Viewing a property: a room-by-room checklist

A viewing is your one chance to spot problems before you are locked into a contract. With a checklist, a friend and a phone camera, you can see far more than the agent wants to show you.

Before the viewing

• Bring someone with you, as Shelter recommends: one of you looks and asks questions, the other takes notes and photos.
• Print or download a viewing checklist (Shelter England and Shelter Cymru both publish one) and take it with you.
• Look at the street on a map: distance to campus, shops, a pharmacy, a GP or clinic, public transport, and a mosque or prayer room if that matters to you.
• Plan to arrive a few minutes early and walk around the block to get a feel for the neighbourhood.
• Allow enough time: Shelter warns that some landlords and agents rush viewings if there are problems they do not want you to see.

Damp, mould and pests

• Look for peeling or bubbling paint, newly painted areas, damp patches or condensation, especially under windows and by doors (Shelter).
• Gently touch walls that look newly painted to feel for dampness, and notice whether the place smells damp (Shelter Cymru).
• Check that extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom actually work, and ask whether there has been any mould or condensation problem.
• Look inside cupboards, under sinks and around the boiler for droppings, dead insects or chewed holes (Shelter).

Water, heating and appliances

• Run every tap and the shower: does the water drain away without leaking or backing up, and is there hot water? Check the water pressure in the shower.
• Ask how the property is heated (or cooled, in the UAE) and what the average bills are. Shelter Cymru asks: can you afford to keep it warm in winter?
• Switch on the cooker, fridge and washing machine if possible, and ask which appliances and furniture are included and who repairs them.
• Find the electricity, gas and water meters so you know where they are on move-in day.

Safety and security

• Doors and windows: do they lock, open properly and look secure? (Shelter Cymru)
• Look for a working smoke alarm on each floor and check the escape routes (Shelter).
• In England, ask for the gas safety certificate: Shelter says you must be given a copy of the most recent one before you move in, and a carbon monoxide alarm is required in rooms with a gas boiler or wood-burning stove.
• Ask when the last electrical safety check was done. Shelter says this should happen at least every 5 years in England.
• Look at the sockets: are there enough, and do they look safe?

Questions to ask before you leave

• What is the total rent, who do I pay, when and how?
• Which bills are included, and which accounts must I set up myself?
• Which deposit protection scheme do you use? (England and Wales)
• Who do I contact for repairs and for emergencies?
• Who maintains shared areas such as stairs, lifts and gardens?
• If the landlord promises to fix something, ask them to put it in writing before you sign, as Shelter advises.

After the viewing

• Within the hour, write down your impressions while they are fresh: Shelter's checklist even asks whether you were treated fairly and given enough time to look around.
• Would you feel safe coming home at night? (Shelter Cymru) If possible, walk the route from the nearest bus stop or station after dark with a friend.
• Compare at least two or three places using the same checklist before deciding.
• Never pay anything just because you feel pressured on the spot; see the next lesson on rental scams.