Letter to a Landlord About Repairs

IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback

Writing Prompt

You are renting a flat, and there are several things that need to be repaired.

Write a letter to your landlord. In your letter:

explain how long you have been living in the flat
describe the repairs that are needed
suggest a convenient time for the work to be carried out

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Mr Thomas,

Show Band 8–9 model answer

Dear Mr Thomas,

I am writing to inform you of a number of maintenance issues that have arisen in the flat I have been renting from you for the past eighteen months.

Over the last few weeks, several problems have developed. First, the boiler has been working intermittently, meaning there is often no hot water in the mornings. This is particularly inconvenient as I start work early. Second, there is a persistent leak under the kitchen sink, which has already caused some damage to the cupboard floor and a slight smell of damp. Finally, two of the electrical sockets in the living room are loose, and I am concerned they may pose a safety risk.

As I work full-time from Monday to Friday, the most convenient time for repairs would be at weekends, preferably on Saturday mornings. Alternatively, if you need to send tradespeople during the week, I could arrange to work from home on one or two days, provided I receive at least 48 hours’ notice.

I would be grateful if these repairs could be arranged at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,
James Warren

Why this response works

This letter would score highly across the four criteria. It fully addresses all bullet points with clear, relevant detail, showing strong task achievement. Coherence and cohesion are evident in the logical paragraphing (introduction, description of problems, timing, close) and smooth linking phrases such as “First, second, finally” and “Alternatively”. Lexical resource is strong, with natural, topic-appropriate phrases like “maintenance issues”, “intermittently”, “safety risk” and “at your earliest convenience”. Grammatical range and accuracy are high, with varied complex sentences, accurate tense use, and correct formal letter conventions (salutation, closing, tone).