General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · request

Letter to landlord requesting urgent property repairs

Your rental accommodation was recently damaged due to bad weather.

Write a letter to the landlord and. In your letter:

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 to inform you about some significant damage to the property at 14 Oak Street, which occurred during the severe storms that swept through the area last Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, a large branch from the oak tree in the front garden fell onto the roof during the gale-force winds. This impact has caused a breach in the tiling, which has led to substantial water leaking into the master bedroom ceiling.

It is imperative that this is addressed immediately, as the plaster is becoming saturated and there is a high risk of electrical shorts in the overhead lighting fixtures. Furthermore, the persistent moisture will undoubtedly lead to mould growth if the roof is not sealed promptly, which would be detrimental to both the property structure and my health.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a professional roofer to inspect the damage and replace the broken tiles as soon as possible. Additionally, the ceiling will likely require drying out and repainting once the leak is fully rectified to prevent any permanent staining.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

192 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 consistently professional semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a logical reason for the urgency, instead simply stating the landlord must fix it without explaining the potential consequences like mould or electrical hazards.

Useful phrases from the letter

gale-force
extremely strong winds capable of causing damage
breach
a gap or break in a solid surface
saturated
thoroughly soaked with water or other liquid
detrimental
tending to cause harm or negative effects
rectified
corrected or put right a bad situation
imperative
of vital importance and needing immediate attention

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

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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.

What does the examiner look for?

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical details while maintaining a consistently professional semi-formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a logical reason for the urgency, instead simply stating the landlord must fix it without explaining the potential consequences like mould or electrical hazards.

More request letters