Check water, ventilation, access and the complete monthly cost before a good-looking flat becomes an expensive surprise.
Start with your everyday routine
A viewing is more useful when you know what would make the home difficult to live in. Write down your maximum total monthly cost, the journey you make most often, the space you actually need and any access requirements. Keep those priorities in your phone so a freshly painted room does not distract from them.
Confirm the exact building, floor, available unit and viewing contact before travelling. Ask whether the advertised rent covers that specific unit and whether the listing is still available.
Walk through the flat slowly
Visit during daylight when possible. Look at the rooms with the lights off, open windows with permission and notice whether neighbouring buildings block light or airflow. Photograph defects only with permission and avoid including residents or personal belongings.
- Look for damp patches around windows, ceilings, bathrooms and kitchen walls. Ask when any leak was last repaired.
- With permission, run taps briefly and check drainage. Ask how water is supplied and who handles pump or tank problems.
- Ask about the cooking arrangement, electricity meter and backup power. Do not test gas or electrical equipment yourself if anything appears unsafe.
- Check door locks, stair access and the route out of the building. Ask who maintains the lift and what happens during a power cut.
Ask about the building, not just the room
Find out how deliveries, visitors, parking, rubbish collection and repairs are handled. Ask which rules apply to the household you plan to live with. A clear answer now is more useful than an assumption you discover after moving.
If a resident is willing to talk, ask one specific question about their own experience, such as whether the lift was working reliably during the past month. Treat one account as a useful lead, not a guarantee about the whole building.
Leave with a written cost breakdown
Record rent, service charge, utilities, parking, deposits and any one-time fees separately. Ask what can change, how changes are communicated and which payments are refundable. Request recent redacted bills where available; do not ask for another tenant’s private documents.
After the viewing, use your saved properties, private notes or inspection checklist to record what you saw and what still needs confirmation. Compare homes against the same questions before deciding.
Browse homes and build your shortlist
These guides offer general information, not a property endorsement or personalised professional advice. Examples are illustrative; confirm current costs and important details yourself. Contact the team
