What to Actually Check at a Viewing

A viewing is over in fifteen minutes, and most of what actually matters afterward isn't the things that immediately catch the eye. Here's what's actually worth checking while you're there.

Things a nice photo won't tell you

• Water pressure — run a tap, particularly upstairs, particularly in the shower.
• Mobile signal in the rooms you'll actually use, not just by the front door.
• Street noise at the time of day you'd normally be home — a daytime viewing tells you nothing about a Friday night.
• Storage — genuinely open the cupboards, not just glance at them.

Questions worth asking directly

• Is the property managed by an agent, or the landlord directly — and who do you actually contact if something breaks?
• What's included in the rent, and what isn't — council tax, water, broadband, are all worth confirming rather than assuming.
• How is the deposit protected, and which scheme — a straight, confident answer is a good sign; hesitation is worth noting.

Paperwork to ask to see

A valid EPC and gas safety certificate (if applicable) should exist and be available on request before you commit — not "we'll sort that out." Asking for these isn't awkward; it's a completely normal, reasonable question.

The one thing worth trusting

How responsive and straight the agent or landlord is during the viewing itself is often a genuine preview of what they'll be like once you're actually living there. Vague answers to direct questions rarely improve after you've signed.