Your first flat viewing: the checklist that saves you later

Your first flat viewing is a proper adult-life milestone. The excitement is real: you are already picturing yourself moved in, with your stuff and your own vibe. But a viewing is also the only chance you get to check what you are being offered before you commit. A few simple habits are enough to avoid nasty surprises.

Before you even step inside

Show up a little early and take in the neighbourhood: the shops, the atmosphere, the walk to the bus stop or the station. Look at the building itself too - the state of the entrance, the letterboxes and the stairwell says a lot about how the place is maintained. You are not just renting four walls, you are renting everything around them.

Once you are inside

Do not be shy about touching things - that is what a viewing is for. Run the taps to test the water pressure, open and close the windows, check the corners of walls and behind furniture for any signs of damp. Test the sockets, the heating, the bathroom ventilation. A flat that smells musty on viewing day will smell musty every day.

Ask the questions that feel silly, because they are not: what do the service charges include? Who handles repairs? How does the heating work and who controls it? Where are the bins and the cellar? The person showing you around should be able to answer clearly. Vague answers are already a piece of information in themselves.

After the viewing

Write down your impressions straight away, while they are fresh, and ask whether you can take a few photos to jog your memory. Above all, never sign under pressure: a flat that demands an answer right now or someone else will take it deserves your suspicion, not your panic. A good housing decision is made with a clear head, never in a rush.

One last habit: read up on the official side of renting before you commit. The steps and rules around housing are explained on the public administration websites, and reading them before you sign puts you ahead of plenty of renters with far more experience than you.