In the IELTS Speaking test, it is highly likely that IELTS examiner will ask you to talk about the place you live or would like to live in. In today’s post, I will group a great number of phrases and collocations about Accommodation, into one single post to help you find it much easier when it comes to speaking about home and renting a home.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Owning your Home

Benefits

Your privacy would be protected

Example: Owning a home can allow the owner to protect their privacy. For instance, if you live with a roommate who always makes noise, you will find it difficult to focus on your work.

You can take pride in your ownership

Example: People who own their home can take pride in their ownership.

Drawbacks

You have to be responsible for maintenance costs

Example: When you live in your home, you will have to be responsible for maintenance costs.

You have to make a long-term commitment

Example: When buying a house, people will be required to make a long-term commitment.

Common Phrases and Idioms for IELTS Speaking Topic: Accommodation

1. Apartment block: a large building made up of small units of apartments

Example: In a big city, people usually chose to live in apartment blocks.

2. Rented accommodation: property owned by someone else and for which a person pays a fixed amount to live in

Example: People who do not have enough money to buy a house normally live in rented accommodations.

3. To own your own home: to have bought the property you lived in

Example: It has been my dream to own my own home in a building complex before I’m turning 25.

4. Dream home: a home you regard as perfect

Example: My dream home should have two balconies, where I can experience the city’s view with my family.

5. Back garden: a garden at the rear of the house

Example: A ideal house should have a back garden, then people who live in can get closer to nature every time.

6. Spacious room: a large room

Example: Their new apartment has five spacious rooms, which is comfortable for them to live in

7. To take out a mortgage: to borrow a large amount of money, paid pack over several years, to buy a house

Example: The house that she was interested in is really expensive, then She had to take out a mortgage.

8. To do up a property: to repair an old building

Example: One of my favourite thing is doing up an old property, each time I do this, I feel a sense of satisfaction.

9. To pay rent in advance: weekly or monthly rent paid at the beginning of the week or month

Example: Generally, rented accommodation requires that people who hire a house need to pay rent in advance.

10. Permanent address: a fixed address

Example: I need you to provide me with a permanent address, so I could make contact with you when is needed.

11. To get on the property ladder: to buy a property with the aim of buying another bigger or more expensive one later in life

Example: when I’m turning 25, I would like to settle down and get on the property ladder.

12. Mod cons: technology at home that makes jobs easier such as a washing machine, dishwasher

Example: The house is equipped with mod cons, which can make people’lives more comfortable.

13. To live on campus: to live on the university or college grounds

Example: I prefer living on campus because I could have the chance to make a lot of new friends there.

14. To move into: to begin to live in a property

Example: I starting to move into the new house on 28th September.

15. The suburbs: a residential area on the edge of tows or cities

Example: In the modern world, many people prefer to live in the suburbs, because the environment is much fresher.