General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · complaint

Letter to landlord regarding unsatisfactory apartment repair work

The apartment that you have rented was repaired recently. Later you discovered some defects in repairs.

Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter:

explain what the problem is
suggest how it can be fixed
say what you would like the landlord to do about it

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to bring your attention to several issues following the recent maintenance work conducted in my apartment last Tuesday.

While the contractor replaced the kitchen tiles as requested, the final result is disappointing. Firstly, the grouting between the tiles is uneven and has already begun to crack in several areas. Furthermore, the new sink installation appears to be poorly sealed, resulting in a persistent leak that is causing water to pool inside the cabinet underneath. This has already damaged the wooden base of the cupboard.

To resolve this, I suggest that you send a professional plumber to properly seal the sink and a tiler to rectify the uneven grouting. I am available throughout this coming weekend if you would like to arrange for them to visit.

Given the inconvenience caused and the potential for further water damage to the property, I would appreciate it if you could prioritise these repairs as soon as possible. Please let me know when the contractors will arrive so I can ensure someone is home to provide access.

Thank you for your prompt assistance with this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Rivers

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with a logical flow and a consistent, polite, yet firm semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific details about the defects, instead using vague language like 'the work is bad', which lacks the necessary detail for a high-scoring response.

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

maintenance work: tasks performed to keep a property in good condition
disappointing: failing to fulfill someone's hopes or expectations
grouting: the material used to fill gaps between tiles
persistent: continuing to happen in a way that is troublesome
rectify: to put something right or correct a mistake
prioritise: to treat something as more important than other things

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.