英语小短文第 39 课：Renting a House 租房

There is a wide variety of rental housing in the United States. 在美国，出租的住宅种类繁多。

In the cities, this mostly means apartments. 城市中出租的主要是单元公寓住宅。

They usually have one, two or three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. 这样的住宅通常有1间、2间或3间卧室，一个客厅，一个厨房和一个浴室。

Some are just one room apartments with a kitchen and bathroom, these are called efficiencies. 有一些则只有一间房带一个厨房和浴室，称之为效用房。

People also rent out houses. When you rent a house, you pay its owner a fix monthly amount to live there. 人们也将自己的房间出租。当你租房时，你需要每个月付给房东固定的租金。

Prices vary according to its location and the quality of the apartment or house. 根据位置和住房质量的不同租金也不同。

You usually have to pay three months rent up front. 通常你需要提前支付3个月的租金。

Two months rent for security deposit, in case you do any damage to the apartment, and the first month's rent. 其中两个月是你需要支付的押金以防对住房的有任何损坏，还包括1个月的租金。

Most owners, or landlords, will require you to sign a contract agreeing to pay rent for a full year. 大多数房东会要求你签订租期为1年的合同。

At the end of the year, you're free to find another place, or renew your lease with the landlord, as long as he still wants you as a tenant. 1年结束后，你可以自由选择其他地方居住，或者只要房东愿意的话，你也可以和他续约。