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FlalingoGerman practice

English-speaking expats in Germany learning A1–B1 German · DE

How to Report a Home Repair in German

“It is broken” is rarely actionable. Build a four-part report: exact object, observable symptom, start time and access. This structure works even when your German is basic because the listener can ask about one missing fact at a time. Your win is to finish with a named next contact or time window, then repeat it back without claiming what caused the fault.

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Published 10 Sept 2026 · Editor: Flalingo

Read it once. Then take one role.

A complete German exchange

Reporting a leak

Kitchen tap.

Reception

Hausverwaltung Neumann, guten Tag.

Neumann Property Management, hello.

You

Sam Lee hier, Lindenstraße 18, Wohnung 4. Ich möchte einen Schaden melden.

Sam Lee here, Lindenstraße 18, flat 4. I want to report damage.

Reception

Was ist passiert?

What happened?

You

Der Wasserhahn tropft seit gestern. Unter der Spüle ist es feucht.

The tap has dripped since yesterday. It is damp under the sink.

Reception

Sind Sie heute zwischen 14 und 16 Uhr da?

Are you there today from 2 to 4?

You

Ja. Bitte bestätigen Sie den Termin per E-Mail.

Yes. Please confirm the appointment by email.

Notice: Start with your name, address and apartment number so the report can be located. Then name the exact object and observable symptom. Seit gestern answers when it began; ständig describes frequency. If water, smell or noise is spreading, say what you can observe and where. Avoid confident theories unless a qualified person has established the cause.

Clarifying timing

Repair timing is vague.

You

Gibt es schon einen Termin für die Heizung?

Is there an appointment for the heating?

Manager

Der Betrieb meldet sich morgen.

The company will contact you tomorrow.

You

Wird morgen nur der Termin vereinbart, oder findet die Reparatur morgen statt?

Will only the appointment be arranged tomorrow, or will the repair happen tomorrow?

Manager

Nur der Termin wird vereinbart.

Only the appointment is arranged.

You

Von welcher Nummer wird der Betrieb anrufen?

From which number will the company call?

Manager

Das weiß ich leider nicht.

Unfortunately I do not know.

Notice: Separate two interpretations instead of accepting a vague morgen. A repair company calling tomorrow, an appointment tomorrow and the repair happening tomorrow are three different events. A closed question with oder makes the ambiguity visible. Confirm which number or channel will be used so you know what contact to expect.

Keep the structure. Change the detail.

Useful phrases

Ich möchte einen Schaden melden.

I want to report damage.

Neutral opener.

Seit gestern funktioniert die Heizung nicht.

The heating has not worked since yesterday.

Present with seit.

Es tropft unter der Spüle.

It drips under the sink.

Observable fact.

Könnten Sie eine Fachfirma beauftragen?

Could you commission a specialist?

Formal request.

Wann kann jemand Zugang bekommen?

When can someone get access?

Coordinates entry.

Bitte bestätigen Sie den Termin schriftlich.

Please confirm in writing.

Clear follow-up.

Repair the sentence

Common mistakes and clearer alternatives

Avoid

Kaputt seit gestern.

Use

Die Heizung funktioniert seit gestern nicht.

Complete sentence and present tense.
Avoid

Sie müssen sofort kommen!

Use

Es ist dringend, weil Wasser austritt. Wann kann jemand kommen?

Give the observable reason.
Avoid

in die Küche

Use

in der Küche

Static location takes dative.

Make it fit your situation

Two useful adaptations

Email

Seit dem 9. September tropft Wasser unter der Spüle. Fotos sind beigefügt.

Water has dripped under the sink since 9 September. Photos are attached.

Use a date.

Unavailable

Dienstag bin ich nicht da. Mittwochvormittag wäre möglich.

I am away Tuesday. Wednesday morning would work.

Offer an alternative.

Your turn

Say a version that belongs to you

Complete report

Bathroom radiator stopped this morning.

  1. Identify yourself and flat.
  2. Name object and room.
  3. Describe symptom and time.
  4. State observable urgency.
  5. Offer access and request confirmation.
This exercise does not submit or save your draft.
Self-check after you speak

Common questions

Before you practise

What is Hausverwaltung?

Hausverwaltung means property management: the office or company managing the building. Use the contact named in your tenancy information, then identify your flat and the problem.

How can I explain urgency clearly?

Es ist dringend means it is urgent. Describe what you can actually observe and follow your property manager’s emergency instructions. This language exercise cannot assess a fault or decide how urgent it is.

Diagnose the cause?

Describe what fails, where, since when and with what visible effect. If you do not know the noun, say das Gerät im Bad or send a labelled photo through the authorized channel. Let the technician identify the cause.

Checked context

Sources