VIEWING A PROPERTY:CHECKLIST

Running through this checklist will give you a reasonably thorough survey of any house you are thinking of renting:

Gas and electricity

• Is the heating in the house adequate (imagine whether it will be adequate in the middle of winter)?
• Do the electric/gas fires work? Does the cooker work?
• If the cooker is a gas cooker, does the thermostat work?
• Have you had your gas and electricity meters read immediately after you have taken responsibility for the property?
• Have you asked to see a copy of a Gas Safe Register safety record for the gas appliances?

Plumbing

• Does the plumbing work?
• Have you tried all the taps?
• Do the sinks drain?
• Does the toilet flush or leak?
• Is there any hot water and how do you pay for it?

Security

• Is the house secure?
• Is there a burglar alarm that works?
• Are all the external doors solid?
• Have all external doors been fitted with a five-lever mortise lock?
• Do all ground floor windows have security catches?
• Have you identified your own property by putting your postcode on all your valuables?
• Are the ground floor bedroom curtains lined or thick enough?

Furniture

• Has the house got enough furniture for the occupants?
• Is there sufficient space in the kitchen to store and prepare food?
• Is any of the existing furniture the property of existing tenants?
• Is all the furniture in good condition?
• Is the furniture fire retardant?

Insurance

• Do you wish to be insured?

Services

• What services is the owner providing for you, if any? Window cleaning, gardening, lighting of common parts, dustbin and refuse disposal?

Money

• What are you paying for in your rent? How does it compare to other rents? Have you paid a deposit? If so what is it for? Have you got a receipt for what you have paid? Are you or the owner responsible for water charges?
• How much will heating the house cost?

Agreements

• Do you know what your contract means?
• Have you talked to the previous occupants of the house and asked them if they have any comments that would help you?
• Have you been given a copy of the contract you have signed?
• Are you jointly liable with the other tenants?

Owner

• Do you know your owner's name and address?

Outside the property

• Does the roof look sound? (You can check for damp from the inside of the house too)
• Have the gutters got plants growing out of them?
• Are the drains clear?
• Is any of the woodwork rotting or unsafe?

Cleaning

• Was the house clean?
• If not, have you told the owner what the condition was in writing?
• Are there any signs of pests (mouse droppings, slug trails, fleas) in the house?  

Safety

• In the event of fire in the main access passageways of the house, could you get out of the house?
• Are smoke detectors or fire alarms fitted?
• Has the house any fire doors?

Repairs

• Do any repairs need doing?
• Have you told the owner in writing what needs doing?

Decorating

• Does any decorating need doing?
• If so, who is doing it and who is paying? Has the owner set any upper limit if you are decorating the house yourself? Get confirmation in writing.