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B1EN

The Flatmate From Hell: Renting and Surviving

Find the perfect apartment, interview a potential flatmate, and deal with everything that goes wrong after you move in. Practice housing vocabulary, polite requests, and complaints through realistic rental scenarios and unexpected twists. A practical B1 English lesson on renting vocabulary, flatmate conversations, and problem-solving in everyday life. Ideal for adult learners, English tutors, and language schools.

#general english#b1#renting#housing#roleplay#flatmate#daily life
8 Activities
1

Flatmate Horror Stories — Would You Survive?: Talk Time

Talk Time

Shared
  1. What is the worst thing a flatmate or neighbour could do?
  2. Have you ever shared a flat or room with someone? What was it like?
  3. Would you rather live with a messy person who is fun or a tidy person who is boring? Why?
  4. What three rules would you set before moving in with someone?
  5. What would you do if your flatmate never washed their dishes?
2

Home Sweet Home — Rental Vocabulary: Swipe Battle

Swipe Battle

Individual

  • Deposit

    Money you pay before moving in, returned when you leave if nothing is damaged

  • Landlord

    A person who rents a flat and pays money to the owner every month

  • Lease

    A written legal agreement between a tenant and a landlord

  • Tenant

    A person who rents and lives in someone else's property

  • Utilities

    Regular bills for services like electricity, water, gas, and internet

  • Furnished

    A flat that comes with furniture like a bed, sofa, and table already inside

  • Studio flat

    A large apartment with three separate bedrooms and a garden

  • Notice period

    The time you must wait between saying you will leave and actually moving out

  • Flatmate

    A person who shares a rented flat with you

  • Viewing

    A visit to look at a flat before deciding to rent it

  • Maintenance

    Repairs and work done to keep a building in good condition

  • En suite

    A bedroom that has its own private bathroom attached

  • Commute

    A room in a flat used for cooking and preparing food

  • Reference

    A letter or contact from a previous landlord or employer confirming you are reliable

  • Sublet

    To rent out your flat or room to another person while your lease is still active

  • Eviction

    The legal process of forcing a tenant to leave a property

  • Bills included

    A rental price that already covers electricity, water, internet, and other utilities

  • Double room

    A room with a very small single bed designed for one child

3

Good Flatmate or Bad Flatmate?: Sorting

Sorting

Individual

Good flatmate

Cleans up after themselves in the kitchenTells you in advance when friends are coming overPays their share of the bills on time every monthRespects your sleep schedule and keeps quiet at nightAsks before borrowing your things

Bad flatmate

Leaves dirty dishes in the sink for daysPlays loud music at 2 AM on a weekdayEats your food from the fridge without askingNever takes out the rubbish and waits for you to do itBrings strangers home without telling youUses your shampoo, towels, and Netflix accountSmokes inside even though you agreed on no smoking
4

The Flatmate Interview: Roleplay Quest

Roleplay Quest

Individual

Scenario

You have found a nice two-bedroom flat in the city centre. The rent is affordable but only if you share with one other person. You have posted an ad online and someone has replied. Now you are meeting for the first time to decide if you can live together. One of you is the current tenant, the other is the potential new flatmate. Have a conversation: ask questions, share your habits, discuss house rules, and decide if this will work.

  • The Current Tenant

    You have been living in this flat for six months. You love it and want to protect your space. You are tidy, go to bed early, and work from home three days a week. You need a quiet flatmate.

    Secret goal: Ask about their daily routine, cleanliness habits, and social life. Your deal-breakers: smoking, loud music after 10 PM, and pets. Do not list your deal-breakers immediately — discover them naturally through conversation.

  • The Potential Flatmate

    You are desperate to find a flat because your current lease ends in two weeks. This flat is perfect — great location, good price. You really want to make a good impression.

    Secret goal: You are friendly and social. You sometimes have friends over on weekends. You have a small cat but you are not sure if pets are allowed. Do not mention the cat immediately — bring it up when you feel comfortable, or if they ask about pets.

5

How to Rent a Flat — Step by Step: Sequence

Sequence

Individual
  1. Search for flats online and make a shortlist of your favourites
  2. Contact the landlord or agent to arrange a viewing
  3. Visit the flat and check the condition of everything carefully
  4. Ask the landlord about the lease, deposit, bills, and house rules
  5. If you like the flat, fill in an application form and provide references
  6. Sign the lease and pay the deposit and first month's rent
  7. Collect the keys and take photos of the flat before moving your things in
  8. Move in and set up your utilities — electricity, gas, internet
6

The Nightmare Begins: Drama Event

Drama Event

Individual

Scenario

You moved into your new flat two weeks ago. Everything seemed perfect — the flat is nice, the location is great, and your flatmate was friendly during the interview. But things are about to change. React to each situation and explain what you would do.

  • 🧨

    Crisis

    You come home and find five strangers in your living room. Your flatmate is having a party on a Tuesday night. It is 11 PM and you have work at 7 AM tomorrow. What do you do?

  • 🧠

    Revelation

    You open the fridge and your food is gone — again. This is the third time this week. You find your flatmate eating your leftovers in the kitchen. They say they thought it was "shared food."

  • 🔄

    Twist

    Your flatmate tells you their partner is "staying for a few days." It has been three weeks. The partner is using your bathroom products, leaving hair everywhere, and has not paid a single bill.

  • ⏱

    Pressure

    The landlord calls and says a neighbour has complained about noise. If there is one more complaint, you will both be evicted. Your flatmate says it is not their fault.

  • 🚧

    Constraint

    You check your bank account and realise your flatmate has not paid their share of the rent for two months. They say they will "pay you back soon" but give no date.

  • 🎯

    Decision

    You have had enough. You can either have a serious conversation and set new rules, ask them to leave, or move out yourself. But breaking the lease early will cost you one month's deposit. What do you do?

  • 🎲

    settings

  • 🎲

    settings

  • 🎲

    settings

7

What Would You Say?: Speaking Challenge

Speaking Challenge

Individual

Your flatmate keeps leaving dirty dishes in the sink. You have asked twice already. Say something firm but polite — this is the last time you will ask nicely. Use at least 3 phrases: "I need to talk to you about...", "Could you please...", "If this continues, I'll have to..."

I need to talk to you about something...Could you please...I've noticed that...It's not fair that...Would you mind...If this continues, I'll have to...
8

Living Together — The Big Questions: Speed Debate

Speed Debate

Shared
  1. Living alone is always better than sharing a flat with someone.
  2. You should never live with your best friend because it will ruin the friendship.
  3. A landlord should be allowed to visit the flat at any time without warning.
  4. It is okay to read your flatmate's post or open their packages if they are not home.
  5. People who work from home should pay more rent because they use the flat more.
  6. You should always meet a flatmate at least three times before agreeing to live together.
  7. If your flatmate cannot pay rent one month, you should cover for them without complaining.
  8. Couples who want to move in together should live with flatmates first to test the relationship.
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