Housing & Community — Part 4
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: the formal register phrases and connectors for writing landlord letters, complaint emails, and community-policy essays without sounding casual or disorganized.
Why formal housing phrases matter
Writing Task 1 frequently asks for a formal letter — to a landlord about a repair, to a property manager about noise, or to a neighbor about a shared issue. Writing Task 2 essays sometimes ask you to weigh in on housing policy, like whether cities should build more rental units. Both tasks reward the same formal connective tissue: phrases that state a problem clearly, request action politely, and link supporting points logically.
Structuring a complaint letter
A strong Writing Task 1 letter about housing typically opens by stating the issue, explains the impact, requests a specific action, and closes formally. The phrases below map onto each of those stages.
Formal phrases and connectors
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I am writing to bring to your attention | formal opening for raising an issue | I am writing to bring to your attention a recurring leak in the ceiling. |
| this has resulted in | states a consequence formally | This has resulted in significant water damage to my belongings. |
| I would like to request that | formal way to make a request | I would like to request that the repair be completed within the week. |
| in accordance with | following a rule, agreement, or policy | In accordance with the lease agreement, repairs are the landlord's responsibility. |
| it has come to my attention that | formal way to introduce a discovered problem | It has come to my attention that the building's fire alarm has not been tested. |
| I trust that | expresses formal confidence in an outcome | I trust that this matter will be resolved promptly. |
| should the issue persist | conditional phrase for unresolved problems | Should the issue persist, I will have no choice but to contact the housing authority. |
| a viable solution | a workable, realistic solution | The council proposed a viable solution to the parking shortage. |
| strike a balance between | find a fair compromise between two things | Policymakers must strike a balance between development and green space. |
| in the interest of | for the benefit or sake of something | In the interest of community safety, the fence was repaired quickly. |
| take into consideration | think about carefully before deciding | The board should take into consideration residents' feedback. |
| I would be grateful for your prompt attention | polite formal closing requesting quick action | I would be grateful for your prompt attention to this matter. |
Worked example — CELPIP Writing Task 1
Prompt: Write a letter to your landlord about a maintenance issue.
"Dear Mr. Chen, I am writing to bring to your attention a persistent leak above my kitchen sink that has been ongoing for two weeks. This has resulted in water pooling on the counter and a growing concern about mold. In accordance with our lease agreement, I understand that maintenance issues of this nature are your responsibility. I would like to request that a plumber be sent as soon as possible. Should the issue persist, I may need to contact the local housing authority for guidance on a viable solution. I understand you must strike a balance between multiple requests from tenants, but in the interest of preventing further damage, I hope you can take into consideration the urgency of this repair. I trust that this matter will be resolved promptly, and I would be grateful for your prompt attention. Sincerely, a concerned tenant."
Common mistakes
- Opening with "I wanted to tell you" instead of the formal I am writing to bring to your attention.
- Using "so this made" instead of the more formal this has resulted in.
- Writing "if it keeps happening" rather than the polished should the issue persist.
- Confusing take into consideration with "take into account," which is close but slightly less common in this formal housing context.
- Ending abruptly without a formal closing like I would be grateful for your prompt attention.
Recap
These twelve formal phrases — I am writing to bring to your attention, this has resulted in, I would like to request that, in accordance with, it has come to my attention that, I trust that, should the issue persist, a viable solution, strike a balance between, in the interest of, take into consideration, and I would be grateful for your prompt attention — carry housing letters and essays through a clear, professional structure. Part 5 shifts to the casual spoken chunks used when talking about home life in CELPIP Speaking tasks.