The viewing checklist
Lesson 2 of 13 in our free Housing & Renting guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
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Questions you'll answer
What does an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tell you?
A house costs £520 a month per person. What's that per WEEK?
Quick facts
- Black mould behind the bed, freshly painted over → Red flag. Painting over mould hides a damp problem. Ask what's been done.
- Landlord shows you the gas safety certificate → Green flag. Gas safety checks are required every year. Love to see it.
- Smoke alarms on every floor → Green flag. Required by law in England. Test them.
- Current tenants look nervous and say 'ask the landlord' → Red flag. Try to chat to them privately. They know the real story.
- EPC rating of E or above → Green flag. Private rentals generally need at least an E. Higher = cheaper to heat.
- Windows that don't lock on the ground floor → Red flag. Security issue. Ask for it to be fixed in writing before signing.