Signing the Lease Agreement
The tenant and landlord/agent are reviewing and signing the final lease agreement, discussing the security deposit, first month's rent, and key handover.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
lease agreement
A legal document that outlines the terms of renting a property, like how long you'll rent and the rules to follow. It's important in house hunting to understand your rights and responsibilities.
security deposit
Money you pay upfront to the landlord to cover any damage to the property. It's usually returned if everything is fine when you move out.
rent
The monthly payment you make to live in a house or apartment. In renting situations, always confirm the amount and due date.
subletting
When you rent out your rented space to someone else. Many leases require permission for this to avoid problems with the landlord.
utilities
Basic services like electricity, water, and gas that you pay for separately from rent. Tenants often handle these bills themselves.
key handover
The process of giving keys to the new tenant after signing the lease. It usually happens right after payment is confirmed.
move-in checklist
A list used to inspect and record the condition of the apartment when you first move in, helping prevent disputes over damages later.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Just to confirm, what's the total amount due today for the security deposit and first month's rent?
This polite question uses 'just to confirm' to double-check details without sounding unsure. It's useful in business or rental situations to avoid mistakes with payments. The structure is a yes/no question with 'what's' for specifics.
The security deposit is one month's rent, which is $1,500, and the first month's rent is also $1,500.
This sentence explains costs clearly using 'which is' for additional info and 'and' to connect similar items. It's practical for describing rental fees, helping learners practice numbers and comparisons in financial talks.
Can you walk me through the key points of the agreement one last time before I sign?
A polite request using 'can you' and 'walk me through' meaning to explain step by step. Use this when you need a quick review of important details, like in contracts, to show you're careful.
The lease term is for 12 months, starting October 1st.
This states the duration using 'is for' and a preposition 'starting' for the begin date. It's a common pattern in agreements; learn it to discuss timelines in renting or job contracts.
Rent is due on the 1st of each month.
Passive voice 'is due on' indicates when payment is required. This is essential for rental rules; use similar structures for deadlines like 'bills are due by the 15th' to sound professional.
What about key handover? When can I pick up the keys?
'What about' introduces a new topic smoothly, followed by a wh-question. It's useful in conversations to ask about next steps, like in moving or deliveries, keeping the dialogue natural.
Once the agreement is signed and the payment is processed, I can give you the keys today.
Uses 'once' for condition (after something happens) and present simple for future actions. This conditional structure is great for explaining sequences in processes, like after signing documents.
Let's get this signed then. I'm excited to move in!
Imperative 'let's get this signed' suggests action, with 'then' for logical next step. Expressing excitement adds politeness; use in agreements to show enthusiasm and move things forward.