Claire: Hi Mr. Turner, this is Claire from apartment 3B, I’m calling
because there’s a problem with the hot water. Mr. Turner: Oh, hello Claire, what exactly is happening with the hot
water?
Claire: Since yesterday evening there has been no hot water at all, only
cold water comes out of the taps. Mr. Turner: I see, so there’s no hot water in the kitchen or in the
bathroom, right?
Claire: That’s right, I tried both the shower and the sink and it’s
completely cold. Mr. Turner: Have you checked the boiler, is there any error light or
unusual noise?
Claire: I looked at the boiler, there’s a red light flashing and it makes
a clicking sound. Mr. Turner: Okay, that usually means the boiler has stopped working and
needs a technician.
Claire: It’s a bit urgent, I couldn’t take a proper shower this morning
and I work early tomorrow. Mr. Turner: I understand, no hot water is a serious problem, I’ll call
the plumber as soon as possible.
Claire: Do you think someone could come today or tomorrow morning? Mr. Turner: I’ll phone our usual plumber now and ask for the first
available appointment.
Claire: Thank you, I really hope it can be fixed quickly, it’s very
inconvenient. Mr. Turner: I know, I’m sorry for the trouble, these things sometimes
happen with old boilers.
Claire: Who will pay for the repair, is it my responsibility or yours? Mr. Turner: According to the rental contract, major repairs like the
boiler are my responsibility as the landlord.
Claire: That’s good to know, I was worried I might have to pay a big bill. Mr. Turner: Don’t worry, you only have to take care of small things like
light bulbs or minor damage you cause.
Claire: Okay, and what happens if the plumber can’t fix it today and
there is still no hot water? Mr. Turner: If it can’t be repaired immediately, I’ll try to provide a
temporary solution, maybe a small electric water heater.
Claire: I appreciate that, I just need some way to shower and wash dishes. Mr. Turner: Of course, you have the right to basic services like hot
water in the apartment.
Claire: Will you let me know when the plumber is coming, so I can be at
home? Mr. Turner: Yes, as soon as I speak to him, I’ll call or text you with
the time of the visit.
Claire: Thank you, also I wanted to mention that the boiler has been
making strange noises for weeks. Mr. Turner: I’m glad you told me, maybe it needs a full check, not just a
quick repair.
Claire: If it needs to be replaced, will that take a long time? Mr. Turner: It depends on the model, but if we need a new one, I’ll
organise it as fast as I can.
Claire: All right, I understand, I just want to be sure this doesn’t
happen again every month. Mr. Turner: I completely agree, a proper repair or replacement should
solve the problem for a long time.
Claire: Is there anything else you need from me now, like photos of the
boiler or the red light? Mr. Turner: Yes, if you can send me a photo by message, that will help
the plumber identify the model and the issue.
Claire: I’ll send you the photos right after this call. Mr. Turner: Perfect, thank you, I’ll contact the plumber and get back to
you within the next hour.
Claire: Thanks for taking this seriously, Mr. Turner, I was worried you
might say it’s not urgent. Mr. Turner: No, I understand it’s important, and as your landlord I want
the flat to be in good condition.
Claire: All right, I’ll wait for your message about the plumber. Mr. Turner: Great, speak to you soon, and again, sorry for the
inconvenience, Claire.
Claire: Thank you, talk to you later. Mr. Turner: Goodbye.
* Si quieres mejorar tu pronunciación y comprensión de audio
en inglés puedes descargar nuestro
Curso de inglés en audio
VOCABULARIO CLAVE DEL DIÁLOGO
En este diálogo
aparece vocabulario muy útil para hablar de problemas en una vivienda alquilada.
Términos
básicos: tenant (inquilino), landlord (casero/propietario),
apartment (piso), rental contract (contrato de alquiler),
flat en otros contextos.
Problema concreto: hot water (agua caliente), cold water (agua
fría), taps (grifos), shower (ducha), sink (lavabo o
fregadero), boiler (caldera, muy importante), red light flashing
(luz roja parpadeando), clicking sound (ruido de clics).
Reparaciones: technician, plumber (fontanero), repair,
fix, major repairs (reparaciones importantes), minor damage
(daños menores), temporary solution, electric water heater.
Responsabilidad y contrato: “Who will pay for the repair, is it my
responsibility or yours?”, “According to the rental contract…”,
“are my responsibility as the landlord”, “you only have to take care of
small things”.
Para describir
la situación: “since yesterday evening there has been no hot water at all”,
“it’s completely cold”, “it’s a bit urgent”, “it’s very
inconvenient”, “a serious problem”.
Para hablar de derechos: “you have the right to basic services like hot water
in the apartment”.
EXPRESIONES Y
FRASES HECHAS IMPORTANTES
Presentarse por
teléfono:
“Hi Mr. Turner, this is Claire from apartment 3B” es una fórmula perfecta
para llamadas formales o semi-formales. This is + nombre es la estructura
típica al teléfono.
Describir el
problema con claridad:
“There has been no hot water at all”, “only cold water comes out of
the taps”, “I tried both the shower and the sink”. Son frases muy
directas y claras, sin tecnicismos.
Mostrar
urgencia con educación:
“It’s a bit urgent”, “I couldn’t take a proper shower this morning”,
“I really hope it can be fixed quickly, it’s very inconvenient”.
En inglés es habitual suavizar con expresiones como a bit, really hope,
inconvenient en vez de sonar agresivo.
Respuestas del
casero que suenan profesionales:
“I understand, no hot water is a serious problem” reconoce la gravedad.
“I’ll call the plumber as soon as possible” y “I’ll ask for the first
available appointment” muestran acción inmediata.
“According to the rental contract…” introduce la base legal de forma
neutra.
“You have the right to basic services like hot water” reconoce los
derechos del inquilino.
“I’m sorry for the trouble” y “sorry for the inconvenience” son
fórmulas estándar de disculpa.
Fórmulas de
seguimiento y coordinación:
“Will you let me know when the plumber is coming, so I can be at home?”
“I’ll call or text you with the time of the visit”
“Can you send me a photo…? That will help the plumber identify the model and
the issue”
“I’ll contact the plumber and get back to you within the next hour” (get
back to you = volver a contactar contigo).
GRAMÁTICA
DESTACABLE
Uso del
PRESENTE PERFECTO para un problema reciente y continuo
“Since yesterday evening there has been no hot water at all” combina
since + pasado con present perfect para indicar que el problema
empezó ayer y sigue ahora.
Estructura muy útil: There has been + problema para cosas que han
ocurrido recientemente y tienen efecto ahora.
Uso de PRESENTE
SIMPLE para hechos y normas
“Only cold water comes out of the taps”
“The boiler has stopped working and needs a technician” (mezcla con
perfecto)
“Major repairs are my responsibility”
“You only have to take care of small things”
El presente simple se usa para describir la situación general y las reglas del
contrato.
CONDICIONAL
TIPO 1 para soluciones y escenarios
“If it can’t be repaired immediately, I’ll try to provide a temporary
solution”
Estructura: If + presente, will + verbo. Muy típica para prometer
soluciones: If X happens, I’ll do Y.
MODALES “WILL”,
“CAN”, “MIGHT” IMPLÍCITOS
“I’ll call the plumber” (promesa/decisión).
“Will you let me know when…?” (petición educada).
“Can you send me a photo?” (petición práctica).
“It depends on the model, but if we need a new one, I’ll organise it as fast
as I can” (can para capacidad/posibilidad).
FORMAS EDUCADAS
DE PREGUNTAR Y ACLARAR
“What exactly is happening…?”
“Who will pay for the repair, is it my responsibility or yours?”
“What happens if the plumber can’t fix it today?”
Son preguntas directas pero suenan neutras y respetuosas.
DIFERENCIAS
IDIOMÁTICAS Y CULTURALES
Relación
inquilino–casero
En inglés se usa casi siempre tenant y landlord/landlady, no tanto
owner. Es normal hablar de responsibility, major repairs,
minor damage, according to the rental contract cuando se discuten
problemas.
El tono esperado es firme pero educado: se insiste en que el problema es serio (“serious
problem”, “basic services”) pero se acompaña de gracias y disculpas.
Derechos
básicos en la vivienda
Frases como “you have the right to basic services like hot water”
reflejan que en muchos países anglófonos se ve el agua caliente, la calefacción,
etc. como servicios esenciales que el casero debe garantizar.
Cómo se habla
de urgencia
En lugar de “es muy urgente”, se usa más:
“It’s a bit urgent”
“It’s very inconvenient”
“I work early tomorrow”
Se da contexto para justificar la urgencia, no solo se etiqueta el problema como
“urgente”.
Uso constante
de disculpas y empatía
El casero dice varias veces “I’m sorry for the trouble / inconvenience”,
y el inquilino también muestra comprensión: no hay gritos, sino una negociación
basada en responsabilidades y soluciones. Este tono es típico en inglés formal y
semi-formal.
CONSEJOS
PRÁCTICOS PARA HISPANOHABLANTES
Para INICIAR LA
LLAMADA Y DESCRIBIR EL PROBLEMA
Puedes usar frases como: “Hi [Mr/Ms + apellido], this is [tu nombre] from apartment [número]. I’m
calling because there’s a problem with the [hot water / heating / window].” “Since yesterday evening there has been no hot water at all, only cold water
comes out of the taps.” “It’s a bit urgent because I need to shower before work tomorrow.”
Para HABLAR DE
RESPONSABILIDAD Y COSTES “Who will pay for the repair, is it my responsibility or yours?” “According to the rental contract, I think this is a major repair.” “I can take care of small things, but I can’t pay for the boiler.”
Para PEDIR
SOLUCIONES Y PLAZOS “Do you think someone could come today or tomorrow morning?” “What happens if it can’t be repaired today?” “Could you let me know when the plumber is coming, so I can be at home?”
Para MANTENER
UN TONO EDUCADO PERO FIRME
Usa expresiones como: “I really hope it can be fixed quickly, it’s very inconvenient.” “I appreciate that, I just need some way to shower and wash dishes.” “I was worried you might say it’s not urgent.”
Y para CERRAR
LA CONVERSACIÓN “Thank you for taking this seriously.” “I’ll wait for your message about the technician.”
RESUMEN
OPERATIVO
En una conversación en inglés sobre problemas con el casero o la vivienda,
es clave:
Describir el problema con datos concretos usando estructuras tipo “there has
been no…”, “only X comes out”.
Hablar de responsabilidad con expresiones como “according to the rental
contract”, “major repairs”, “my responsibility / your
responsibility”.
Pedir soluciones y plazos con condicionales sencillos (“If it can’t be
repaired today, what happens?”) y modales (“Could you…?”, “Will you…?”)
manteniendo un tono cortes pero claro.
