Apartment Maintenance – Reporting a Problem

Scene: The lobby of an apartment building. Kyung walks into the office with photos on his phone and a small towel in his hand.

Conversation

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): Good morning. How can I help you?

TENANT (KYUNG): Good morning. I live in apartment 204. I need to report a maintenance problem in my kitchen.

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): Okay, what seems to be the problem?

TENANT (KYUNG): The sink is leaking under the cabinet. The floor was wet this morning, and I’m worried it might damage the wood.

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): I see. Thank you for telling us right away. Is the leak constant, or does it only happen when you run the water?

TENANT (KYUNG): It leaks every time I use the sink, especially when I use hot water.

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): All right. Can I get your phone number in case the maintenance worker needs to call you?

TENANT (KYUNG): Sure, it’s 555-394-2781.

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): Thank you. Did any of your belongings get damaged—like boxes, cleaning supplies, or anything stored under the sink?

TENANT (KYUNG): A few paper bags got wet, but nothing expensive. I cleaned up the water with towels.

MANAGER (MRS. HILL): That’s good. Please avoid using the sink until we can take a look. I’ll see if Marcos is available this afternoon.

A few hours later, Marcos knocks on the door of apartment 204.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): Hi, I’m Marcos from maintenance. Are you Kyung?

TENANT (KYUNG): Yes, that’s me. Thanks for coming. The leak is under the kitchen sink.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): No problem. Can you show me where the water is coming from?

TENANT (KYUNG): Sure. When I turn on the water, it starts to drip right here around this pipe.

Kyung turns on the faucet. Marcos looks under the sink with a flashlight.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): Okay, I see the leak. The connection on this pipe is loose, and the seal is worn out. I’ll need to shut off the water for a few minutes while I fix it.

TENANT (KYUNG): That’s fine. Do you need me to move anything?

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): If you could move these cleaning bottles, that would be great. I don’t want them to get in the way.

Kyung moves the bottles and stands to the side while Marcos works.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): All right, I tightened the connection and replaced the seal. Let’s turn the water back on and test it.

TENANT (KYUNG): Okay.

Kyung turns on the faucet again. Marcos watches carefully under the sink.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): Good news—no more dripping. I’ll leave a small bucket here just in case, but I don’t expect any more leaks.

TENANT (KYUNG): That’s great. Thank you so much. Do I need to sign anything?

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): Yes, just sign here on the work order to show that the problem was fixed.

TENANT (KYUNG): All right. If it starts leaking again, should I call the office?

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): Yes, call the office or submit another maintenance request online. We’ll come back and check it.

TENANT (KYUNG): Will I be charged for this repair?

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): No, plumbing repairs like this are covered by the building. There’s no charge to you.

TENANT (KYUNG): Okay, that’s a relief. Thank you again for your help.

MAINTENANCE (MARCOS): You’re welcome. Have a good day.

— THE END —

Vocabulary List

Tenant /ˈtenənt/ (n.) a person who rents an apartment or house from a landlord. Example: Kyung is a tenant in apartment 204.
Property manager /ˈprɑːpərti ˈmænɪdʒər/ (n.) a person who manages an apartment building or rental property. Example: Mrs. Hill is the property manager for the building.
Maintenance request /ˈmeɪntənəns rɪˈkwest/ (n.) a formal request asking someone to repair something in a building. Example: He needs to submit a maintenance request for the leaking sink.
Leak /liːk/ (n.) when water or another liquid escapes from a pipe or container by accident. Example: There is a leak under the kitchen sink.
Cabinet /ˈkæbɪnət/ (n.) a piece of furniture with doors and shelves, often under a sink. Example: The cabinet floor under the sink is wet.
Pipe /paɪp/ (n.) a tube that carries water, gas, or other liquids. Example: The pipe connection is loose and leaking.
Shut off (the water) /ʃʌt ɔːf ðə ˈwɔːtər/ (phrasal v.) to stop the flow of water by turning a valve or handle. Example: He needs to shut off the water to fix the pipe.
Work order /wɜːrk ˈɔːrdər/ (n.) a form that describes a repair job that needs to be done. Example: The tenant signs the work order after the repair.
Covered (by the building) /ˈkʌvərd baɪ ðə ˈbɪldɪŋ/ (adj.) paid for by the landlord or property owner, not by the tenant. Example: Plumbing repairs are covered by the building.
Damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ (n.) harm to something that makes it less useful or valuable. Example: He is worried about water damage to the wood.

Apartment Maintenance: Reporting a Problem

Characters:

Conversation

Vocabulary List