Use a viewing to check the details that photographs cannot show, from heating and repairs to the move-in process.
A viewing is more useful when you arrive with a few questions and a way to record the answers. The aim is not to inspect every detail like a surveyor. It is to understand how the home will work in daily life, identify anything that needs clarification, and decide whether to take the next step.
01Ask about the costs and what is included
Confirm the rent, deposit, proposed tenancy start date and which items will remain in the property. Ask whether parking, storage, garden use or communal facilities have conditions. Do not rely on a verbal promise about an appliance or repair. Ask for significant terms to be confirmed in writing before you commit.
- How is the home heated, and where are the controls?
- Are any appliances included, and who is responsible if an included appliance fails?
- Which bills are included, if any, and which are paid by the tenant?
- What is the council tax band, and is parking allocated or permit controlled?
- What broadband services are available at this exact address?
- When is the property expected to be ready, and what could change that date?
02Check the home in a normal, practical way
Look for signs that affect comfort or use: musty smells, water staining, condensation, damaged seals, loose handles, poor water pressure or rooms that are unusually cold. Test taps and lights with the agent’s permission. Check mobile signal in the rooms where you expect to work or make calls. These observations are not a substitute for formal checks, but they help you form a clear list of follow-up questions.
03Understand how management works after move-in
Ask who your day-to-day contact will be and how routine repairs, urgent faults and out-of-hours issues are reported. Find out how appointments are arranged and how updates are shared. A clear process matters because a tenant needs to know what to do when a boiler stops working or a leak appears, not just who showed them the property.
After the viewing, send any unresolved questions in one concise message. Save the reply with the advert and your notes. Before signing, read the written tenancy terms, inventory process and required documents carefully. For current rules about renting in England, check the official guidance because requirements depend on the tenancy and property.
Use the same questions for each home. Consistent notes make it easier to compare properties without relying on memory or first impressions.
Sources and useful information
Check current guidance for your property and circumstances.
