The heating in the flat you rent has not been working properly for two weeks, despite you reporting it. Write a letter to your letting agency.
A full IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 letter to a letting agent about an unresolved heating fault at Band 6.0, 7.0 and 8.5, with the structure, register and language it needs, and why each version scores what it does.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The heating in the flat you rent has not been working properly for two weeks, despite you reporting it. Write a letter to your letting agency.
In your letter,
remind them when and how you first reported the problem
explain the effect the problem is having on you
say what you would like them to do and by when
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
This is a follow-up complaint, so the letter has to prove a paper trail — exact dates and what was promised — without turning into a list of dates and times. The real difficulty is balancing that evidence with a clear, believable account of the discomfort caused, and ending on a firm, specific deadline rather than an open-ended threat, which is where many candidates go either too soft or too aggressive.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Sir or Madam, — unless a named contact handled your tenancy, keep the impersonal opening; if a manager's name is on file, switch to 'Dear Mr/Ms [Surname],' and 'Yours sincerely,' instead.
Opening — Remind the agency of your address and tenancy details, then state the problem in the same sentence.
Body 1 — Restate exactly when and how you first reported the fault, so there is a clear record the agency cannot dispute.
Body 2 — Explain concretely how the lack of heating is affecting your daily life, not just that it is 'inconvenient'.
Body 3 — Give one specific, reasonable deadline for the repair, so the letter ends with a clear next step rather than an open complaint.
Closing — State what you will do if nothing happens by that date, then sign off formally.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
166 words
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about the heating problem in my flat at 22 Riverside Court, which I rent through your agency. The heating has not worked properly for two weeks now.
I first reported this problem on 4 October by phone, and I called again on 9 October because nobody came to fix it. I was told someone would visit within a few days, but no one has come yet.
Because there is no heating, my flat is very cold, especially at night, and it is difficult to sleep or relax at home. I have started using a small electric heater, which is costing me extra money. This is not a situation I expected when I signed the tenancy agreement.
I would like this problem to be fixed by 20 October at the latest. If it is not fixed by then, I will have to contact the council about this issue.
I hope to hear from you very soon.
Yours faithfully, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 6.0
States the timeline plainly: 'I first reported this problem on 4 October by phone, and I called again on 9 October'
Simple cause-effect sentences: 'Because there is no heating, my flat is very cold'
The deadline is stated but with plain phrasing: 'I would like this problem to be fixed by 20 October at the latest'
Vocabulary is accurate but basic throughout, with no attempt at more formal alternatives
Band 7.0 model answer
178 words
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing regarding the ongoing heating problem in my flat at 22 Riverside Court, which I rent through your agency, and which has now gone unresolved for two weeks.
I first reported the fault by phone on 4 October and followed this up with a second call on 9 October, after no engineer had attended. On that occasion I was assured that someone would visit within a few days; however, no one has been sent to date.
As a result of the lack of heating, my flat has become extremely cold, particularly overnight, making it difficult to sleep comfortably. I have had to rely on an electric heater in the meantime, which has noticeably increased my electricity costs.
I would therefore ask that this issue be resolved no later than 20 October. Should the heating remain unrepaired after this date, I will have no choice but to raise the matter with the local council.
I trust this will not be necessary, and I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours faithfully, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 7.0
'ongoing heating problem' and 'unresolved for two weeks' show more precise, formal vocabulary than a plainer version
The connector 'however, no one has been sent to date' uses a formal contrast marker accurately
'I would therefore ask that this issue be resolved no later than 20 October' is a controlled, formal request structure
'I will have no choice but to raise the matter with the local council' is an accurate, appropriately firm formal phrase
Band 8.5 model answer
200 words
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing regarding the heating in my flat at 22 Riverside Court, which I rent through your agency and which has now been faulty for two weeks despite my having reported it twice.
I first reported the fault by telephone on 4 October, and, when no engineer had attended nearly a week later, I called again on 9 October to follow it up. On that occasion I was assured that someone would visit within a few days; to date, however, nobody has been sent.
The practical effect of this has been considerable: the flat becomes bitterly cold overnight, sleep has become genuinely difficult, and I have had to rely on an electric heater whose running cost is not one I should reasonably have to bear.
I would therefore ask that an engineer be sent to carry out the repair no later than 20 October. Should the heating remain unresolved beyond that date, I will regard myself as having little choice but to raise the matter formally with the local council.
I trust this will prove unnecessary, and I would welcome confirmation, at your earliest convenience, that a visit has been arranged.
Yours faithfully, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 8.5
'to date, however, nobody has been sent' places the contrast mid-sentence for natural emphasis, not just at the start
'whose running cost is not one I should reasonably have to bear' is a flexible, appositive-style clause showing sophisticated grammar
'I will regard myself as having little choice but to' is precisely judged, formal, and idiomatic rather than a stock phrase
The closing 'I would welcome confirmation, at your earliest convenience, that a visit has been arranged' embeds the request naturally inside a single complex sentence
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.
This is a formal letter question. The answers above show you what each band looks like when it is finished. What they cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in twenty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the letter is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Answers checked here may be published on this page, without your name, to help other learners. Nothing else about you is stored.
Common questions
Do I need to give the exact dates I reported the problem?
Yes — specific dates are what make this complaint credible and give the agency no room to dispute your version of events, which is central to this scenario.
How firm can I be about the deadline without sounding rude?
State one clear date and one clear consequence in neutral, factual language ('I will have no choice but to…') — firmness comes from precision, not from a harsher tone.
Should I mention the cost of the electric heater, or is that too much detail?
A brief mention is useful because it makes the inconvenience concrete and financial, not just uncomfortable, which strengthens the second bullet point.
Is 'Dear Sir or Madam' always right for a letting agency?
Only if you don't have a named contact; if you have been dealing with one named person throughout, address them directly and close with 'Yours sincerely,' instead.
