House Viewing Checklist

Preparing your checklist

Before you step foot in a property, get your finances and your group sorted, because the student housing market moves fast. If you view a house unprepared, another group will secure it while you scramble for paperwork. Landlords prefer organised groups who can pay the deposit immediately.

Know your budget. Discuss maximum monthly budgets with your future housemates before booking viewings. Factor in the cost of energy bills, broadband and water if the rent does not include them.

Checking the exterior

The outside of the house tells you exactly how well the landlord maintains the property. A neglected exterior usually means neglected interiors. Look closely at the roof, gutters and security features before you even knock on the front door. Burglars target shared student houses because there is more to steal, with several laptops, phones and consoles under one roof.

Pay attention to the street lighting and the route you will walk home after late library sessions and a cheap house in a poorly lit, isolated area will cost you more in taxi fares over the year.

Damp and heating checks

Damp is the problem most likely to make a student house miserable by January. Awaab’s Law, which puts fixed deadlines on damp and mould repairs, only covers social housing in England so far; the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 lets the government extend it to private landlords, but no start date has been set. In Scotland the same kind of deadlines have applied to most private tenancies since 6 October 2026. Landlords often paint over mould before viewings. Look for fresh paint patches on exterior-facing walls or ceilings.

Heating a poorly insulated house will drain your student loan. Ask to see the boiler and check its age. Older boilers are more likely to break down in winter.

Bedroom and living room checks

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) must meet specific space and safety standards. Every bedroom should have enough space for a bed, wardrobe and desk. Do not accept a room that feels like a cupboard just to secure a house. You will spend most of your time studying and sleeping in this room.

Test the practical elements you will rely on daily. Some landlords provide cheap, uncomfortable mattresses and unstable desks. Check the furniture quality before you agree to rent.

Kitchen and bathroom checks

You will share these spaces heavily. Poor water pressure and broken appliances cause daily friction among housemates. Test everything. Turn on the taps, flush the toilets, and open the fridge. Some agents will try to hurry you out of the bathroom, but take your time.

Essential questions to ask

The agent is there to let the room. If the current tenants are home, ask them directly about their experience. They are leaving, so they have less reason than anyone to talk the place up.

Before you sign, run the quoted rent through our rent affordability calculator. If an agent says something about your rights that sounds off, check it in our student housing section.

Next steps after the viewing

Once you find a house that passes the checklist, move quickly but carefully. Do not hand over cash without seeing a draft contract. Scammers often post fake listings and demand deposits before viewings.

See also: our accommodation websites comparison.

Under England’s Tenant Fees Act, landlords cannot charge viewing fees, referencing fees, or inventory fees. Before you sign, the only money they can take is a holding deposit of up to one week of rent. Your main tenancy deposit is capped at five weeks of rent, or six weeks if the yearly rent for the house is £50,000 or more.