Before you rent — a short checklist

Seven things worth checking when you view a place to rent, and the questions to ask before you say yes.

Viewing a place takes twenty minutes. Living in it takes a year or more. A short list in your pocket helps you look past fresh paint and good lighting.

At the viewing

Water pressure. Turn on the shower and a tap at the same time. Weak pressure rarely improves after you move in.
Signal and internet. Check your phone in the bedroom, not just the living room. Ask which providers serve the building.
Noise. Stand still for a minute with the windows shut. Then open them.
What stays. Ask exactly which furniture and appliances are included, and take photos of them.
Damp. Look at ceiling corners, behind curtains and inside wardrobes.

Before you commit

The numbers, in writing. Rent, deposits, and what each deposit is for. Ask how and when deposits are returned.
Who to call. When something breaks, who do you contact, and how quickly do they usually respond?

One more thing

Visit again at a different time of day if you can. Traffic, parking and the neighbours all change after six in the evening.