Accommodation. Topic for Conversation #1 / #17

Accommodation

1. Tell me about the house/flat you live in.

We have a nice flat in a new block of flats. Our flat is on the fourth floor. It has all modern conveniences: central heating, gas, electricity, cold and hot running water, but it hasn’t got a lift. There is a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet in our flat. The living-room is the largest room in the flat. It is nicely furnished. My mum likes to watch TV there, it’s her favourite room.

My parents’ bedroom is smaller than the living-room, but it is light and cozy. In this room there are two beds and a wardrobe. The third room is my bedroom. It is not large and there isn’t much furniture in it: my bed, a writing table, some shelves and a computer. The best room in our flat is the kitchen. In the kitchen we have dinner together and discuss our family matters.

2. Do you want to move into a new house/flat? Why or why not?

Though I am very much satisfied with the place where I live now, I would like to move into a new house. New houses are usually more modern and have improved layouts. I would like each member of our family to have more space.

3. What questions will you ask your landlord/landlady about the room you are going to rent?

1. How much is it going to cost?

2. What happens in an emergency?

3. Can I decorate the room/flat?

4. What’s the TV & internet like?

5. Does the rent include the costs for water and heating?

6. Is there a telephone connection?

7. Is there a washing machine/dishwasher in the kitchen?

8. Are pets allowed?

9. Do I have to pay a security deposit?

4. Your friend wants to decorate his/her room and make it look more modern. Givу him/her some advice on how to do it.

5. They Say that living in the city is better than living in the country. What do you think about it?

Well, living in the country is not bad. You breathe fresh air. You feel safer than in a big city. You can enjoy the beauty of nature. In the country you can rest from the noise of a big city. Nevertheless, most young people prefer living in town. First, town life provides all means of entertainment. Second, in a city it’s easier to find a good job. Third, there are more opportunities for children if you have got a family. For these reasons I would rather live in a big city, too.

What types of houses do the British people live in?

About 51 million people live in England and most of them (84%) are largely concentrated in London. Like in any other capital city there are a lot of blocks of flats with modern flats and a lot of people prefer living there. But people who are more conservative and value the traditions of their country live in the countryside.

The houses in the countryside are usually more expensive than the flats in big cities. I think it is normal because when you live in the country, you pay not just for the house but for the marvelous views, fresh air and a possibility to spend your free time in a garden (gardening is one of the most favourite hobbies among the British). English houses often have two floors and an attic. There is a kitchen, a dining-room and a living on the ground floor. Almost in every house there is a fire-place in the living-room, which is the most favourite place for all the family in the evenings or on holidays. There are bedrooms and several bathrooms on the first floor. There is always a room for guests. There is usually a study on the attic.

Usually houses in England are built from stones or bricks (from the local area), which are different in colour. And sometimes it seems that Britain is a country of multicoloured houses. In England there are many types of houses. People can live in a flat as it was told above. In most towns all over England there are streets of houses joined together in long rows. Such houses are called terraced houses. Two houses joined together are called semi-detached houses. If the houses are not joined to any other buildings they are called detached houses. The most popular types of houses among British people are semi-detached and detached houses.

Though more and more people tend to buy a house in the countryside, it has become a great problem for the English to buy a house because the prices on the property are increasing much faster than the wages. But it is always possible to take a mortgage in a bank, call upon rich relatives or buy a house jointly with friends.