#28 Reporting Housing Problems to a Building Manager｜English Daily-Life Phrases

When living abroad, everyday issues such as an electrical outage or water supply problems may occur.

In such situations, if I can explain the issue to the building manager in English, it becomes easier to receive prompt assistance.

In this article, I explain useful English expressions for reporting housing problems, requesting repairs, and describing issues in detail.

Dialogue

A

I’m having some trouble with the electricity in my apartment.

B

I’m sorry to hear that. What seems to be the problem?

A

The lights in the kitchen won’t turn on. I’ve already tried replacing the bulb, but it didn’t help.

B

I see. I’ll have someone check it this afternoon.

A

Thank you. Also, the bathroom faucet is leaking a little.

B

Got it. I’ll have the plumber take a look at that, too.

1. Basic Structure for Reporting Housing Problems

“I’m having trouble with ～.” is a useful phrase for reporting a problem.

By adding “with + the item” (e.g., the light / the sink), I can specify what is causing the issue.

The present continuous tense expresses that the issue is happening now or is ongoing.

This expression can be used not only for electrical or water-related problems but also for issues with the internet, water heater, and other household equipment.

2. Useful Expressions for Describing Specific Issues

Here are useful verbs and expressions to describe the type of problem clearly.

2-1. won’t turn on

To explain that something will not switch on, use won’t (will not) to express that it does not respond even when I try to turn it on.

2-2. is leaking

For water-related issues, such as a faucet leak, use the verb leak.

If the water leakage is minor, use adverbs such as a little or slightly.

2-3. I’ve already tried ～, but …

To explain that I attempted a solution myself, but it did not fix the problem:

Using the present perfect (have + past participle) indicates that the action has been completed.

3. Expressions for Arranging Repairs

A commonly used expression from the manager’s side is:

“I’ll have someone / a plumber + verb.” → meaning “I will arrange for someone to handle it.”

This is called the causative structure (have + person + base verb), and it is particularly useful when arranging for someone to address the issue.

4. Phrases for Reporting Additional Problems

If I want to report another issue after mentioning one, using “Also,” or “By the way,” makes the transition smooth.

This helps organize multiple concerns clearly so the manager can respond appropriately.

Summary