Templates › Home and living

Apartment Rental

Rent an apartment safely anywhere: set a budget, search while avoiding scams, prepare your application, view in person, check the landlord and lease, pay a protected deposit and record the condition at move-in. Tenant law and deposit rules vary by country.

• ~19 days
• 10 steps
• 4 documents

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

1. Set your budget and must-haves

   2 days

   Work out the total monthly cost, not only the rent: utilities, internet, building or service charges, local taxes where tenants pay them, and renter's insurance. Then add the upfront costs, typically a deposit, the first rent payment and sometimes agency or application fees where they are allowed.

   Many landlords check that your income is a multiple of the rent, so know your figures before you apply.

   Tip: Map your commute from each area you consider; a cheaper rent can cost more in travel time and fares.

   • Set a maximum monthly rent
   • Estimate utilities, internet and service charges
   • Save for the deposit and first rent payment
   • List must-haves such as bedrooms, pets or parking
   • Choose two or three target areas

   Remind me

2. Search listings and avoid scams

   5 days

   Use established listing sites and registered agents where licensing exists. Rental scams are common: warning signs include rent well below the local market, an owner who is abroad and cannot show the property, pressure to decide quickly, the same photos listed under other names, and requests for payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.

   Never pay a deposit or holding fee for a place you have not seen in person or through someone you trust, and do not send copies of ID or financial documents before a viewing.

   Tip: Run a reverse image search on listing photos and search the landlord's name with the word scam.

   Online

   consumer.ftc.gov

3. Prepare your application documents

   3 days

   Have documents ready so you can apply quickly once you find the right place: ID, proof of income such as recent payslips, an employment contract or bank statements, references from previous landlords or your employer, and where relevant a residence permit and guarantor details. Some landlords run a credit or tenant check themselves.

   Share copies only with verified landlords or agents, after a viewing, and consider marking copies with the purpose and date.

   Tip: Keep a ready-to-send folder in this app so you can apply the same day as a viewing.

   Passport or National IDPayslips or Proof of IncomeBank StatementsLandlord or Employer Reference

   Attach my documents

4. View the apartment in person

   2 days

   Always view the actual apartment before paying anything. If you cannot attend, ask someone you trust to go, or insist on a live video call where they walk through every room and show the street outside.

   Ask how long the lease is, what is included, how repairs are reported, how the deposit is held, and who the landlord is if you are dealing with an agent.

   Tip: Visit the area again in the evening; noise and parking can be very different from a daytime viewing.

   Where

   Landlord or letting agent · Bring your viewing checklist, a phone for photos and questions about the lease, deposit, repairs and included costs.

   Remind me

5. Check the apartment during the viewing

   1 day

   Look beyond the decoration. Damp and mould, poor heating, weak water pressure and broken locks are the most common complaints once tenants move in.

   Test what you can, and ask for repairs to be agreed in writing before signing.

   Tip: Photograph anything that needs fixing and send the list to the landlord the same day.

   • Water pressure and hot water
   • Signs of damp, mould or leaks
   • Heating, cooling and ventilation
   • Windows, doors and locks
   • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
   • Appliances and electrical sockets
   • Mobile signal and internet options
   • Condition of shared areas and building security

6. Verify the landlord and read the lease

   2 days

   Before paying, confirm the person renting to you owns the property or is authorised to let it. Ways to check include official property records where public, the agent's registration, and ID that matches the owner's name.

   Read the whole lease. Check the term, rent and how it can increase, the deposit amount and where it will be held, the notice period, who pays for repairs and utilities, rules on pets and subletting, and any break clause. Ask for a translation if it is not in a language you read well.

   Tip: Get every promise made at the viewing, such as repairs or new furniture, written into the lease.

   • Landlord's identity and right to let confirmed
   • Lease term and renewal terms
   • Rent amount, due date and increase rules
   • Deposit amount and where it will be held
   • Notice period and break clause
   • Repair responsibilities and how to report problems
   • Pets, subletting and guest rules

   Passport or National ID

   Attach my documents

7. Pay the deposit and first rent safely

   1 day

   Pay only after you have viewed the apartment and checked the lease, and use a traceable method such as a bank transfer. Get a written receipt that states what each amount is for.

   Some places require landlords to protect deposits. In England and Wales, for example, a landlord must place a deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and give you the details. Ask where your deposit will be held and how it is returned at the end.

   Tip: Confirm bank details in person or by phone before sending money; changed account details in an email are a red flag.

8. Sign the lease and keep a copy

   1 day

   Sign only the final version you have read, and make sure the landlord or agent signs too. Check names, the address, rent, deposit, start date and any agreed repairs match what you were promised.

   Keep a complete signed copy, including any annexes, inventory and house rules, plus the deposit protection details where they apply.

   Tip: Upload the signed lease to this app straight away; you will need it for address registration and utilities.

9. Record the condition at move-in

   1 day

   An inventory or condition report protects your deposit. Walk through every room on move-in day, photograph or video everything with the date, and note existing damage, marks and missing items.

   Ask the landlord to sign the inventory, or send your report by email so there is a dated record.

   Tip: Take close-up photos of existing marks with a coin or pen for scale; they are much clearer evidence later.

   • Photograph or film every room, wall and floor
   • Note existing damage and marks on the inventory
   • Record meter readings with photos
   • Count keys and access cards received
   • Test appliances, heating and hot water
   • Send the report to the landlord and keep a copy

10. Move-in admin reminder

    1 day

    Set up or transfer utilities and internet, and register your new address where local law requires it. Arrange renter's insurance for your belongings, since the landlord's insurance usually covers only the building.

    Update your address with your bank, employer and authorities, set up the rent payment, and note the lease end date and notice deadline in your calendar.

    Tip: Diary the notice deadline, not only the lease end date; missing it can commit you to another term.

Documents you'll need

Official sources

• FTC: Rental listing scams
• GOV.UK: How to rent, a checklist for renting in England
• GOV.UK: Tenancy deposit protection

Related templates

• Property Purchase11 steps · ~77 days · 3 documents
• Apartment Hunting (Wohnungssuche)10 steps · ~13 days · 6 documents
• Apartment Rental Process10 steps · ~20 days · 6 documents
• Home Purchase (Achat immobilier)12 steps · ~69 days · 4 documents

All templates