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Before you sign, verify that the building can legally be occupied where it is located, get every promised feature and repair obligation into the lease, and complete a dated, room-by-room condition record before your belongings arrive. New construction can still have unfinished work, commissioning problems or defects; your protection depends on local occupancy rules, tenancy law and what you document.
What should I check before renting a new apartment?
Use this order: establish that occupation is permitted, understand what will and will not be finished, put the landlord’s promises and repair process in writing, then inspect and photograph the apartment before moving anything in. A newly built unit is not automatically defect-free, and a developer’s warranty for an owner is not automatically a tenant right.
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- Legal occupation: ask which completion, occupancy or use approval applies, which authority issued it, and whether it covers the building or your unit.
- Actual handover condition: identify unfinished work, missing fixtures, stains, leaks, damaged surfaces and non-working doors, windows, appliances, lifts or services.
- Lease certainty: list included appliances, parking, storage, furnishings and amenities; record promised completion dates and who pays each utility.
- Repairs and emergencies: obtain named contacts, reporting channels, access arrangements and the local deadlines or standards that apply.
- Evidence: complete a signed and dated inspection report, attach photographs and keep copies of every message and work order.
Rules differ sharply by jurisdiction. The certificate name, inspection form, deposit handling, repair deadline and defect remedy in one country cannot be imported into another lease.
Does a new apartment need an occupancy certificate or permit?
Ask the landlord or agent to identify the local document that authorizes occupation. Depending on the jurisdiction, it may be called an occupancy certificate, occupancy permit, completion certificate or another approval. Ask for the issuing authority, issue date, scope (whole development, building, or individual unit), and any conditions that affect residents.
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Official examples show why this question must be local. Hyderabad’s authority describes an occupancy-certificate process after construction is complete. Delhi Development Authority states: “No person shall occupy or allow any other person to occupy any building or part of a building for any purpose until such building or part of a building has been granted the occupancy certificate.” That statement applies to Delhi’s rules, not to every rental market. In Victoria, an Occupancy Permit appears among completion records for new homes, but the related guidance concerns building work and owners rather than creating a universal tenant entitlement.
If the agent says approval is “pending,” ask whether you may legally move in before it is issued, what temporary approval exists, and who bears the risk of delay. Do not rely on a marketing brochure or a verbal assurance. Verify the document with the local building authority or tenancy regulator when possible, and retain the response with your lease records.
What remains under construction after move-in?
New developments are often handed over in phases. Ask for a written list of work that will continue in your building, neighboring blocks or shared areas. Get expected dates, daily working hours, noisy-work restrictions, contractor access arrangements and the notice method for changes.
- Will drilling, façade work, road work or landscaping continue beside your unit?
- Are the lobby, gym, pool, play area, roof terrace, parking levels or storage rooms open and usable on your start date?
- Could lifts, water, power, heating, cooling, internet or fire systems be shut down for commissioning or repairs?
- Who sends notices about access restrictions, and how much warning is normally provided?
- Can rent, parking charges or other fees change if an advertised amenity is unavailable, and what does the lease say?
These questions do not assume that local law imposes a particular disclosure duty. Their purpose is to prevent a mismatch between the apartment you inspected and the development you will live in.
Which items and services are included in the lease?
Write an inventory before signing. Include the make or identifying description of appliances, light fittings, blinds, air-conditioning units, water heaters, intercoms and any furniture. Identify the exact parking bay, locker, storage cage, mailbox and access fobs. State whether use of shared amenities is included, separately charged, restricted to certain hours or subject to future rules.
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Clarify utilities line by line: who opens each account, whether meters are individual or shared, how estimated bills are allocated, and who pays connection, standing or temporary-construction charges. Read clauses on landlord entry, contractor access, keys, security systems, pets, alterations and insurance. Any promise that the unit will be painted, cleaned, fitted out or repaired before handover should appear in the lease or a signed addendum with a completion date.
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“Property inspections are important. Tenants and landlords should check the property together at the start of a tenancy to avoid problems later on,” says Tenancy Services in New Zealand. British Columbia similarly advises: “Before a tenant moves into a new rental unit, the landlord and tenant should both check the condition of the unit.” Arrange the walkthrough with the landlord or agent before furniture and boxes hide surfaces. British Columbia generally places the inspection on the day keys are received, although the parties can agree to another time.
Use one report for the entire premises, not just a list of major defects. A useful room sequence is entryway, kitchen, living room, dining area, hall, bathroom, each bedroom, exterior, utility room, garage and parking area. For every item, describe its location and condition rather than writing only “fine.”
Entry, walls and floors
- Check the condition of doors, frames, locks, handles, intercoms, keys and access cards.
- Look for chipped paint, dents, scratches, uneven flooring, cracked tiles, gaps, stains and signs of moisture.
- Open and close windows; inspect seals, screens, restrictors and balcony doors.
Kitchen, bathroom and laundry
- Run taps and showers, check hot-water arrival, drainage, water pressure and visible leaks beneath sinks.
- Operate the oven, hob, extractor, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer if supplied; record model numbers and any fault code.
- Inspect silicone joints, grout, cabinetry, worktops, toilets, exhaust fans and floor waste for damage or incomplete finishing.
Heating, cooling, power and communications
- Test each light switch, a representative sample of sockets, smoke or heat alarms, thermostats and supplied heating or cooling equipment.
- Confirm the location and reading of electricity, gas and water meters where accessible.
- Check internet or television points and ask whether service activation depends on unfinished common infrastructure.
Exterior and shared facilities
- Inspect balconies, railings, screens, drainage outlets, storage areas and the allocated parking space.
- Walk the route to fire exits, refuse rooms, mailboxes and lifts. Note locked doors, obstructions, unusual odors, water ingress or damaged finishes.
- Ask how building access, visitor entry and lift faults are reported.
This walkthrough is a tenant condition record, not a substitute for a licensed building survey. It cannot reliably reveal concealed structural, waterproofing, fire-protection or service defects.
How do I document damage before I move in?
- Prepare a room-by-room report. Number rooms and list every defect, incomplete item and missing inclusion. Record “not tested” where a service is unavailable rather than implying it worked.
- Take dated photographs and video. Photograph the whole room first, then close-ups with a fixed reference point. Include meter readings, appliance displays and serial numbers when relevant.
- Cross-reference evidence. Label images so the report identifies the corresponding file, for example “Kitchen—under-sink leak—photo 12.” Keep the original files and preserve their dates.
- Walk through with the landlord or agent. Ask for each issue to be added to the report, with an owner, proposed remedy and target date where known.
- Sign, date and distribute copies. New Zealand guidance recommends that both parties sign and date the report and retain a copy where the local process allows. Send your copy by a traceable email or portal and save the submission receipt.
- Record later discoveries promptly. If an issue appears after the first inspection, notify the other party in writing immediately, attach evidence and request that the report be amended. Do not wait until the tenancy ends.
British Columbia’s current move-in guidance says the landlord must provide the tenant a copy of the inspection report within seven days of the inspection, subject to the conditions in that jurisdiction’s rule. Verify the current statutory wording and any exceptions with the province before relying on that deadline.
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Who fixes defects in a newly built rental apartment?
Start with the landlord or the property manager named in the lease, even when the apparent cause is a construction defect. Ask exactly who logs defects with the developer or building manager, what evidence a tenant must supply, who arranges access, and how urgent hazards are handled outside office hours.
Use a written channel that creates a timestamp. Describe the location, symptom, date noticed, effect on safety or essential services, and any temporary measure taken. Attach photographs and keep the landlord’s acknowledgement, contractor appointment, attendance notes and completion confirmation. Do not authorize permanent work yourself or deduct costs from rent unless local law and the lease clearly permit it.
Separate routine defects from emergencies. A failed cosmetic finish can follow the normal repair queue; a loss of essential water, dangerous electrical fault, active leak, failed lock, blocked exit or suspected fire-safety problem needs the emergency route stated in your tenancy documents and, where appropriate, the local emergency service or regulator. Exact response times and rent remedies depend on local law.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What safety and building-operation questions should I ask?
Ask the manager to show you the nearest fire exits and explain alarm testing, evacuation notices, assembly points and accessible routes. Confirm how residents report smoke, flooding, electrical danger, lift entrapment, structural movement or a blocked escape path.
New South Wales’ building regulator lists fire safety, structural matters, waterproofing, enclosures or cladding and services among serious defect concerns. Those categories are useful prompts for any walkthrough, but the regulator’s legal powers and reporting process apply in NSW. In another jurisdiction, contact the equivalent building, fire or tenancy authority and follow its emergency instructions.
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Look for practical warning signs: recurring damp or musty odors, staining around windows or ceilings, doors that bind, unexplained cracks, exposed wiring, missing covers, standing water, damaged balcony drainage, overheated equipment or alarms that do not test. A visible hazard should be reported rather than concealed by cleaning or decoration.
Does the builder’s warranty cover me as a tenant?
Usually, you should not assume so. Builder warranties, statutory defect schemes and developer inspection programmes are commonly written for the owner or purchaser. Your direct rights normally come from the tenancy agreement and the residential-tenancy, building or consumer rules in the place where the apartment is located.
Singapore’s Housing & Development Board gives a clear example of the distinction: newly completed HDB flats have a one-year Defects Liability Period beginning at key collection, and homeowners are asked to report defects within one month and before renovation. HDB describes homeowner inspection and rectification channels. That programme does not establish a general rental guarantee or allow every tenant to claim directly against a developer.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAsk the landlord whether the owner has a defect portal or warranty, whether tenants may submit reports, and whether the landlord will make the claim on your behalf. Obtain written confirmation of your role, access arrangements and the person responsible for follow-up. Keep pursuing the landlord’s tenancy obligations even if a developer visit is scheduled.
How can I compare two new-development apartments?
| Decision point | Questions to put to each landlord or agent | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Occupancy approval | What approval applies locally, who issued it, and does it cover this building or unit? | Certificate details, authority response or written explanation |
| Handover condition | What is complete, what is outstanding and when will listed defects be corrected? | Signed condition report, photographs and work schedule |
| Construction activity | What work, noise, access restriction or service interruption is expected after move-in? | Notice policy, dates and amenity availability in the lease |
| Repairs | Who receives routine and emergency reports, and who coordinates developer access? | Names, phone numbers, portal address and written procedure |
| Lease economics | Which utilities, parking, storage, appliances and amenities are included, and how are shared charges allocated? | Inventory, plans, meter arrangements and signed addendum |
| Safety | Where are exits and alarms, and how are hazards and lift or utility failures reported? | Building instructions and your inspection notes |
Choose the apartment with verifiable approval, a landlord willing to document condition, clear repair contacts and realistic information about unfinished work—not merely the newest finishes or the most attractive amenity list.
What should I keep after signing?
- The signed lease, inventory, inspection report and every addendum.
- Original photographs and videos with their dates and a simple file index.
- Occupancy or completion information supplied by the landlord and your authority enquiries.
- Messages about promised work, construction notices, utility interruptions and access.
- Repair requests, acknowledgements, contractor reports, invoices and completion photographs.
- Move-out instructions and any later inspection report.
Store copies somewhere you can access if your phone or laptop is lost. A clear chronology often matters more than a long argument about when a defect began.
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