Inspect the exact apartment you will rent, confirm what is actually ready for use, and put the lease terms and promised repairs in writing before you sign. A newly built complex can still have unfinished work, defects, or closed amenities; marketing photos and a model unit are not evidence of the condition of your unit.
The legal steps and deadlines below are examples from British Columbia, New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria. They are not universal rules: check the requirements where the property is located.
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What should I inspect before signing a lease on a new apartment?
Ask to walk through the apartment number named in the proposed lease, not just a display unit. Check the condition and operation of each item you can safely test, and record anything damaged, missing, unfinished, or unclear. A new building is not necessarily a complete or defect-free one.
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Inside the apartment
- Identity and layout: Confirm the unit number matches the lease. Assess the view, orientation, privacy, daylight, and likely noise at a time that reflects ordinary activity.
- Doors, windows, and access: Open and close entry and interior doors, windows, blinds, and balcony doors. Check that locks latch and that keys or access devices work. Note gaps, damaged seals, cracks, scratches, unfinished trim, or loose fittings.
- Walls, floors, and signs of moisture: Look for stains, visible damage, damp or mould, and unusual odours. Check around sinks and visible plumbing for leaks. Inspect tile joints and sealant for obvious gaps or moisture.
- Water and drainage: Briefly run taps and the shower. Check hot and cold water, drainage, and toilet flushing. Do not leave water running unattended.
- Lights, outlets, and appliances: Turn on lights and included appliances if it is safe to do so. Check visible damage to outlets and built-in connections; note which appliances are included, their make and model if visible, and who is responsible for servicing or repair under the lease.
- Heating and ventilation: Check heating controls, bathroom and kitchen extraction, and whether windows open as expected. Look for visible mould or damp. Victoria’s renter checklist includes electrical safety, heating, ventilation, locks, structural soundness, windows, bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry as items to assess. Consumer Affairs Victoria’s move-in guidance sets out its local checklist.
- Safety devices: Confirm smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and operating; British Columbia guidance recommends confirming they have been tested recently. Do not remove or replace landlord-provided safety devices without arranging it with the landlord.
- Construction impact: Note dust, noise, trades access, and incomplete finishes. Ask what work remains, when it will happen, the working hours, how workers will access the building, and the expected completion date. Request the answers in writing.
Do not try to certify electrical, structural, or other safety conditions yourself. Note visible concerns, ask the landlord or agent how they will be addressed, and seek guidance from the relevant local authority if an important safety or completion issue remains unresolved. The inspection is a practical record of what you can observe, not proof that the building has no hidden defects.
Balcony, parking, storage, and shared facilities
Inspect every space or facility the listing or lease says is included. Check the balcony or patio, parking bay, storage cage, bicycle room, laundry, waste area, lifts, and other amenities. Confirm which facilities are open now, their hours, when access begins if they are not yet open, and whether building rules restrict their use. British Columbia’s move-in condition inspection guidance specifically includes shared facilities such as parking, storage, and shared laundry in the inspection process.
Be precise about what “included” means. Ask whether a particular parking bay or storage area is assigned to your apartment, when you can first use it, and whether access requires a separate key, fob, booking, or fee. If an amenity is still closed or under construction, record that status and any promised opening date. A promised future facility is not the same as an available one on move-in day.
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What questions should I ask about the building?
New construction makes readiness and access especially important. Ask the agent or landlord direct questions, then keep the answers with your lease records.
- Is any construction, defect correction, or other rectification work outstanding? What exactly remains, who will do it, and on what schedule?
- Are any facilities, entrances, lifts, or parking areas closed or restricted? When will each become available?
- How are building access, visitor entry, package delivery, refuse, parking, and moving bookings handled?
- What are the rules for noise, pets, balcony use, deliveries, and shared facilities? Ask for the building, community, or strata rules before signing.
- Are utilities individually supplied and metered, included in rent, or provided through an embedded network? If there is an embedded network, which providers can you choose from, is participation required, and how are charges calculated?
- Are there known significant safety issues, building rectification orders, or planned major works that affect the property?
For any remaining work, ask whether tradespeople will need access to your apartment, how that access will be arranged, and what hours they will work. Ask who you should contact if a defect appears after move-in and whether any work is expected to disrupt access to shared facilities. A specific written answer is more useful than a general assurance that the building is “nearly finished.”
In NSW, an embedded network may reduce a renter’s choice of utility provider and can involve higher fees or charges, according to the state’s rental application guidance. NSW disclosure rules also cover certain cladding rectification matters and scheduled major strata repairs in the circumstances described by NSW Fair Trading. Disclosure requirements differ by jurisdiction; do not assume the NSW rules apply elsewhere.
If the building has unresolved safety or completion questions, ask which local occupancy or completion documents apply and who can confirm the property’s status. The documents and terminology vary by place, so do not assume that a particular document or standard applies everywhere. Verify material concerns with the relevant local authority instead of treating the building’s age or marketing claims as proof that all work is complete.
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What should I verify in the lease and total cost?
Compare the proposed lease with the listing and any written promises. Make sure the agreement identifies the actual unit and spells out what you are paying for and what you may use.
- Rent and charges: Confirm base rent and every recurring charge, including any amenity or service fee, parking, storage, internet, and utilities. Ask which charges are fixed and which may change. Clarify any move-in or booking charges before agreeing to them.
- Utilities: Establish who pays for electricity, gas, water, and internet, how each is metered and billed, and whether any service is part of an embedded network.
- Included items: List the appliances, parking, storage, and amenities included in the tenancy. Confirm any restrictions or delayed access in writing.
- Dates and term: Check the lease start date against the possession and key handover date. Confirm the lease length, renewal terms, notice requirements, and any break or early-termination terms.
- Repairs: Find the maintenance reporting process and emergency contact. For each promised repair or unfinished item, write down the specific work and an agreed completion date in the lease or a written addendum.
- Building documents and disclosures: Read the required tenancy documents and building rules before signing. The documents and disclosures that must be provided depend on local law.
Calculate the likely recurring cost using the same items for each apartment you are considering. A lower advertised rent may not be the lower-cost option if regular utility, service, parking, storage, or internet charges differ. Ask how variable charges are calculated and billed, and keep the answer with the lease. Do not assume that an amenity is free, that a utility is included, or that you can choose any provider until those details are confirmed.
Do not treat a verbal assurance that a defect or amenity will be fixed by move-in as a commitment. NSW guidance advises tenants to get agreed pre-move repairs in writing and describes the tenancy documents to read when signing. See NSW’s lease and move-in guidance.
How to document the apartment’s condition
Make a room-by-room record before your belongings arrive. A clear report helps distinguish existing damage from problems that arise later and gives you a record of repairs the landlord or agent agreed to arrange.
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- Arrange access to the actual unit. Schedule a walk-through before moving in. If access is refused, request an inspection appointment in writing and keep the response.
- Complete the condition report. Record each room and hallway, walls, floors, windows, appliances, fixtures, outlets and connections, supplied items, storage, parking, balcony, and exterior spaces. Note missing items and any disagreement about the condition.
- Photograph or video systematically. Take a wide view of each room, then close-ups of every defect. Include enough context to identify where each image was taken, and preserve the original files and their dates. British Columbia guidance recommends visual records because they can help resolve later repair or deposit disputes.
- Send the record to the landlord or agent. Provide the report and relevant images, and keep proof that they received them. List each repair needed and the agreed action and date; request an acknowledged or countersigned copy.
- Store the paperwork safely. Keep the completed report, images, correspondence, receipts, and written repair promises in two places, such as a local copy and a separate backed-up copy.
- Meet the local return deadline. The rules differ. NSW says a tenant must return a completed condition report within seven days after taking possession. Victoria says its signed report should be returned within five business days. These examples are jurisdiction-specific and not interchangeable; check the applicable local process.
Be specific rather than writing only “damaged” or “unfinished.” Identify the room and item, describe what you observed, and connect each photo or video to that location. Record absent items as well as damage—for example, if an item listed as included is missing. If you and the landlord or agent disagree about an item, note the disagreement in the report rather than leaving the field blank.
British Columbia, NSW, and Victoria each have their own condition-report procedures. Read the relevant local guidance: British Columbia, NSW, and Victoria.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide between two newly built rentals
Do not compare apartments on advertised rent alone. Use the same criteria for each option and base the decision on what you have inspected and what the lease confirms, rather than on amenities or completion dates that are only promised.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Decision factor | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Total monthly cost | Rent plus recurring fees, utilities, parking, storage, internet, and any other regular charges; note how utilities are metered and billed. |
| Readiness | Condition of the exact unit, completion of promised work, and whether included amenities are open and accessible. |
| Written commitments | Whether repairs, completion dates, inclusions, and access arrangements are documented in the lease or acknowledged in writing. |
| Access and rules | Entry security, deliveries, visitor arrangements, parking, shared-area access, and building rules. |
| Day-to-day fit | Location, likely noise, transport, privacy, daylight, and practical convenience. |
These are decision criteria, not a scored inspection test. If a safety or completion concern remains unresolved, ask which local occupancy or completion documents apply and verify the issue with the relevant local authority rather than assuming the building is ready because it is newly constructed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a newly built apartment automatically defect-free or ready to move into?
No. A new complex can still have defects, unfinished work, closed amenities, or construction activity. Inspect the exact unit and confirm what is open, what work remains, and when promised work is due.
Do I need to inspect the exact apartment, or is a model unit enough?
Inspect the exact apartment named in the proposed lease. A model unit or marketing photos do not establish the offered unit’s condition, view, layout, included items, or access arrangements.
What if a promised repair or amenity opening is only described verbally?
Ask for the specific item, agreed work or access, and completion date in writing—ideally in the lease or an acknowledged addendum. Do not rely on a general verbal assurance.
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How soon must I return a move-in condition report?
Deadlines depend on location. The examples here are seven days after possession in NSW and five business days in Victoria. Those periods are not universal or interchangeable; check the local process that applies to your tenancy.
What should I do if I cannot inspect the apartment before moving in?
Request an inspection appointment in writing and keep the response. Arrange a walk-through of the actual unit as soon as possible, document its condition with a report and photos or video, and follow the applicable local reporting deadline.
Should I buy or replace the apartment’s smoke or carbon monoxide alarms?
The guidance supports confirming that landlord-provided detectors are present and operating, and British Columbia recommends checking that they have been tested recently. Do not remove or replace landlord-provided safety devices without arranging it with the landlord.
The Bottom Line
Before signing, inspect the exact unit and included spaces, confirm what is ready and what remains under construction, and compare the full cost—not just the rent. Put repairs, amenity access, and other promises in writing. Then complete the local condition-report process on time and keep photos, correspondence, and copies of your records.
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