English vocabulary: renting rooms and accommodation!

Are you about to join the thousands of people looking for a home in Dublin? Here is the essential vocabulary and expressions you will need for this exciting Journey

1. The local area and the type of property

• A penthouse is a flat on the top floor of a tall building. 
•  Development is a residential area where the properties have all been planned and built at the same time. 
• To describe a property, you hear the terms: flat, terraced house, town house, detached house, and semi-detached house. 
• The neighbourhood is the immediate area around the property and all it offers: schools, transport links, a library, local leisure centre. 
• A borough is a local authority district, governed by a borough council. There are 32 boroughs in London. 
• Amenities are public facilities which make an area pleasant to live in, such as restaurants, parks, community centres, swimming pools, golf courses, and tube stations.

2. Inside the property

• The floor plan is a showing how the space in the property is arranged – the rooms, windows, and dimensions.  
• Open-plan means one continuous space rather than broken up by walls.  
• Spacious is an adjective derived from the word ‘space’. It means, ‘with a lot of space’ and estate agents love this word! 
• A staircase enables you to move between different floor levels. Each staircase is made up of individual stairs. 
• Overlooking means ‘looking over’ – seen from a high position. Riverside apartments, for example, may have lovely views overlooking the River Thames. 
• Storage space is very important. It means a space where you can keep things so that your home doesn’t get too messy. 
• A fitted wardrobe means the wardrobe is built into the wall permanently; it is not a separate piece of furniture.  
• To renovate a property is the process of making improvements to an unfashionable or damaged home.  
• Walk-in literally means you can walk in, for example, a walk-in shower. 
• A reception room refers to a room used as a living room or a dining room. 
• A basement is the floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level.  
• A cellar is a room below ground level in a house used for storage rather than living space, for example, a wine cellar. 
• In a house, a loft is a room or space directly under the roof. Lofts were originally used for storing things, but nowadays, many people do a loft conversion to make an extra bedroom or even an entirely new flat! 

3. Other useful words and expressions

• Gas safety regulations. Landlords must have annual gas safety checks carried out, and a copy of the report must be given to the tenant. 
• The letting agent is the name we give to the company which helps you find a suitable property. 
• Administration fees: Fees charged by letting agents for processing your references, preparing the rental agreement and making an inventory. 
• Inventory: This lists the contents, condition, and condition of a property, inside. Make sure they do this, with a copy for you, as the tenant, and for the landlord. It prevents any misunderstandings later. 
• Service charge: If you are in a serviced apartment or flat, there is an annual fee you pay as your contribution to the cost of looking after communal areas. For example, the reception, gardens, or even a concierge (a person who receives deliveries, supervises the building, collects the post and so on) 
• Repairs and maintenance. Your landlord is responsible for keeping things in good working condition: the walls, roof, windows and external doors, washbasins, plumbing pipework, water and gas pipes, electrical wiring, and heating system. These responsibilities will be in the tenancy agreement.

If you are interested in learning English in Dublin, we would love to see you at Liffey College soon!

Contact Liffey College today to learn more about our English language courses in Dublin.