How to Check a Rental Before You Sign

16 July 2026

A rental viewing usually lasts 10 minutes with a queue of other applicants behind you. It is easy to walk in, feel the pressure, and sign a lease on a property with hidden problems that will cost you thousands over the next year. This checklist will help you spot the issues that matter in the time you have.

Before you go

Search the address on SafeRent to see if previous tenants have left reviews or ratings on the property or on the landlord's other properties. Look at Google Street View for the surrounding area at different times of day. Check the BER rating on the advert. Anything below a C usually means high heating bills, and anything below an E means the property is failing on efficiency.

If the advert has no BER, no Eircode, or the landlord refuses to share them, treat that as a red flag before you even arrive.

Damp and mould

Damp is the single most common serious defect in Irish rentals. Look for dark spots or patches on ceilings, especially in corners and around windows. Look for peeling paint or wallpaper near skirting boards. Notice any musty smell, particularly in bathrooms, wardrobes, and behind furniture. Watch for condensation on the inside of windows. Notice fresh paint that only covers part of a wall, which often means recent damp has been painted over.

Lift the corner of any rug or mat if you can, and check behind curtains. Damp that has been hidden for a viewing usually returns within weeks.

Heating

Ask to see the boiler. Look at the manufacture date on the label. Boilers over 15 years old are near the end of their reliable life. Ask when it was last serviced and request to see the service record.

Turn on a radiator in each room to confirm they all work. Ask what the average monthly gas or electricity bill has been for the previous tenants. If the landlord refuses to say, expect the worst.

Water pressure and plumbing

Run the hot tap in the kitchen and the shower at the same time. If the pressure drops sharply or the water stays lukewarm, the system is struggling. Flush the toilet and check it refills properly. Look under sinks for water stains or buckets, both of which suggest active leaks.

Safety essentials

Every rental in Ireland must have a working smoke alarm on every floor and a carbon monoxide alarm where there is any gas or solid fuel appliance. Test them during the viewing if you can. Check that windows open and close, and that any fire escape route is not blocked or locked.

Ask about the fuse board. Old rewireable fuse boards without RCD protection are a safety concern and a sign the electrics have not been upgraded.

Appliances and fittings

Open the oven and the fridge. Turn on a hob ring. Try the extractor fan. Open every wardrobe and check the door catches. Sit on any furniture provided. Broken appliances become your problem to chase once you have signed.

The building and neighbours

If it is an apartment, ask about the management company, the level of maintenance, and any recent service charges or issues. Walk the common areas. Overflowing bins, broken doors, and graffiti in the hallway are signs of long term neglect.

If possible, visit the street again in the evening. Noise, parking, and street activity change completely after 8 pm.

Questions to ask the landlord

Ask how long the landlord has owned the property and how many tenants have lived there in the past three years. Ask what the last rent was and when the last rent review took place. Ask whether the property is registered with the RTB and request the RT number. Ask who handles repairs and what the typical response time is. Ask whether pets are allowed, in writing. Ask what bills are included.

A landlord who answers these clearly and in writing is usually a good landlord. A landlord who dodges them is telling you everything you need to know.

Before you sign

Read the lease at home, not at the viewing. Check that the rent, deposit, notice, and any special terms match what was agreed. Never pay a deposit before you have seen the written lease. If in doubt, walk away. There will be another property, and paying to escape a bad one is far more expensive than waiting a week.