Homes and Housing Wishes

Which words describe the home, the contract, or the local area?

Say two wishes about a real or imagined home:

I wish our flat were more spacious.
If only we had a balcony!

Use these frames:

• I wish our ___ were more ___.
• If only we had ___.

Changing Your Living Situation

Use wish / if only + Past Simple for an unreal situation now or a desired future change.

• I wish = a wish or desire.
• If only = a stronger, more emotional wish.
• Use could for ability or possibility.
• Use didn’t have to for an obligation you want to avoid.

Choose or complete each wish.

1. I wish I [___] a balcony.

1. If only the landlord [___] the heating.

1. I wish I [___] work from home.

1. The rent is too high. → I wish the rent [___] so high.

1. I share a bathroom. → If only I [___] my own bathroom.

1. My building has no lift. → I wish it [___] a lift.

1. I must pay all the utilities. → I wish I [___] pay all the utilities.

1. I live far from the city centre. → If only I [___] closer to the city centre.

Read each completed sentence aloud. Make If only! sound stronger.

A Flat for Maya?

Read the advert and Maya’s wish list. Decide which wishes are fulfilled, partly fulfilled, or not fulfilled. Underline evidence in the text.

TO LET: Green Park

Bright one-bedroom furnished flat on the second floor. It has a separate kitchen, central heating, and a small balcony. Rent is £950 a month, including water and internet; electricity is extra. The building has a lift, a secure entrance, and bike storage. It is five minutes from the station and close to shops. Available from 1 June. No pets. The landlord requires a one-month deposit and a twelve-month lease.

Maya’s wish list: I wish I lived nearer my office, and this location is ideal. If only I had a balcony and a lift—this flat has both. I wish I didn’t have to buy furniture. However, I wish I could keep my cat, and I wish the rent were lower.

Difficult words

• TO LET — available to rent
• central heating — a system that heats the whole home
• secure entrance — an entrance designed to keep residents safe
• bike storage — a place where bicycles can be kept
• available — ready to use or rent from a stated date
• requires — says something is necessary
• one-month deposit — money equal to one month’s rent, paid at the start

1. Which of Maya’s wishes are fully fulfilled by the flat?
2. Which two details could stop Maya from renting it?
3. Which wish sounds the strongest, and what words show this?

Your Dream Home

Write one paragraph of 50–90 words about your dream home and a living situation you want to change.

Include:

• location and neighbourhood
• size, rooms, or facilities
• one problem you want to change
• housing vocabulary
• one sentence with If only
• one sentence with I wish I could
• one sentence with I wish I didn’t have to

Useful starters:

• I wish I lived in ___.
• If only I had ___.
• I wish I could ___.
• I wish I didn’t have to ___.
• My ideal flat would be ___ and ___.
• It would have ___.

Check before you finish:

• 50–90 words
• clear paragraph
• housing vocabulary
• Past Simple after wish / if only

<essay>I wish I lived</essay>