Finding a Place to Live and Setting Up Utilities.

Finding somewhere to live is one of the biggest early tasks in Australia. In this lesson you walk through a typical rental journey: reading a listing, talking to a real estate agent at an inspection and calling to set up utilities once you move in. You learn key terms such as "bond", "inspection", "share house" and "utilities", and you hear how agents actually explain conditions, dates and money. You also practise short phone calls to electricity or internet providers, dealing with different accents and menu systems. There is special focus on sounding firm but reasonable when something is unclear or not what you expected. By the end of the lesson, you can ask the right questions about a property, understand the main points of a rental conversation and arrange basic services for your new home in calm, Australian-style English.

1. Reading a rental listing for King Street.

In this first part of the lesson, let’s slow down and really understand a typical Australian rental listing. Imagine you’ve just arrived and you’re scrolling through a rental app on your phone. You see a place that looks perfect: a two-bedroom unit on King Street, close to cafés and the train. But the ad is full of terms like bond, utilities, inspection and twelve-month lease. If you do not understand those words, it is very hard to decide if this place actually works for you. I’ll show you one realistic listing on the screen. We’ll unpack the key vocabulary together, especially money and dates. Pay attention to phrases such as “weekly rent”, “bond: four weeks rent”, “utilities not included”, “available from” and “inspection by appointment”. These expressions appear again and again in Australian rental ads. After you read, I’ll ask you to summarise the main points in your own words, as if you were explaining the place to a friend. This is excellent practice for checking you have really understood the details before you contact an agent.

Scenario: Finding a place on King Street.

You are staying in a hostel and looking for your first rental in Australia. On a popular website you see this listing for a unit in Newtown, on King Street.

> Newtown – Bright 2-bed unit on King Street

> Light-filled 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit in a secure building, moments to cafés and train. Unfurnished. Open-plan living area with balcony, internal laundry, 1 undercover car space.

>

> • Rent: $650 per week

> • Bond: 4 weeks rent

> • Lease: 12-month lease preferred

> • Utilities: not included

> • Available from: 15 July

> • Inspection: Saturday 10:30–10:50 or by appointment

You like the look of it, but you want to be sure you really understand all the terms before you call the agent.

Key rental words in Australia.

Here are some of the most important terms in the listing.

In Australia, rental prices are usually written as a weekly amount. Many people still pay rent fortnightly or monthly, but "How much is the weekly rent?" is a very common question.

The bond is normally equal to four weeks of rent. You pay it at the start, and it is held in trust by the government, not by the owner. If you look after the property, you should get most or all of it back when you move out.

When the listing says utilities not included, it means you will need to set up and pay for electricity, gas and internet yourself. Later in this lesson, you will practise saying, "I’d like to set up electricity at this address."

Why this matters before you call.

Before you say, "I’m calling about the unit on King Street", you want to be clear about:

• How much you will pay each week.
• How much bond you need.
• When you could move in.
• Whether bills are included or not.

This helps you ask smart questions at the inspection, instead of feeling lost.

Practice & Feedback

Read the listing below carefully one more time. Then, imagine a friend messages you and asks, “Hey, what’s that King Street place like?”

In your answer, write 4–6 full sentences summarising the key information:

• the weekly rent and the bond,
• what is and is not included in the rent (utilities, furniture),
• when the place is available from,
• anything important about the lease length or inspection times.

Do not just copy the sentences from the ad. Use your own words as much as possible. Write as if you are explaining the listing to another newcomer who does not understand Australian rental terms yet. Clear, simple English is better than very complex grammar here.

Newtown – Bright 2-bed unit on King Street

Light-filled 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit in a secure building, moments to cafés and train. Unfurnished. Open-plan living area with balcony, internal laundry, 1 undercover car space.

• Rent: $650 per week

• Bond: 4 weeks rent

• Lease: 12-month lease preferred

• Utilities: not included

• Available from: 15 July

• Inspection: Saturday 10:30–10:50 or by appointment

2. Talking to the agent at the inspection.

Now let’s fast-forward to Saturday. You arrive a few minutes early for the inspection on King Street. There are a few other people looking around. The real estate agent is at the door, greeting everyone quickly. This is a key moment: you want to sound confident and ask the right questions about price, bills and dates. In a moment, you’ll see and hear a short conversation between you and the agent, Mia. She speaks in a fairly natural Australian style, but not too fast. Listen out for practical questions such as, “How much is the weekly rent?”, “Does that include any bills?” and “When would the place be available from?” Notice how Mia answers, and how she softens her tone with phrases like “Yeah, that’s right” and “We’re looking for a long-term lease”. First, read the transcript on the screen so you know what to expect. Then, in the activity at the bottom, you’ll listen to the audio and show that you understood the most important details about money, dates and conditions.

At the inspection on King Street.

You walk up the stairs and meet the agent at the door.

Mia (agent): Hi there, how you going? Here for the King Street inspection?

You: Yeah, that’s right. I’m calling about the unit on King Street… well, here I am now.

Mia: No worries, feel free to have a look around. The details are on the sheet there.

You: Thanks. Just a quick question. How much is the weekly rent?

Mia: It’s $650 per week.

You: Right, okay. Does that include any bills?

Mia: It includes water, but electricity and internet are separate.

You: Got it, thanks. And when would the place be available from?

Mia: It’s available from the fifteenth of July. We’re looking for a long-term lease, ideally twelve months.

You: That would work for us. We’re looking for a long-term lease too.

Mia: Great. Have a wander through, and if you’re keen, you can apply online.

Useful question patterns.

Here are three very useful question patterns from this dialogue:

• How much is the weekly rent?
• Does that include any bills?
• When would the place be available from?

You can adapt them easily:

• How much is the weekly rent on the two-bedroom unit?
• Does that include any bills, like water or gas?
• When would the place be available from if we wanted to start a twelve-month lease?

Notice the polite, neutral tone. You do not need to say "please" in every sentence. Your voice and body language can show politeness. Adding "just" can soften it more if you like: "Just a quick question, how much is the weekly rent?"

Listening strategy.

Before you listen in the activity, quickly predict what you will hear:

• The exact rent amount.
• Which bills are included.
• The available date.
• The preferred lease length.

When you listen, focus on catching those numbers and time expressions. If you miss a small word like "the" or "a", it’s okay. The important thing is to catch the key information so you can decide if the property suits you.

Practice & Feedback

You are going to listen to the conversation between you and Mia at the inspection.

After you listen, answer these four questions in one text box. Please number your answers 1–4 so it’s easy to read.

1. What is the weekly rent?
2. Which bills are included, and which are not included?
3. From which date is the place available?
4. What lease length is Mia looking for?

Write full sentences, not just numbers. For example: "1. The weekly rent is…". If you’re not sure about a detail, take your best guess based on what you hear. This is realistic: in real life, you sometimes miss a word but can still understand the main message.

When you have written your answers, you’ll get feedback on whether you caught the key information and how natural your sentences sound.

3. Clarifying details with the agent later.

After an inspection, it’s very common to realise you still have questions. Maybe you are not sure about parking, if a pet is allowed, or whether the bond is definitely four weeks. You want to sound firm enough to get a clear answer, but still friendly and reasonable. This is a very Australian balance. In this block, we’ll shift from the quick chat at the inspection to a short follow-up message. You’ll see an example email to the agent, Mia, asking about two small issues. Pay attention to phrases like, “I’m just a bit confused about…”, “Would it be possible to…?” and “I’d really appreciate it if…”. These expressions help you express concerns without sounding aggressive. We’ll also reuse earlier chunks such as, “We’re looking for a long-term lease” and “Does that include any bills?” but in a written format. After you read the model, you’ll write your own set of questions about the King Street unit, or a similar property, using the same polite but firm tone.

Following up after the inspection.

Later that afternoon, you read the information sheet again and realise there are still a couple of things you are not sure about. Instead of waiting and worrying, you decide to email Mia.

Here is a realistic example.

> Subject: Question about the unit on King Street

>

> Hi Mia,

>

> Thanks again for the inspection today. We really liked the unit on King Street. We’re looking for a long-term lease, so we just wanted to clarify a couple of details.

>

> I’m just a bit confused about the bond. Is it four weeks rent, or is there any extra charge on top of that?

>

> Also, would it be possible to confirm the parking? Is the undercover car space included in the weekly rent, or is there an additional fee?

>

> We’d really appreciate it if you could let us know, as we’re very interested in applying.

>

> Cheers,

> Lina

Phrases that sound firm but reasonable.

Notice how Lina is clear about what she wants, but still keeps the tone relaxed and respectful.

• I’m just a bit confused about…

This softens the message. Instead of saying "You didn’t explain", you take some responsibility.

• Would it be possible to confirm…?

This is gentler than "Please confirm". It fits well with Australian preference for low-pressure language.

• We’d really appreciate it if you could…

A very natural way to make a request sound polite but still important.

Compare these two versions:

• Confirm the parking and bond.
• I’m just a bit confused about the bond. Would it be possible to confirm the parking as well?

The second one is much more in line with everyday Australian email style.

Building your own questions.

You can use the same patterns to ask about many different things:

• I’m just a bit confused about whether any bills are included.
• Would it be possible to move the inspection time?
• We’d really appreciate it if you could let us know whether pets are allowed.

Using these chunks will help you feel more confident when you write to agents in real life.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine you have just inspected the King Street unit, or a very similar place. You are interested, but you still have 3–5 questions.

Using Lina’s email as a model, write one short email to the agent. In your email:

• Start with a simple greeting and say which property you are asking about.
• Mention that you’re interested in a long-term lease if that’s true for you.
• Ask 3–5 clear questions about things like bond, parking, pets, move-in date or which bills are included.
• Try to use at least two of these phrases:
• I’m just a bit confused about…
• Would it be possible to…?
• We’d really appreciate it if…

Aim for around 120–180 words. Focus on clarity and polite, firm tone, not perfect grammar. This is excellent practice for real emails you might write to Australian real estate agents.

Subject: Question about the unit on King Street

Hi Mia,

Thanks again for the inspection today. We really liked the unit on King Street. We’re looking for a long-term lease, so we just wanted to clarify a couple of details.

I’m just a bit confused about the bond. Is it four weeks rent, or is there any extra charge on top of that?

Also, would it be possible to confirm the parking? Is the undercover car space included in the weekly rent, or is there an additional fee?

We’d really appreciate it if you could let us know, as we’re very interested in applying.

Cheers,

Lina

4. Calling to set up electricity for your new place.

Good news: your application for the King Street unit has been approved. Now you need to organise utilities before you move in. One of the first calls many people make is to an electricity company. This can feel stressful, because you are on the phone, the person might speak quickly, and they may use technical terms. In this block, we’ll walk through a short, realistic phone call to set up electricity. You’ll see how to open the call politely, explain what you need, give your address, and check key details about the plan. Pay attention to two very useful chunks from your phrase bank: “I’d like to set up electricity at this address” and “Can you tell me what plans you have?”. These sentences are clear, natural and work with any provider. On the screen you’ll see a full script of a call between you and a customer service agent. After that, you will listen to a slightly different call and practise taking notes in your own words. This is exactly what you might do in real life so you remember what you agreed to.

Setting up electricity before you move in.

You call an electricity company a week before your move-in date. Here is a sample conversation.

Agent: Good morning, AusPower, this is Sam speaking. How can I help you today?

You: Hi Sam. I’d like to set up electricity at this address, please.

Agent: Sure thing. What’s the address?

You: It’s unit 5, 220 King Street, Newtown.

Agent: No worries. When are you moving in?

You: On the fifteenth of July.

Agent: Okay, we can start the service from that date. Can you tell me what plans you have?

Agent: We’ve got a basic plan with no lock-in contract, and a saver plan with a lower rate if you stay at least twelve months.

You: I’m not sure how long I’ll stay, so I think the basic plan sounds better.

Agent: Too easy. I’ll just grab a few details and then you’re all set.

Useful patterns in utility calls.

Phone calls often follow a similar pattern. Here are the main steps from this one:

Greeting and purpose

• I’d like to set up electricity at this address, please.

Confirming address and dates

• It’s unit 5, 220 King Street, Newtown.
• We’re moving in on the fifteenth of July.

Asking about options

• Can you tell me what plans you have?
• Is there any connection fee?

Choosing and confirming

• I think the basic plan sounds better for us.
• So just to confirm, it starts from the fifteenth of July, yeah?

Notice the relaxed but still professional tone. The agent uses phrases like "Sure thing", "No worries" and "Too easy", which are very common in Australian customer service.

Taking notes while you listen.

When you are on the phone, it really helps to write down a few key details:

• the plan name or type,
• the start date for service,
• any connection fee or exit fee,
• how you will pay (e.g. direct debit, monthly bill).

In the activity below, you’ll listen to another short call and then write 3–5 sentences with the notes you would keep for yourself.

Practice & Feedback

Listen carefully to the phone call. Imagine you are the person moving into unit 5, 220 King Street and you are taking quick notes on a piece of paper.

After listening, write 3–5 full sentences that summarise the most important details from the call, for example:

• which plan you chose,
• the start date for electricity,
• any connection fee or extra charges,
• how and when you will pay.

Write your notes as if you will need to read them again in a few weeks. That means clear, simple sentences, not just isolated words. You can start sentences like: "I chose…", "The electricity will start on…", "There is a connection fee of…".

Do not worry about copying every single word from the call. Focus on the key information you would actually need later.

5. Live chat about a problem with the hot water.

You have moved into your new place on King Street. The electricity is on, your boxes are everywhere, and you are ready for a hot shower. But when you turn on the tap, the water is cold. Not ideal. In Australia, a common first step is to contact the real estate agency or property manager, often through an online chat or a maintenance form. This is a great chance to practise sounding calm but firm when something is not right. In this block, you’ll read a short chat between a tenant and a property manager about a hot water problem. Notice how the tenant explains the issue clearly, mentions how long it has been happening, and requests help politely but directly, with phrases like “There seems to be a problem with the hot water” and “I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week.” Then you’ll have a go at starting your own chat message in a similar situation. I’ll respond as the property manager so you can see how your language works in a realistic exchange.

Reporting a maintenance issue by chat.

Here’s a sample live chat between a tenant and the property manager.

You (tenant): Hi, there seems to be a problem with the hot water in unit 5, 220 King Street.

Property manager: Hi, thanks for getting in touch. What’s happening exactly?

You: The water in the shower is only lukewarm, and sometimes it’s completely cold. It’s been like this since we moved in on Saturday.

Property manager: Okay, that doesn’t sound right. I’ll need to organise a plumber.

You: Thanks. I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week. We’ve got work during the day, but evenings or Saturday would be fine.

Property manager: No worries. I’ll see who’s available and get back to you by email this afternoon.

Clear problem + reasonable request.

Notice how the tenant combines three things:

Clear description of the problem

• There seems to be a problem with the hot water…
• The water in the shower is only lukewarm, and sometimes it’s completely cold.

Timeline

• It’s been like this since we moved in on Saturday.

Polite but firm request

• I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week.

This structure works for many housing issues:

• leaks (sink, roof, toilet),
• broken appliances,
• mould,
• doors or windows that do not close properly.

Softening without sounding weak.

Australian English often uses softening expressions even in complaints. The tenant could say:

• There seems to be a problem with the hot water.
• I’m just a bit worried because it’s been like this for a few days now.

These phrases sound cooperative, not dramatic, but they still make it clear that something needs to be fixed. You do not need to shout to be taken seriously.

In the activity below, you will write the first part of your own live chat about a housing problem. Keep it calm, specific and solution-focused.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine you have just discovered a maintenance problem in your new rental. Choose one of these situations (or invent a similar one):

• the sink has been leaking for a week,
• a window does not close properly,
• there is mould in the bathroom,
• the hot water is not working properly.

Write the first 3–5 turns of a live chat from your side as the tenant. You can also include short messages from the property manager if you like, but focus mainly on what you would type.

Make sure you:

• clearly explain the problem and how long it has been happening,
• use at least one of these phrases: "There seems to be a problem with…", "I’m just a bit worried because…", "I’d really appreciate it if someone could…",
• ask for a reasonable solution or time frame.

Write around 80–150 words. I’ll reply as the property manager and then give you feedback on your language.

You (tenant): Hi, there seems to be a problem with the hot water in unit 5, 220 King Street.

Property manager: Hi, thanks for getting in touch. What’s happening exactly?

You (tenant): The water in the shower is only lukewarm, and sometimes it’s completely cold. It’s been like this since we moved in on Saturday.

Property manager: Okay, that doesn’t sound right. I’ll need to organise a plumber.

You (tenant): Thanks. I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week. We’ve got work during the day, but evenings or Saturday would be fine.

Property manager: No worries. I’ll see who’s available and get back to you by email this afternoon.

6. Full practice: agent questions and utilities call.

You’ve now walked through the full journey for your new place: reading the listing, talking to the agent at the inspection, clarifying details later, setting up electricity and reporting a maintenance problem. For this final block, you’ll put it all together in one integrated practice. The goal is simple but powerful: you should be able to handle the key rental and utilities conversations in clear, calm Australian English. You do not need perfect grammar, but you do need the right chunks and a cooperative tone. On the screen, you’ll see a short checklist of success criteria and a bank of useful phrases from this lesson. Then, in the activity, you’ll write two short scripts: one for a conversation with the agent about the unit on King Street, and one for a phone call to set up electricity. Treat it like a rehearsal for real life. Imagine you’re speaking these lines tomorrow. Focus on sounding natural and confident, not like you are reading a textbook.

Your mini performance task.

To finish this lesson, you will write your side of two short interactions:

1. At or after the inspection – talking to the real estate agent about the King Street unit.
2. On the phone – calling an electricity company to set up power at your new address.

You are not writing a novel. Think of it as a realistic script or notes that you could look at just before you make a real call or have a real chat.

Useful chunks from this lesson.

Here is a quick phrase bank you may want to reuse:

• I’m calling about the unit on King Street.
• How much is the weekly rent?
• Does that include any bills?
• When would the place be available from?
• We’re looking for a long-term lease.
• I’m just a bit confused about this charge.
• Would it be possible to move the inspection time?
• I’d like to set up electricity at this address.
• Can you tell me what plans you have?
• I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week.

You do not need to include every single phrase, but try to use several naturally.

Success checklist.

When you write your scripts, aim for:

• Clear structure – the conversation has a beginning, middle and end.
• Key information – rent, dates, bills, address, plan choice.
• Polite but firm tone – you sound friendly and reasonable, not too formal or too strong.
• Useful Australian chunks – at least three expressions from the phrase bank above.

You can write the agent part and the electricity agent part as dialogue lines (You / Agent) or as your own notes, for example:

• You: I’m calling about the unit on King Street. How much is the weekly rent?
• Note: Ask if any bills are included.

Choose the style that helps you most.

Practice & Feedback

Write two short scripts. Use headings in your text to keep them separate.

PART A – Agent conversation

Imagine you are talking to Mia, the agent, about the unit on King Street. Write 4–6 lines showing what you would say. Include questions about weekly rent, bills, and move-in date, and mention that you’re looking for a long-term lease.

PART B – Electricity call

Imagine you are calling an electricity company to start power at 220 King Street. Write 4–6 lines for your side of the call. Include phrases like "I’d like to set up electricity at this address" and at least one question about plans, fees or start dates.

Aim for around 150–220 words total. Focus on sounding natural, clear and polite. You can use any of the chunks from the checklist above. This is your chance to rehearse the real conversations you are likely to have when you move into a place in Australia.

Use this checklist while you write:

• Did I say which property or address I am talking about?
• Did I ask about weekly rent, bills and dates in a clear way?
• Did I state that I’m looking for a long-term lease, if relevant?
• Did I clearly ask to set up electricity at this address and check the plan details?
• Did I use at least three chunks from the phrase bank, such as:
• I’m calling about the unit on King Street.
• How much is the weekly rent?
• Does that include any bills?
• When would the place be available from?
• I’d like to set up electricity at this address.
• Can you tell me what plans you have?
• I’d really appreciate it if someone could come this week?