The ultimate house viewing checklist: 50+ things to check at a viewing (renting!) –
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Introduction 👋
Getting your own home to rent has got to be one of the most exciting experiences ever!
Before you decide on a home to rent, you usually get to go and visit it first at a “house viewing”. 👀
House viewings give you a chance to inspect the house, so that you can decide if you want to live there or not! 🕵️♀️
When you’re viewing a potential home to rent it can be difficult to remember all of the things to check, to make sure there aren’t any surprise problems. 🥴
We’ve put together the ultimate rental viewing checklist below (complete with viewing tips!), to help you remember everything you need to look out for when renting! ✅
Disclaimer: This website provides information for guidance and educational purposes only. The Grown-Up School does not provide regulated financial advice. You can seek independent financial advice from a suitably qualified and regulated professional advisor. Check out our disclaimer policy for more information.
50+ things to look for at a house viewing (renting!) 📝
1. Important stuff ⚠️
In the UK when you rent a home, there are some important things that the house owner needs to give you, to prove that the house is safe and fit for living in. ⛑️
If the owner of the house doesn’t have these when they’re renting the house to you, they could be breaking the law! 👩⚖️
To make sure that the landlord/homeowner is doing what they’re supposed to, it’s always good to check that they have things like:
- A landlord licence – You should be able to use your local government website to check that the landlord has a licence to rent the house.
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – This certificate will indicate how “energy efficient the house is”, and how much the energy bills might cost you.
- Gas safety certificate – If the house has gas heating (instead of electric heating), this will prove that the gas boiler heater has been safety checked.
- Carbon monoxide alarms – These alarms help to protect you from carbon monoxide gas poisoning, and should be kept near any appliances that burn fuel e.g. a gas boiler, a fireplace
- Smoke alarms – These alarms help to protect you from fires, there should always be at least one working smoke alarm on every floor of the home.
- Electrical safety certificate – This certificate will show that the electrics e.g. light switches/plug sockets in the house have been safety checked.
2. Bills/contract 📜
- Deposit – how much is the deposit? Will your deposit be kept in a safe place? e.g. in the UK deposits have to be registered in a deposit safety scheme.
- Rent amount – how much will it be? Is there room to negotiate?
- Contract availability – is there a copy of the contract available for you to review?
- Contract length – how long is the contract for e.g. minimum 6 months, minimum 1 year?
- Bills – what bills do you have to pay? How much will it cost?
- Council tax/property tax – do you have to pay it? How much will it cost?
- Pets – are pets allowed? How many pets are allowed, and what type? e.g. dogs, cats
- Furniture – is furniture included? When will furniture that isn’t staying be removed from the house?
- Decoration – can you redecorate?
- Phone/internet line – who is the current provider?
- Heating type – who is the current energy provider? Will the landlord send gas/electricity meter readings to the energy provider when you move in to pay off any left over bills?
- Water – who is the current provider? Will the landlord send water meter readings to the water provider when you move in to pay off any left over bills?
- Mobile phone signal – can you make calls comfortably?
- Inventory – have they already taken an “inventory” to list everything included in the house, and taken pictures to show what condition it was given to you in? Can you review the inventory to make sure that it’s accurate?
- Previous tenants – why did the last tenants leave? Did they have a good relationship with the landlord?
What bills should I be paying? 💸
3. Outside 🏡
- Condition – is the outside of the home in good condition?
- Security – do the windows/doors look secure and difficult to break into? Are there locks, a burglar alarm, or phone entry system?
- Garden – who has to look after the garden? Are there gardening tools provided?
- Sunshine – which way does the home face – when will it catch the sun?
- Outdoor storage – is there a shed or garage to store belongings? Is it in good condition and secure?
- Parking – is there free parking? Do you need a parking permit?
- Annoying/difficult things – are there any signs of things like loud neighbours, traffic nearby, nightclubs, flooding in the area, busy local shops?
- Neighbours – are their homes in good condition? What are the neighbours like either side?
- Transport/traffic – is there transport easily available e.g. buses, trains nearby? How often are there trains/buses available? Is it a busy area? Will it be difficult to park or travel?
- Local shops – how far away is the nearest shop for buying food etc.?
- Local schools – where are the nearest local schools – will they make traffic difficult?
2. Inside 🛋️
- Windows – are there locks to keep your belongings safe? Are they glazed e.g. double/triple glazed to keep the house warm in winter? Are they in good condition?
- Storage space – is there enough?
- Heating – how is it heated – is it electric or gas heating?
- Power sockets – are there enough? are the power sockets in good condition?
- Privacy – if sharing – do you get a lot of privacy? is the home overlooked by neighbours? Are there curtains/blinds to cover the windows and give you privacy?
- Fire escape – how would you escape if there was a fire?
- Pests – are there any signs of pests e.g. rat/mouse droppings, insects, flaking paint?
- Damp/mould – Are there any signs of damp or mould?
3. Bathroom 🚽
- Damp/mould – are there any signs of damp or mould?
- Ventilation (to avoid mould/damp issues) – is there an extractor fan or window to let out steam?
- Bathroom fittings – do the sinks, toilet, taps, and shower work? Any leaks? Is the water hot, and is there good pressure?
- Bath/shower seals – is there a good seal around the bath/shower so it won’t go mouldy?
4. Kitchen 🍽️
- Kitchen appliances – is there a working washing machine/dishwasher/tumble dryer/fridge/freezer?
- Storage space – is there enough storage space?
- Kitchen utensils – are there pots/pans/kitchen utensils included?
- Sinks/taps – do the sinks/taps work? Any leaks? Is the water hot, and is there good pressure?
- Fire safety – is there a fire blanket/fire extinguisher in the kitchen?
5. Furniture 🪑
- Beds – are the mattresses and bed frames in good condition? Do they need cleaning?
- Fire safety – does all the soft furniture have fire safety labels?
- Condition – is anything broken or old?
- Moving things around – can the furniture be moved around the way you want it?
Conclusion 👍
So that’s it!
Hopefully this list has kept you on top of the things you need to look for at a house rental viewing.
If you know any friends or family members who might benefit from these ideas, share this post with them!
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