The Victorian terrace is the signature Surry Hills home: iron lace balconies, high ceilings, a narrow footprint and a location that puts Central Station, Crown Street and the CBD within walking distance. It's easy to fall for one at a ten-minute inspection.
But many of these homes are well over a century old, and age brings a particular set of problems that a quick walk-through won't reveal. This guide covers what to look for before you apply — and what you can reasonably expect your landlord to fix.
Damp and mould: the terrace tenant's number one issue
Older terraces were built without modern damp-proofing, and many sit shoulder-to-shoulder with limited cross-ventilation. The result, in plenty of properties, is rising damp at the base of walls and mould in bathrooms, laundries and back rooms that get little sun.
- Look low on the walls — bubbling or flaking paint, a tide-mark line, or crumbling plaster near the skirting boards are classic signs of rising damp.
- Use your nose — a musty smell, especially in a freshly aired property, is worth asking about.
- Check the bathroom exhaust — switch the fan on and hold a sheet of paper up to it. If it doesn't draw, condensation has nowhere to go.
- Open the wardrobes — mould often shows first on the back walls of built-ins against external walls.
A fresh coat of paint just before the property is advertised can hide all of this. If a room smells of new paint, ask when it was painted and why.
Noise and thin party walls
Terraces share walls with their neighbours, and older construction varies a lot in how much sound it blocks. You may hear conversations, televisions and stairs next door. Some Surry Hills streets also carry late-night foot traffic from the bars and restaurants nearby.
Inspect at a different time of day if you can, stand quietly in the bedroom for a minute, and check which rooms back onto the neighbour's living spaces.
Photograph every damp patch and crack before you move in and make sure each one is recorded on the entry condition report. If it's not on the report, you may have trouble proving it was already there when your bond comes up for return.
Ageing services: wiring, plumbing and hot water
Many terraces have been renovated in stages over decades, so the quality of the electrics and plumbing can vary room to room.
- Test several power points and look for signs of old or overloaded wiring, such as a shortage of outlets that pushes you towards power boards.
- Run the shower and kitchen tap together to check water pressure and how quickly the hot water arrives.
- Ask how old the hot water system is — replacement is the landlord's responsibility, but a failing unit means cold showers while you wait.
- Confirm smoke alarms are installed and working. In NSW, landlords are responsible for making sure smoke alarms in a rental are in working order.
Heating, cooling and the practical stuff
Terraces with high ceilings and little insulation can be cold in winter and hot upstairs in summer. Ask what heating and cooling is provided — and whether it's actually included in the lease.
Also check the things you'll live with every day: steep staircases (a real consideration when moving furniture in), where the washing machine goes, whether there's anywhere to dry clothes, how bins are handled on narrow streets, and whether the property is eligible for a resident parking permit if you have a car. Much of Surry Hills sits within heritage conservation areas, so don't expect to be able to make changes to the property even with goodwill from the owner.
What your landlord must fix
Under the NSW Residential Tenancies Act, a rental property must meet minimum standards to be fit to live in — including being structurally sound, having adequate ventilation, natural light, and working plumbing and electricity. Landlords must also keep the property in reasonable repair.
Repairs are split into urgent repairs (things like a burst water pipe, a serious roof leak, a gas leak, or a failure of essential services) and non-urgent repairs. Put every repair request in writing and keep copies. If repairs aren't done, NSW Fair Trading can help, and unresolved disputes can go to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).
A Surry Hills terrace can be a wonderful place to live — as long as you go in knowing its age. Check for damp, listen for noise, test the services, and get every existing defect onto the condition report. For more on the suburb itself, read our Surry Hills renting guide and our local's guide for tenants.
Most importantly, find out how the property has treated the people who lived there before you. Search the exact address on RentIntel to read reviews from past tenants before you sign.