Everyday calls

7 min read

How to call your landlord about a repair — and get it fixed

The faucet under your kitchen sink has been dripping for a week. Three days ago you texted your landlord "sink broken" and got a thumbs-up back. Nothing has changed, and the puddle is getting bigger.

A three-word text is easy to send — and easy to ignore. A clear phone call is different. When you say what is wrong, where it is, how long it has been happening, and when someone can come, the request becomes hard to put off. This guide gives you the sentences to say, what to write down, and how to follow up so the repair actually happens.

Why a call works better than "sink broken"

A repair request has four parts: what is broken, where it is, how bad it is, and when it started. "Sink broken" answers one of the four. The landlord now has to guess whether this is a drip or a flood, and guesses usually wait.

Landlords and property managers handle many requests at once. The clearest requests are the easiest to schedule, so they tend to get handled first. Describe the problem precisely and you also sound like someone who will notice whether it gets fixed.

This is not about being demanding — it is about being clear. You live there, you pay rent, and a specific request respects everyone's time.

Before you dial: two minutes of preparation

Gather a few facts before you call. You will sound organized, the call will be shorter, and you will not hang up and realize you forgot something.

The exact location of the problem: which room, which fixture, which appliance.
When it started, and whether it is getting worse.
Photos or a short video on your phone, so you have dated proof of the condition.
Two or three days and time windows when you can be home for a repair visit.
The name of your landlord or property manager, and the office number if there is one.
A pen and paper to note the date, who you spoke to, and what was promised.

Describe the problem precisely: sentences you can say

Describe the problem the way you would describe it to the repair person, because your words may be repeated to one. Say the place, the timing, and the effect. Here are sentences you can use as they are:

Leak: "There is water leaking from the pipe under the kitchen sink. It started on Tuesday, and now there is a puddle on the floor every morning."
Heat: "The heater is not working in the whole apartment. It has been very cold inside for two days, and my children sleep here."
Appliance: "The refrigerator stopped cooling yesterday. The freezer still works, but food in the fridge is spoiling."
Pests: "I have seen cockroaches in the kitchen every night this week. They seem to come from behind the stove."
Safety issue: "The outlet in the bedroom sparks when I plug something in. I have stopped using it, but it needs to be checked."

Ask for a timeline — and write down the date

Once you have described the problem, do not end the call on "okay, I'll look into it." Ask for something you can put on a calendar. If the answer is vague, stay polite and ask for a smaller commitment: "I understand you need to check. Can you call me back by Friday with a date?"

Before you hang up, note three things on paper: today's date, the name of the person you spoke to, and exactly what was promised. That takes thirty seconds, and it is the difference between "I called a while ago" and "I called on March 3 and spoke to Sam."

Three questions that turn "soon" into a date:

"When can someone come to look at it?"
"Can we set a day and a time window? I can be home Thursday morning or Friday after 3."
"Who will be coming — you, or a repair company? What name should I expect?"

After the call, follow up in writing

A short message after the call turns your conversation into a record. Send a text or email the same day. Keep it friendly and factual:

"Hi Mr. Alvarez, thank you for taking my call today, March 3. As we discussed, the pipe under my kitchen sink is leaking, and a plumber will come Thursday between 9 and 12. I will be home. Thank you — Ana, Unit 4B."

This message does three jobs: it confirms the appointment, it creates a dated record in case you need one later, and it signals that you keep track — which tends to get faster responses.

If the repair never happens

Sometimes the promised Thursday comes and goes. Call again, and reference your record: "I called on March 3 about the leak under my sink, and no one came on Thursday as planned. Can you give me a new date this week?" Follow up in writing again. Stay calm and specific.

If a serious problem stays unfixed — no heat, no water, an unsafe condition — renters in most places have rights, but the rules differ by city and state. Look up your local tenant resources: many cities have a housing office or tenant hotline, and in the US, dialing 211 can point you to local help. Your dated notes and written follow-ups will make those conversations much easier.

Make the call in your own language

If English is not your first language, the phone can be the hardest part — which is often why the three-word text happens in the first place. You know exactly what is wrong with the sink; saying it precisely, live, in a second language is the obstacle.

Bilingo removes that obstacle. It places a real phone call to your landlord's normal number — they need no app and see nothing unusual; their phone just rings. A live AI interpreter is on the call: you describe the leak in your own language, the interpreter says it in English, and their reply comes back to you in yours, turn by turn. It works in 79 languages, in both directions.

Calls inside the US or Canada cost $0.30 a minute, the rate is shown before you dial, and you pay nothing if nobody answers. If the property office has a phone menu, the keypad stays on screen so you can press 1 and continue. You can also verify your own number once, so your landlord sees your caller ID and picks up. The first call is free.

Common questions

Is it better to call or text my landlord about a repair?

Do both, in that order. A call lets you describe the problem fully and agree on a date. A short written follow-up the same day confirms what was agreed and gives you a dated record.

What should I say when I call my landlord about a repair?

Cover four things: what is broken, where it is, how bad it is, and when it started. Then ask for a timeline: "When can someone come to look at it?" Write down the date of the call and what was promised.

What if my landlord and I don't speak the same language?

Prepare your sentences in advance, or put a live interpreter on the call so you can use your own words. Bilingo does this on a regular phone call — your landlord needs no app and simply answers their phone.

Do I really need to write down when I called?

Yes. The date, the person's name, and the promise take thirty seconds to note — and if the repair is delayed, a dated record moves things along far better than "I called a while ago."

What if the problem is dangerous, like a gas smell?

Do not wait for your landlord. Leave the home and call your gas company's emergency line or the local emergency number right away. Emergency calls should always be dialed directly.

Report it in your own words

A real call to your landlord, in your own words, with a live interpreter — the other side needs no app.

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