General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to real estate agency regarding house maintenance

You have rented a four-bedroom house, which you share with two other students. However, there are several problems with this house that need fixing. You also find it expensive and would like to find another student to share the spare bedroom.

Write a letter to the real estate agency. In your letter:

explain your situation
describe the problems with the house
say what you would like to happen

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 discuss my tenancy at 14 Oakwood Terrace, which I currently share with two fellow students. While we enjoy the location, our experience has been marred by several ongoing issues that require your immediate attention.

Regrettably, the property is in a state of disrepair. The heating system in the communal lounge has been non-functional for over a week, making the space uninhabitable during these cold evenings. Furthermore, there is a persistent leak under the kitchen sink that is causing significant dampness in the cabinetry, which I fear may lead to mould growth if left unaddressed.

Given that the rent remains quite high despite these defects, I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a professional plumber and heating engineer to visit the property as soon as possible. Additionally, as we are struggling with the monthly costs, we intend to advertise the vacant fourth bedroom to another student. I would like your confirmation that you have no objection to us finding a new housemate to share the expenses.

I look forward to your prompt response regarding these repairs.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with a clear, professional tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to link the request for a new housemate to the financial situation or using an overly informal tone inappropriate for a real estate agency.

Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

Useful phrases from the letter

marred: spoiled or damaged the quality of something
disrepair: a poor condition due to lack of maintenance
uninhabitable: not fit to be lived in by people
persistent: continuing to happen over a long period
dampness: a state of being slightly wet or moist
prompt: done without delay or in a timely manner

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?

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

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.