Free guide · Level A2
Talking to your landlord in Spanish: how to report a breakdown and ask for a repair
Sooner or later something breaks: the hot water, the washing machine, the lights. You don't need much Spanish for your landlord, but you do need the exact words, and a clear message usually gets the problem sorted faster.
Who's who
- →El propietario or la propietaria: the person who owns the flat. El casero or la casera means the same, in everyday speech (the landlord).
- →El inquilino or la inquilina: the person who rents the flat. That's you (the tenant).
- →La inmobiliaria: the estate agency that manages the rental. Sometimes you deal with it instead of the owner.
Saying what's wrong
To say something isn't working you have three simple structures, and one handy verb for taps.
No funciona la calefacción.The heating doesn't work. With «no funciona»: the most useful form
No hay agua caliente.There's no hot water. With «hay»: something that should exist doesn't
La lavadora está rota.The washing machine is broken. «Estar» + participle: the state it's in
El grifo del baño gotea.The bathroom tap is dripping. «Gotear»: water falls bit by bit
Watch out for this«Broken» is a state, so it takes «estar»: «la lavadora está rota», never «es rota».
Asking for a repair
¿Puede venir alguien a mirarlo?Can someone come and have a look? «Poder» + infinitive, with «usted»
¿Cuándo puede venir?When can they come?
Es urgente.It's urgent. To warn that it can't wait
Estoy en casa por las tardes.I'm at home in the afternoons. To make the visit easy
A model WhatsApp message
Hola, Marta, soy Alex, del piso de la calle Tulipán. Desde ayer no hay agua caliente en el baño. ¿Puede venir alguien a mirarlo? Estoy en casa por las tardes. Gracias.Hi Marta, it's Alex, from the flat on Tulipán street. Since yesterday there's been no hot water in the bathroom. Can someone come and have a look? I'm at home in the afternoons. Thanks. The message says who is writing, what's wrong and since when, asks for a fix and gives availability
Watch out for thisWith an older landlord, or one you don't know, use «usted»: «¿Puede venir…?». With someone your age, people use «tú»: «¿Puedes venir…?». If in doubt, start with «usted».