THE DOS AND DONTS OF RENTING
If youre new to the whole renting caper and need a few pointers, take a look at our helpful list of dos and donts.
DO
Think carefully about where youre going to rent a place, whether you want to live alone or share, what kind of place youd like to live in and why youre moving out of where you live now.
Beware of letting agency charges, find out what they charge for before you ask them to help you look.
Have a good look around the place to check everythings in working order. Also, check out the neighbourhood, does it suit you? Will you suit it?
Find out whether electricity, gas, water and council tax are included in the rent.
Understand what kind of contract youre signing - if youre unsure get some advice.
Be aware of how much notice you need to give if you want to leave.
Draw up an inventory with your landlord on the day you move in so you both know whats there, how things work and whether anything is already damaged. Get your landlord to sign it.
Pay the deposit by cheque, bankers draft or credit card so you have some proof of payment and get a receipt with the date, address of the property, signature of the landlord and amount received and a note of what the deposit covers.
Know what your landlord can and cant do under the law. For instance, its illegal for him/her to turn up without warning or cut off your gas supply.
DONT
Sign a contract until youre sure about all the points.
Forget a verbal agreement is as legally binding as a written one, so dont agree to anything until youre sure.
Worry about wear and tear a reasonable amount is expected, but make sure it states in the contract what reasonable means.
Give your landlord grounds to evict you know what these are, they include: having lied to get the place, continually paying your rent late and trashing the place.
Refuse to pay your last months rent if youre worried about getting your deposit back you could be prosecuted!
Ex. 5. Imagine you are a designer. Make your own interior project and present the description of a room designed for:
a) five-year twin-girls;
b) a single elderly lady;
c) a newly married couple;
d) a student.
Ex. 6. Make up dialogues on the following situations.
1. Not long ago you reserved a double room at the Park Hotel. You asked for an inside room with a fridge and a shower, but youve got a room facing a noisy street. The room has got neither a refrigerator nor a shower. You phone the reception and settle the problem.
2. You stayed at a hotel. Having made all arangements you go to phone your friend (mother, wife). Inform her (him) about the apartment you stayed at. Describe the furniture, conveniences and services.
3. Your friend has bought a new two-room(ed) flat. He has invited you to appreciate his flat and to ask your advice how to arrange the furniture. Express your opinion on what you have seen.
4. Your friend is going to move to a new flat. You think he has made the wrong choice having bought a flat facing the highway. Try to persuade him to give up the idea of buying this flat.
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5. A family decided to renovate their kitchen. Let everybody say their opinion about the wallpaper colour, ceiling and wall finishing, and also about new pieces of furniture.
Ex. 7. Comment on the following statements.
1. A mans house is his castle.
2. If each would sweep before his door, we should have a clean city.
3. Ahouse becomes a home when you can write, I love you on the furniture.
4. East or west home is best.
Ex. 8. Discuss the following statements in your group.
1. Your impressions of modern architecture.
2. It is necessary to reconstruct and carefully preserve old buildings.
3. Its better to live in the country-house than in the block of flats.
Ex. 9. Render in English.
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Final Test
1. is the Russian equivalent to ___.
a) a chest of drawers b) a set of drawers c) a unit of drawers
2. is the Russian equivalent to ___.
a) floor lamp b) standard-lamp c) perfect lamp
3. Cruet-stand means ___.
a) b) c)
4. Down-home means ___.
a) b) ) ,
5. Choose the appropriate variant for ___.
a) slate b) solid surface c) laminate
6. Choose the appropriate variant for ___.
a) suit b) suet c)suede
7. What is the right spelling of the English variant of the word ___?
a) accessories b) accessoryes c) acesories
8. What is the right spelling of the English variant of the word ___?
a) equipment b) equipment c) equepment
9. A piece of equipment used for storing food at low temperatures is ___.
a) a kitchen b) a counter c) a fridge
10. No room to swing a cat is translated as ___.
a) b) )
UNIT TWO
