# Looking for a Rental House in the Town: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 3, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 3, Listening Part 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | central | It'd be nice to be central. |
| 2 | 600 | but we could go up to GBP 600 if we have to. ... But we can't go beyond that. |
| 3 | 2 year | We're at college here for two years |
| 4 | garage | It doesn't have a garage ... We'd prefer to have one if possible. |
| 5 | garden | Oh, and there's a big garden. ... We'll be too busy to look after it. |
| 6 | study | Living room, kitchen, diner, and it has a study. |
| 7 | noisy | Oh, that'll be very noisy. |
| 8 | 595 | and it's 595 a month. |
| 9 | B, E | the swimming pool already opened, ahead of schedule |
| 10 | B, E | a plan to replace the existing concert hall with a larger one ... Oh, that's due to start next year. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. central.** The note asks which area of town Steven would like to live in. When the agent asks about location, he answers that it would be nice to be central, so the single word central fills the gap in front of the word area.

**2. 600.** The gap is the maximum monthly rent. Steven would like to pay around GBP 500 but says they could go up to GBP 600 if they have to and cannot go beyond that, so 600 is the upper limit the form asks for.

**3. 2 year.** You need the length of the let. The agent says the minimum let is six months, but Steven replies that they are at college for two years and do not want to move during that time, so the let they require is two years.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/looking-for-a-rental-house-in-the-town/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1, you will hear an estate agent talking to a customer who wants to rent a house.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 8.

**Announcer:** You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.

**Announcer:** On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.

**Woman:** Good morning.

**Woman:** How can I help you?

**Man:** Hello, I'm interested in renting a house somewhere in the town.

**Woman:** Right.

**Woman:** Uh. Could I have your name please?

**Man:** Yes, it's Steven Godfrey.

**Woman:** And tell me how many bedrooms you're looking for.

**Man:** Well, we'd need four, because I'm going to share the house with three friends.

**Announcer:** The number of bedrooms needed is four, so 4 has been written in the space.

**Announcer:** Now we shall begin.

**Announcer:** You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.

**Announcer:** Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 8.

**Woman:** Good morning.

**Woman:** How can I help you?

**Man:** Hello, I'm interested in renting a house somewhere in the town.

**Woman:** Right, uh, could I have your name please?

**Man:** Yes, it's Steven Godfrey.

**Woman:** And tell me how many bedrooms you're looking for.

**Man:** Well, we'd need four, because I'm going to share the house with 3 friends.

**Woman:** OK, there are several of that size on our books.

**Woman:** They mostly belong to families who are working abroad at the moment.

**Woman:** What about the location?

**Man:** It'd be nice to be central.

**Woman:** Uh. That might be difficult, as most houses of that size are in the suburbs.

**Woman:** Still, there are a few.

**Woman:** What's your upper limit for the rent?

**Man:** We'd like something around GBP 500 a month, but we could go up to GBP 600 if we have to.

**Man:** But we can't go beyond that.

**Woman:** Do you know how long you want to rent the house for?

**Woman:** The minimum let is six months as you probably realize.

**Man:** We're at college here for two years, and we don't wanna have to move during that time if we can avoid it.

**Woman:** Right, and how soon do you want to move in?

**Woman:** All our lets start on the 1st of the month.

**Man:** Well, as soon as possible really, so that means September 1st.

**Woman:** OK, let me have a look at what we've got.

**Woman:** Uh. We have photographs of all the houses on our books, so you can get an idea of what they're like.

**Woman:** There's this one in Oakington Avenue, at GBP 550 a month, combined living room and dining room with a separate kitchen.

**Woman:** It doesn't have a garage, though you can park in the road.

**Man:** We'd prefer to have one if possible.

**Woman:** Right, then have a look at this house in Mead Street.

**Woman:** It's got a very large living room and kitchen, bathroom, cloakroom.

**Man:** How much is it?

**Woman:** That one's 580 it's very well furnished and equipped.

**Woman:** It also has plenty of space for parking, and it's available for a minimum of a year.

**Woman:** Oh, and there's a big garden.

**Man:** I don't think we could cope with that to be honest.

**Man:** We'll be too busy to look after it.

**Woman:** OK.

**Woman:** Then there's this older house in Hamilton Road.

**Woman:** Living room, kitchen, diner, and it has a study.

**Woman:** Uh. 550 a month.

**Man:** That looks rather nice, but whereabouts in Hamilton road?

**Woman:** Towards the western end.

**Man:** Oh, that'll be very noisy.

**Man:** I know the area.

**Woman:** Yes, it's pretty lively, but some people like it though.

**Woman:** Well, what about this house in Devon Close?

**Man:** That looks lovely.

**Woman:** There's a big demand for houses in that area, so prices tend to be quite high, but this one hasn't been decorated for a few years, which has kept the rent down a bit.

**Woman:** It's got a living room, dining room, and small kitchen, and it's 595 a month.

**Woman:** I think it would suit you from what you've said.

**Man:** Hmm. It sounds fine.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 9 and 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 9 and 10.

**Man:** Why is that part of town so popular?

**Woman:** Well, there's a big scheme to improve the district, and it'll soon have the best facilities for miles around.

**Man:** What sort of thing?

**Woman:** There's a big sports center under construction, which will be very impressive when it's finished.

**Woman:** In fact, the swimming pool already opened, ahead of schedule, and it's attracting a lot of people.

**Man:** what about cinemas? Are there any in the area?

**Woman:** The only one closed down last year, and it's now in the process of being converted into a film museum.

**Woman:** The local people are trying to get a new cinema added to the scheme.

**Man:** I think I heard something about a plan to replace the existing concert hall with a larger one.

**Woman:** Oh, that's due to start next year.

**Man:** Well, it sounds an interesting area to live in.

**Man:** Hmm. Could I go and see the house please?

**Woman:** Yes, of course.

**Announcer:** That is the end of section 1.

**Announcer:** You now have half a minute to check your answers.

[Practice Looking for a Rental House in the Town](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/looking-for-a-rental-house-in-the-town)