Most rental inspections last ten or fifteen minutes, often with a dozen other applicants squeezing past you in the hallway. It's the only chance you'll get to check a home you might be living in for a year or more — and it's easy to walk out having noticed the fresh paint and the nice benchtops, but not the things that actually cause problems.
Save this checklist to your phone and work through it at your next inspection.
Before you go
- Look up the address — search past tenant reviews so you know what questions to ask.
- Walk or drive the street at a different time of day to the inspection — noise, parking and traffic can be very different at night or on weekends.
- Bring your phone charged — you'll want photos, and you'll want to check mobile reception inside.
Water, power and essentials
- Turn on the shower and kitchen tap. Check the water pressure and how long hot water takes to arrive.
- Flush the toilet and check it refills properly.
- Look under sinks for leaks, water stains or swollen cabinet bases.
- Count the power points in each room — too few means relying on power boards.
- Check that smoke alarms are fitted.
- Ask how internet is connected to the property and check your mobile signal in the main rooms.
Damp, mould and ventilation
- Check ceilings, window frames and the corners of bathrooms and bedrooms for black spots or stains.
- Open wardrobes and look at the back walls, especially on external walls.
- Note any musty smell — and be cautious if a room smells strongly of fresh paint.
- Test that the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans work.
Ask the agent directly: "Are there any known issues with the property, and is anything scheduled to be repaired before the lease starts?" Ask them to put any promised repairs in writing before you sign — a verbal promise at an inspection is very hard to enforce later.
Security and safety
- Check every external door and window locks properly.
- Look at balcony railings and stair balustrades — do they feel solid?
- Ask whether the locks have been changed since the last tenants left.
- For apartments, check how building entry and mail are secured.
Kitchen, laundry and appliances
- Turn on the cooktop and check the oven and rangehood are included and working.
- Check whether a dishwasher, if listed, is actually connected.
- Find where the washing machine goes and whether there's a tap and drain for it.
- Ask where you can dry clothes.
Comfort and liveability
- Ask what heating and cooling is provided, and which rooms it covers.
- Check which way the main living areas face and how much natural light they get.
- Stand still in the bedroom for a minute and listen — traffic, neighbours, plumbing.
- Check storage: is there somewhere for a vacuum, suitcases, a bike?
- Confirm parking arrangements, and whether a space or permit is included.
Questions to ask the agent
- Why are the current tenants leaving, and how long did they stay?
- Who manages repairs, and how are they requested?
- Are pets considered?
- What's included in the rent, and which utilities are separately metered?
A good inspection won't tell you everything about a property, but it will catch most of the obvious problems before they become yours. Photograph anything you're unsure about, get promises in writing, and once you've signed, make sure every existing defect goes on the entry condition report — it's the document that protects your bond when you leave. Our guide to getting your full bond back explains why.
The one thing an inspection can never show you is how the property is managed over time. For that, search the address on RentIntel and read what previous tenants experienced.