General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · request

Letter to Landlord Requesting Lease Extension

Five months ago, you started renting an apartment on a six-month agreement. You now wish to stay in the apartment for longer than the six months you originally agreed with the owner.

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

say how long you now want to rent the apartment for
explain why your plans have changed
tell the owner about a problem in the apartment

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 my current lease for the apartment on Oak Street, which is due to conclude next month. Having thoroughly enjoyed living here for the past five months, I would like to propose extending my stay for an additional six months.

My decision to request this extension stems from a recent change in my employment circumstances. I have been offered a promotion that requires me to remain in this city until the end of the year, rather than relocating as I had originally planned. This apartment has been an ideal base for me, and I would appreciate the stability of remaining here.

Additionally, I would like to bring a minor maintenance issue to your attention. The kitchen tap has developed a persistent drip, which is becoming increasingly noisy and wasteful. I have attempted to tighten the fixture, but the issue persists. Could you please arrange for a plumber to inspect it at your earliest convenience?

I hope we can reach an agreement regarding the extension, as I would be delighted to continue my tenancy. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Mercer

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses the prompt's requirements with a natural, consistent tone and clear paragraph structure. A common Band 6 error is failing to explain the change in plans in sufficient detail or omitting the specific maintenance request, leading to an incomplete task.

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

conclude: To bring something to an end or finish.
circumstances: The facts or conditions connected with an event.
relocating: Moving to a new place to live or work.
persistent: Continuing firmly in a course of action or state.
convenience: A time that is suitable or easy for someone.
tenancy: The occupation of land or property as a tenant.

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.

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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.