Before signing, make sure three things agree: the home you inspected, the terms you were offered and the document you are about to accept. If they do not, resolve the difference in writing first.
This guide is for the moment between a viewing and a commitment. For a detailed reading of clauses, use the lease-review checklist. Here, the question is whether the whole letting is clear enough to proceed.
Verify the property and the person offering it
Confirm the full address, which part of the property is included and who will live there. Establish whether the contact is the landlord or an authorised agent, and obtain usable contact details.
A viewing or video call helps you inspect the space, but does not alone prove the caller's authority to rent it. Cross-check the contact through independently obtained details where possible. If you are searching remotely, use the renting-from-abroad workflow and arrange an appropriate independent viewing.
Do not pay solely because photos look convincing or someone says other applicants are waiting. Use the scam checklist when verification breaks down.
Identify the kind of agreement
Is this a self-contained tenancy, a shared rental, student specific accommodation or a room in the owner's home? The answer affects the applicable rules.
The RTB's explanation of leases and licences says the real substance of an arrangement matters, not just its title. If the owner lives in the home, check the licence position rather than assuming the ordinary tenancy notice and deposit rules apply.
If multiple renters are named, understand what each person is signing and whether payment responsibilities are shared. Do not leave a household member's status to a verbal promise.
Resolve the physical questions from the viewing
Check the spaces you need to use: bedroom, cooking area, bathroom, storage and any workspace. Ask about repairs, the heating system, ventilation and appliances.
For covered rental homes, the minimum-standards guidance is the official baseline. If a repair is promised before move-in, write down the item, who will arrange it and the expected completion date. Ask what happens if it is not finished when keys are due.
Request the BER details where required and use the BER guide to interpret the certificate. A good energy rating does not answer a visible repair problem.
Convert promises into written terms
Compare the advert and messages with the agreement. Check the rent, start date, fixed term, furniture, parking and any permission that matters to you, including a pet.
Illustrative example: An advert says parking is included, but the agreement is silent. Ask whether a specific space is allocated, whether there is a permit or separate charge, and have the agreed arrangement recorded before signing.
Do the same for a promised desk, appliance replacement or agreed move date. A vague “we will sort it out” leaves both sides with different expectations.
Know the full cost and payment schedule
Make a short list of recurring charges. Who pays electricity, heating fuel, internet, waste and any other charge? In a shared home, how are bills split and what happens when someone leaves?
The RTB sample private-tenancy agreement includes rent, deposit and utility arrangements. Use it as a reference for the information to resolve.
Confirm the deposit, initial rent and due dates separately. For ordinary covered private tenancies, required deposit and advance-rent amounts are each limited to one month's rent. Do not assume these rules apply to an owner-occupied licence without checking.
If a booking payment is requested, get the exact refund or credit terms first. Verify the payment recipient independently if instructions change.
Read the agreement before accepting it
Allow time to read the whole document, including attachments. Mark clauses you do not understand and ask for a plain explanation or revision. Pay particular attention to leaving early, rent reviews, access, repairs and proposed deductions.
An automated lease scan can help surface questions, but it cannot decide whether a disputed term is enforceable or whether the home is suitable. Compare any flagged issue with official guidance and seek advice where the consequences are significant. The lease-scan example shows how to use that aid.
For an ordinary tenancy, the agreement cannot override statutory rights. Use the tenant-rights reference when checking an unusual clause.
Set up the handover before money changes hands
Agree when and how you receive keys. Confirm who holds and returns the deposit, what receipt you receive, and who supplies the signed agreement and inventory.
At move-in, record condition, missing items and meter readings. The RTB beginning-tenancy checklist helps establish those records.
Proceed when the material facts are confirmed and the remaining terms are understood. If the letting no longer fits, start a free HomeScout search with the requirements you have clarified.
Official guidance checked on 12 October 2026.