样完成这些句子吗？

And, can you explain what they mean?

以及，您可以解释他们是什么意思吗？

Let’s check the answers.

让我们看下回答。

‘Vacate’ is a more formal word for ‘move out’.

“Vacate”是一个用在“move out”上的很正式的单词。

You can say ‘vacate the property’ or ‘move out of the property’ – the meaning is

您可以说“vacate the property”或者 “move out of the property” – 意思是

the same.

一样的。

You learned about the final inventory earlier.

早前您学到了最后的清单检查。

Do you remember what it means?

您记得那是什么意思吗？

During the final inventory, the estate agent will check that nothing has gone missing

在最后的清单检查期间，房地产中介会检查 从您搬进去之后，没东西遗失

or been damaged since you moved in.

，或没东西损坏。

In the UK, you need to clean a rented property before you move out.

在英国，在您搬出之前， 您要清洁租的物业。

Is this the same in your country?

在您的国家是一样的吗？

Finally, ‘the cost is taken out of your deposit’ is another way of saying ‘you’ll

最后，“the cost is taken out of your deposit” 是说”you’ll

have to pay for this’.

have to pay for this“的另一种方式。

You won’t get the full amount of your deposit back.

您不会拿回您的全部押金。

Now, you should understand how to deal with estate agents and rent an apartment or house

现在，您必须明白怎样用英语应付 房地产中介以及租一栋房屋

in English.

或一间公寓。

Have you had any interesting, funny or terrible experiences when renting a place to live?

您有任何在租一个住处时遇到的 有趣、好笑、恐怖的经历吗？

If you want to practise your English, please share your experiences with us and other learners

如果您想练习英语，请在评论里 和我们以及其他的学习者

in the comments!

分享您的经历！

Thanks for watching!

感谢您的观看！

See you next time!

下次见！