Renting an apartment: pre-lease checks

Work through the list in order. Hide the notes when you know what to do.

1. Verify the landlord is the actual owner

   Ask for the landlord's passport and a recent ownership record (land registry extract or title deed). A mismatched name is a reason to walk away.

2. Check consent from all co-owners

   If the property has multiple owners (spouses, heirs), every one of them needs to sign — or grant a notarized power of attorney to one who signs for the rest. Skip this and any co-owner can contest the lease later.

3. Verify who's actually renting out the apartment

   "I'm renting it out for a friend who's abroad" is a classic scam script involving an apartment the person doesn't actually own. Insist on direct contact with the real owner and never send money before verifying documents in person.

4. Ask for recent utility bill receipts

   Unpaid utility bills can become a headache for whoever ends up living there. Recent receipts showing a zero balance settle the question upfront.

5. Check hot water pressure

   Turn on the tap and wait. Weak pressure or a long wait for hot water often only shows up in winter, when moving out is a hassle.

6. Test every outlet

   Bring a charger and test the outlet in every room, kitchen and hallway included — dead ones tend to go unmentioned.

7. Check that windows close properly

   Draughty windows mean higher heating bills and a cold apartment. Check the seals and hardware on each one.

8. Check corners and windowsills for mold

   Dark spots under windowsills and in ceiling corners signal damp or a leak the landlord won't mention out loud.

9. Turn on every appliance

   Stove, washing machine, water heater, AC — switch each one on during the viewing. Anything that breaks after move-in may be on your dime unless it's noted in the handover report.

10. Visit again in the evening

    A quiet daytime viewing tells you nothing about noisy neighbors upstairs or traffic outside. A second visit in the evening reveals the real soundscape.

11. Check which internet providers cover the address

    Not every building has fiber from the provider you want — check before moving day, not after.

12. Make a photo inventory of everything in the apartment

    Photograph every scratch, chip and stain BEFORE moving in and get both sides to sign the inventory — it's what protects your deposit at move-out.

13. Confirm the lease term

    A fixed term protects you from a sudden "move out in a month," but it binds you too — make sure the dates work for both sides.

14. Get the rent-increase terms in writing

    Without a clause, the landlord can raise the rent whenever and however much they like. Pin down a cap and how often it can happen.

15. Clarify who pays for repairs

    Split it in the contract: everyday wear (a lightbulb, a tap washer) is on the tenant; a major appliance or utility breakdown is on the owner.

16. Agree on the move-out notice period

    Usually two weeks to a month — put a number in the contract so you're not billed for an extra month you didn't know you owed.

17. Spell out the deposit return conditions

    Note the return deadline (usually up to two weeks after move-out) and exactly what can justify a deduction — otherwise you have nothing to argue with.

18. Record the meter readings

    Write down water, electricity and gas readings in the handover report with photos on move-in day — it rules out getting billed for someone else's usage.

19. Put the house rules in writing

    Pets, kids, overnight guests, minor changes (hanging a shelf, painting a wall) — a verbal "we'll figure it out" means nothing once there's a dispute.

20. Always pay with proof

    A bank transfer with a note ("March rent under lease #…") or a signed receipt from the owner — cash with no paper trail is impossible to prove later.

21. Scope out the neighborhood

    Walk around in the evening: night transport options, parking, the nearest shop and pharmacy — this is your daily experience, not just the view from the window.

22. Don't fall for "three other people are viewing it"

    It's a classic tactic to rush you into paying before you've checked the documents. A genuinely good apartment can wait a day; a scammer can't.