German · Real conversations
Housing: German 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
Die Miete deckt einige Haushaltskosten ab.
Show English translation
The rent covers some household costs.
You
Ist Wasser in der Miete enthalten?
Show English translation
Is water included in the rent?
Partner
Ja, Wasser ist inklusive. Nebenan wird heute repariert.
Show English translation
Yes, water is included. There are repairs next door today.
You
Könntest du etwas leiser sein?
Show English translation
Could you keep the noise down?
Partner
Ich bitte die Arbeiter, leiser zu sein. Gibt es noch ein Problem?
Show English translation
I'll ask the workers to be quieter. Is there another problem?
You
Die Heizung funktioniert nicht.
Show English translation
The heating isn't working.
Partner
Das tut mir leid. Ich schicke jemanden, der es sich ansieht.
Show English translation
I'm sorry. I'll arrange for someone to look at it.
You
Wann kann jemand kommen, um es zu reparieren?
Show English translation
When can someone come to fix it?
Partner
Morgen früh. Wenn Sie ausziehen möchten, sagen Sie uns bitte vorher Bescheid.
Show English translation
Tomorrow morning. If you plan to move out, let us know in advance.
You
Wie lange im Voraus muss ich Bescheid geben?
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
Ist Wasser in der Miete enthalten?
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
Könntest du etwas leiser sein?
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
Die Heizung funktioniert nicht.
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
Wann kann jemand kommen, um es zu reparieren?
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
Wie lange im Voraus muss ich Bescheid geben?
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 German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
