Rental Apartment Checklist

August brings a new task to many families – finding an apartment to rent! Whether for yourself, a student family member, or young people just starting out in life. If you're doing this for the first time, you may not yet know many of the nuances to consider. Even when renting for the nth time, it's easier if you know what to pay attention to.

A checklist of things to look at, ask about, try, investigate and check:

1. Is there a parking space available?

You may not need it, but often it comes with the apartment anyway, so you can occasionally offer it to guests.

2. Are the locks in good condition and do they work?

3. Does the furniture in the apartment stay?

4. Does the equipment in the apartment stay?

5. Is the equipment in the apartment in good condition and does it work?

6. Do the taps have normal water flow? Is it clean, usable, drinkable?

7. Also check the shower mixer and see if it doesn't need replacing.

8. Look over the walls and floors to make sure there are no signs of water damage, mold, or anything else unwanted.

9. Are the rooms the right size for you? If necessary, will your existing bed fit in the bedroom?

Is there enough storage space, shelves, and other places for your belongings?

10. How soundproof are the walls and ceiling?

11. What is the heating like? Are the rooms warm in winter?

12. Does the apartment have new, heat-retaining windows?

13. Try to see if the windows open easily

It's surprisingly common to find windows painted shut in many apartments.

14. Do the electrical outlets work? It would be good to test everything, for example with a phone charger.

15. How are floor carpets maintained?

16. How is garbage collection organized and what is the dumpster like for this apartment?

Often there are many dumpsters around apartment buildings, but they may not all belong to this unit.

17. Does the apartment owner take care of solving various problems?

Dripping faucets, non-functioning radiators, or a broken washing machine.

18. Are you allowed to host friends for extended stays if needed?

This may seem logical to you, but often apartment owners are not okay with it and want to know exactly who is living on their property.

19. Are pets allowed?

You might think what a little kitten could possibly do, but if the apartment owner is an allergy sufferer or the apartment has fancy leather furniture, then this small fact is very much worth discussing in the agreement.

Find a selection of rental apartments available here>>