Problems with Renting a Flat
Speaking | English and Chinese scripts are provided below and you can understand the content easier. https://www.youtube.com/@UpgradeEnglish
Hi Wendy, after touring several flats, do you have any preference?
Thanks for your introduction of each flat. They all look good.
They’re centrally located with convenient access to different parts of the city.
The community is also charming.
The first flat is fully furnished and comes with everything I’ll want.
Right. It’s also designed with style and comfort.
The third flat looks brand new. Has the landlord renovated the flat?
Exactly. The plumbing and electrical wiring were replaced.
They’re perfect. However, I’m afraid that the rents of the first and third flats have exceeded my expected budget.
They’re great value for money. You can just move in direct especially for the first flat.
I prefer the second flat because there is a larger storage space.
The wardrobe design has elevated the living spaces. It’s kept in good condition as well.
It’s semi-furnished and suits my criteria. Do I need to pay for management fee?
No. The rent has already covered management fee, Government rent and rates.
How about utilities charges?
The tenant is responsible for payment of water, electricity and gas costs. If there is any damage, the expenses of the repair would be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
How can I know the existing damages? If they were present, I should not be responsible for the repair costs.
I can help checking with the landlord if there is any record of the damages.
Can I have the list provided by the landlord?
It should not be a problem.
Much appreciated. It can be served as the proof whether I should pay for the damages when I move out of the house.
You can rest assured. If the list is not available, I’ll request the landlord allowing you to arrange the checking before moving in.
Great. Documenting the pre-existing damages by taking photos is the best way to record their severity.
No worries. It’s my job to make sure the smooth process.
Thank you so much.
Please be reminded if the new damage occurs after moving in the property, you may be required to cover the repair cost.
Well. Fair enough. How about the deposit?
Three months’ rent altogether. It covers two months’ rent as the deposit and one month rent as the first month’s rent paid in advance.
It’s expensive. Can the deposit be lowered by the landlord?
Two months’ rent is a standard deposit in the rental market. The landlord normally does not accept any change.
If you’re interested in renting the flat, I can talk to the landlord and ask for a longer rent-free period.
It’s my first time to rent the flat. What’s the meaning of rent-free period?
It’s generally within one week prior to the commencement of tenancy. The landlord offers a tenant the right to enter the flat earlier and carry out fit-out works.
Can you help negotiating with the landlord to get two weeks rent-free period?
It may be a bit long. I’ll try my best effort to extend to 10 days.
It’s fine with me.
The lease term is two years, consisting of a fixed-term tenancy agreement in the first year and a periodic tenancy agreement in the second year.
What does it mean for “periodic”?
For example, the landlord is required to give the tenant one month’s notice to quit in the second year.
Got it. For the first year, if I terminate the lease, I’ve to pay the landlord the rent of the outstanding months. Correct?
You’re right.
Can I negotiate lower rent price? How about 10%?
Rent price growth has stabilised in the past few months. There are several potential tenants. I think the chance is small.
Can you inform the landlord that I’m a professional? I can pay for the rent on time.
Sure. In general, landlords prefer long-term tenants. I’ll make my best effort to ask for 5%.
Thank you so much. Is it a must to stamp on the agreement?
After signing the tenancy agreement, it’ll be stamped at the stamp office. The unstamped agreement cannot be used as evidence in court.
I fully understand your point. It cannot ensure the legal validity of the agreement.
I’ve some questions. My husband is operating a work-from-home business, can I confirm with the landlord if there is any limitation in the rental agreement?
It should not be a problem. I’ll confirm with the landlord.
Does the flat allow keeping pet?
Yes. It’s a pet-friendly apartment.
Fantastic. I’ve one dog and it’s five years old.
Please be reminded that you should not make any alterations to the flat without the landlord’s consent.
I’ll definitely not make any change.
I encountered some cases that the tenants made structural alterations e.g., demolishing load-bearing wall without notifying the landlords.
How about drilling holes in the wall or putting up wallpaper?
For drilling holes, it depends on the number of holes. If there’re too many holes, the landlord may request you to pay for the holes to be repaired.
No matter of wallpaper, flooring or other décor, the landlord may ask you to return the house in the same condition as before.
I’ll take note of them. Regarding the rent price, I’ll wait for your update.
Sure. I’ll send message to you later. I hope it’ll be good news.
Awesome! Thank you.
If you’ve any questions, please ask me via the mobile chat anytime.
Okay. You’re so helpful. Let’s keep in touch!
Disclaimer: The above information is for education of English only.
WITH CHINESE SCRIPT
您好，Wendy，參觀了幾間房子後，您有沒有偏好？
謝謝您對每間房子的介紹，它們看起來都不錯。
它們位於市中心，可以輕鬆前往城市的不同地方。
社區也很迷人。
第一間房子家具齊全，配備了我想要的一切。
是的，它的設計也既時尚又舒適。
第三間房子看起來很新，業主曾經裝修嗎？
正確，水管和電線已更換。
很完美，不過，第一間和第三間房子的租金恐怕超出了我的預期預算。
它們是物超所值，您可以直接入住，尤其是第一間房子。
我更喜歡第二間房子，因為有更大的儲存空間。
衣櫃的設計提升了生活空間的檔次，而且狀況也保持得很好。
它提供部份傢俱，符合我的標準，需要付管理費嗎？
不需要，租金已包括管理費、政府地租及差餉。
水電費怎麼樣？
水費、電費及煤氣費由房客自行承擔，如有損壞，修理費用另議。
我如何知道現有的損壞？如果存在，我不應該負責維修費用。
我可以幫忙向業主查詢是否有任何損壞記錄。
業主可以給我一份清單嗎？
這應該不是問題。
非常感謝，可以作為我搬出時是否需要賠償損壞的證據。
您放心，如果沒有清單，我會請業主允許安排您入住前的檢查。
太棒了，透過拍照記錄預先存在的損壞是記錄其嚴重程度的最佳方式。
別擔心，我的工作就是確保整個過程順利進行。
太感謝了。
請注意，如果入住後出現新的損壞，您可能需要支付維修費用。
嗯，很公平，按金怎麼樣？
總共三個月的房租，其中包括兩個月的房租作為按金，一個月的房租作為第一個月的預付房租。
好貴啊，業主可以降低按金嗎？
兩個月的租金是租賃市場的標準按金，業主一般不接受任何更改。
如果您有興趣租房子，我可以和業主談談，要求更長的免租期。
我第一次租房，免租期是什麼意思？
一般是在租約開始前一週內，業主給予房客提前入住並進行裝修工程的權利。
您能幫忙和業主談判獲得兩週的免租期嗎？
可能有點長，我會盡力延長到10天。
我沒問題。
租賃期限為兩年，包括第一年的固定租賃協議和第二年的定期租賃協議。
「定期」是什麼意思？
例如，業主必須在第二年提前一個月通知租戶退出。
明白了，第一年，如果我終止租約，我必須向業主支付第一年未付月份的租金。對嗎？
您說得對。
我可以協商降低租金嗎？10%是否可以？
這幾個月租金價格增長已趨於穩定，現有幾個潛在租戶，我認為機會很小。
可以告訴業主我是專業人士嗎？我可以準時繳房租。
當然可以，一般來說，業主更喜歡長期房客，我會盡力要求降低5%的租金。
非常感謝，請問租約上一定要打釐印嗎？
租約簽署後，將在印花稅署打釐印，未打釐印的租約不能作為法庭證據。
我完全理解您的要點，租約不能保證協議的法律效力。
我有一些問題。我的丈夫經營在家工作的生意，我可以向業主確認租賃協議是否有任何限制嗎？
應該沒有問題，我會跟業主確認一下。
房子允許養寵物嗎？
可以，這是一間寵物友善的房子。
太棒，我有一隻狗，它五歲了。
請注意，未經業主同意，您不得對房子進行任何改動。
我絕對不會做任何改動。
我曾經遇到一些租戶在沒有通知業主的情況下進行結構性改動，例如拆除承重牆的情況。
在牆上鑽孔或貼牆紙怎麼樣？
鑽孔的話，要看孔的數量，如果孔太多，業主可能會要求您支付修補孔的費用。
無論牆紙、地板或其他裝飾，業主都可能要求您以與以前未搬入時相同的狀況歸還房屋。
我會記錄下來的，關於房租價格，等您更新。
當然，我稍後會發訊息給您，希望這是個好消息。
太棒了，謝謝您。
如果您有任何疑問，請隨時透過手機聊天詢問我。
好的，您非常幫忙，我們保持聯絡吧！
免責聲明：以上資訊僅用於英語教育的用途。