phrasal verb (Rent out)

[Radman]

Hi,
Could anyone please tell me what this phrasal verb means in this sentence?

Oh,good idea!I could rent out your surgery for you!

This is a piece of conversation of a series.

many thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

It means the same as to rent - to allow someone else to use the facility in exchange for money.

 

[BobK]

:-? Really? In Br English, 'rent out' means the same as 'let' - it's what the landlord does. The person who pays the landlord in return for temporary occupancy 'rents' it: 'I'm renting a room until I find a house that I want to buy. Meanwhile, I'm renting out my house back in Edinburgh.'

b

 

[SoothingDave]

:-? Really? In Br English, 'rent out' means the same as 'let' - it's what the landlord does. The person who pays the landlord in return for temporary occupancy 'rents' it: 'I'm renting a room until I find a house that I want to buy. Meanwhile, I'm renting out my house back in Edinburgh.'

b

Yes, good point. It is the owner/landlord who rents it out, the tenant rents it.

 

[BobK]

But it's different with rental cars. You can say 'I'm renting a car while I'm in France'. It would be easier on students if this example was thought of as 'wrong', and you 'should' say instead something like 'I'm hiring a car...'. But life's not that easy, and both are right. ;-)

b

 

[konungursvia]

English verbs are usually polyvalent. Aren't there "Rent-a-car" outlets in the UK? I think these are clearly sold from the customer's viewpoint:
[Edit: Google ... yes, there are.]

I'd like to add that rent out (as opposed to rent) implies a habitual practice, to me.

:-? Really? In Br English, 'rent out' means the same as 'let' - it's what the landlord does. The person who pays the landlord in return for temporary occupancy 'rents' it: 'I'm renting a room until I find a house that I want to buy. Meanwhile, I'm renting out my house back in Edinburgh.'

b

 

[GingerJoe]

you can 'rent' AND 'hire' a car...
but you can only 'rent' an apartment!
you can also 'hire' people... to do a job, etc.