A problem with the flat B1
When something breaks, leaks, or just stops working.
Describing what's broken
come off — become detachedA: Why is your phone case on the floor?
B: It just came off when I picked up my bag.
fall apart — break into piecesA: Why are you throwing that bag away?
B: It's falling apart—the handle just came off.
wear out — become unusableA: Why did you buy new jeans?
B: My old ones finally wore out.
come through — water seeps throughWater's coming through the ceiling — can you take a look? (casual)
Water is coming through the ceiling; could someone look into it, please? (polite)
Things that stop working
go out — stop burning or workingA: Why is it so dark in here?
B: The lights went out during the storm.
cut out — stops working suddenlySorry, you keep cutting out — could you say that again? (casual)
I'm afraid the connection keeps dropping; could you repeat that? (polite)
The handle's broken
Jo: Careful with that cupboard — the handle's about to come off.
Sam: Oh no, when did that happen?
Jo: This morning. Honestly, the whole kitchen is starting to fall apart.
Sam: We should ring the landlord before it gets any worse.
Calling the landlord
Sam: Hi, it's flat 4B. The boiler's stopped working — the heating keeps cutting out.
Landlord: Right, since when?
Sam: A few days. And the old radiator's pretty worn out too, to be honest.
Landlord: Okay, I'll send someone round tomorrow to take a look.
Damp on the ceiling
Jo: Have you seen that brown patch on the bedroom ceiling?
Sam: Yeah, it's water from the flat upstairs — it's started to come through.
Jo: Ugh, it's getting bigger every day. We can't just leave it.
Sam: Agreed. I'll text the landlord now before it spreads any further.