French · Real conversations
Housing: French conversation practice
Ask about rent and arrange a practical repair. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
B1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A tenant speaking with a landlord or property manager.
Goal: Ask about rent and arrange a practical repair.
Read the conversation
Partner
Le loyer comprend certaines charges.
Show English translation
The rent covers some household costs.
You
L'eau est comprise dans le loyer ?
Show English translation
Is water included in the rent?
Partner
Oui, l'eau est comprise. Il y a des travaux à côté aujourd'hui.
Show English translation
Yes, water is included. There are repairs next door today.
You
Tu pourrais faire un peu moins de bruit ?
Show English translation
Could you keep the noise down?
Partner
Je vais demander aux ouvriers de faire moins de bruit. Il y a un autre problème ?
Show English translation
I'll ask the workers to be quieter. Is there another problem?
You
Le chauffage ne fonctionne pas.
Show English translation
The heating isn't working.
Partner
Je suis désolé / désolée. Je vais faire venir quelqu'un pour regarder.
Show English translation
I'm sorry. I'll arrange for someone to look at it.
You
Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir le réparer ?
Show English translation
When can someone come to fix it?
Partner
Demain matin. Si vous prévoyez de déménager, prévenez-nous à l'avance.
Show English translation
Tomorrow morning. If you plan to move out, let us know in advance.
You
Combien de temps à l'avance dois-je prévenir ?
Show English translation
How much notice do I need to give?
Try your part first
Partner says: The rent covers some household costs. Your goal: Is water included in the rent?
Reveal a sample reply
L'eau est comprise dans le loyer ?
Is water included in the rent?
Partner says: Yes, water is included. There are repairs next door today. Your goal: Could you keep the noise down?
Reveal a sample reply
Tu pourrais faire un peu moins de bruit ?
Could you keep the noise down?
Partner says: I'll ask the workers to be quieter. Is there another problem? Your goal: The heating isn't working.
Reveal a sample reply
Le chauffage ne fonctionne pas.
The heating isn't working.
Partner says: I'm sorry. I'll arrange for someone to look at it. Your goal: When can someone come to fix it?
Reveal a sample reply
Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir le réparer ?
When can someone come to fix it?
Partner says: Tomorrow morning. If you plan to move out, let us know in advance. Your goal: How much notice do I need to give?
Reveal a sample reply
Combien de temps à l'avance dois-je prévenir ?
How much notice do I need to give?
Make it your own
- Report a different broken item.
- Arrange a different repair time.
- Ask what the notice period covers.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
