Housing is one of the most practically important vocabulary topics there is, renting a flat, understanding a tenancy agreement, or simply describing where you live all depend on it. This guide covers the real, everyday words for renting, home life and moving, well beyond just naming rooms.
2. Renting Vocabulary
Word / Phrase
Meaning
tenant / landlord
the person who rents a property / the person who owns and rents it out
deposit
a one-off sum paid as security, returned at the end if no damage is caused
tenancy agreement
the legal contract between tenant and landlord
furnished / unfurnished
with furniture already provided / empty, bring your own
utilities
gas, electricity, water, sometimes internet
to let (a property)
from the landlord's side, to rent it out to a tenant
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Rent vs let
"I rent a flat" (tenant's perspective) and "the landlord lets the flat" (landlord's perspective) describe the same transaction from opposite sides. A "To Let" sign means a property is available for rent.
3. Rooms & Furniture
Word
Meaning / Note
living room / lounge
the main room for relaxing, both terms are common in British English
landing
the flat area at the top of the stairs
en-suite
a bathroom directly connected to a bedroom
wardrobe
a tall cupboard for hanging clothes
chest of drawers
a piece of furniture with sliding drawers for storing clothes
worktop
the flat surface in a kitchen used for food preparation
4. Moving House
Phrase
Example
to move house
We're moving house next month.
to pack / unpack
I need to pack all my boxes before Friday.
removal van / removal company
We hired a removal company to help with the move.
to settle in
It took a few weeks to settle in to the new place.
completion day
The legal day a house purchase officially finishes
5. Describing Your Home
Phrase
Example
spacious
The living room is really spacious.
cosy
Our flat is small but cosy.
on the outskirts of
We live on the outskirts of the city.
within walking distance of
The station is within walking distance of my flat.
6. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I rent my flat to a landlord.
I rent my flat from a landlord.
Tenants rent FROM a landlord, not TO one; "to" is the landlord's action (letting).
The flat has three furnitures.
The flat is fully furnished. / The flat has plenty of furniture.
"Furniture" is uncountable, never pluralised with -s.
I need to give a deposit money.
I need to pay a deposit.
"Deposit" already means a sum of money; "deposit money" is redundant.
7. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. I rent my flat ___ a landlord. (from/to)
2. We had to pay a ___ before moving in. (deposit)
3. The flat is fully ___, so I don't need to buy a bed. (furnished)
4. Gas, electricity and water are called ___. (utilities)
5. We hired a ___ company to help us move. (removal)
6. It took a few weeks to ___ in to our new home. (settle)
7. Our new flat is small but ___. (cosy)
8. The station is within walking ___ of my flat. (distance)
1. A person who owns and rents out property is a... (a) tenant (b) landlord
2. A bathroom connected directly to a bedroom is... (a) en-suite (b) landing
3. "Furniture" is a... (a) countable noun (b) uncountable noun
4. A "To Let" sign means the property is... (a) for sale (b) available to rent
5. The kitchen surface used for food prep is the... (a) worktop (b) landing
Show Answers (B)
1.b 2.a 3.b 4.b 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. I rent my flat to a landlord.
2. The flat has three furnitures.
3. I need to give a deposit money.
Show Answers (C)
1. I rent my flat from a landlord. 2. The flat has plenty of furniture. 3. I need to pay a deposit.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Describe your own home, using at least three vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence about moving house, using "settle in" or "pack."
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "My flat is spacious and within walking distance of the station." 2. "It took us a month to settle in after we moved house."
8. Mini Quiz
9. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Describing homes and living situations is a core Speaking and Reading topic.
"Can you describe your home?" in the Speaking interview.
IELTS Speaking & Writing
Housing is a common Part 1 topic and a frequent Writing Task 2 theme (housing policy, city living).
"Do you live in a house or a flat?" "What are the advantages of renting versus buying?"
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Describing your home and living situation is one of the most predictable everyday topics.
"Tell me about where you live." "Do you rent or own your home?"
10. Frequently Asked Questions
"Rent" is used from the tenant's side (I rent a flat); "let" is used from the landlord's side (the landlord lets the flat to tenants). "To let" on a sign means a property is available for rent.
No — a deposit is a one-off sum paid at the start of a tenancy as security against damage, returned at the end if the property is left in good condition. Rent is the recurring payment for living there.
They mean the same thing; "flat" is standard British English, "apartment" is more common in American English, though both are understood everywhere.
The essential services for a home: gas, electricity, water and sometimes internet. Rental listings often specify whether utilities are included in the price or billed separately.
"Furnished" means the property already has furniture (bed, sofa, etc.); "unfurnished" means it's empty and you need to bring or buy your own.
Yes — describing your home, your living situation and your local area is one of the most common and predictable everyday speaking topics.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.