General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · making arrangements

Letter to Landlord Explaining Apartment Move-in Delay

You are due to move into a rented apartment next month but you will not be able to because you have some problems.

Write a letter to the owner of the apartment. In your letter:

explain your situation
describe your problems
tell him/her when you think you can move in

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing regarding the lease agreement for the apartment on High Street, which is scheduled to commence on the first of next month. Unfortunately, I have encountered an unforeseen change in my circumstances that will prevent me from taking possession of the property on our agreed date.

My current employer has unexpectedly required me to complete a project in Manchester that was not originally on my schedule. This assignment is mandatory and will keep me away from the city until the end of next month. Furthermore, I am currently dealing with a family emergency that requires my presence in another region, adding significant complexity to my relocation plans.

Given these developments, I would like to request a delay in my move-in date. I am confident that I will be able to relocate and settle into the apartment by the fifteenth of the following month. I am fully prepared to pay the rent for the period I am away to ensure the property remains secured for my tenancy.

I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

189 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical details while maintaining a consistent, respectful semi-formal tone throughout. The most common Band 6 error is failing to provide a clear, realistic proposed move-in date or providing vague excuses that do not justify the request.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

commence: to begin or start a specific event
unforeseen: not anticipated or predicted before it happened
possession: the state of having or owning something
mandatory: required by rules or by a contract
relocation: the process of moving to a new place
tenancy: the period of renting a property

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.