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?
• Are there any signs of pests (mouse droppings, slug trails, fleas) in the house?

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 stuff?
• 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?
• What to do when you are moving in

Cleaning

• Was the house clean?
• If not, have you told the owner what the condition was in writing?

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.