My partner and I moved in to a new flat recently. Some of these points have been commented on already but for what it’s worth:
1. Ask about the neighbours: Ask the landlord or managing agent or ask the current tenants if they are in the flat when you view it. You probably won’t get an accurate or detailed answer but it’s worth checking. We had nightmare neighbours in our last flat and they were was one of the reasons why we moved (constant entertaining to the early am hours, music, strangers in and out, it was like living in a dorm). This can happen anywhere but what's different in the UK is that your neighbour's flat may be owned or managed by someone else and if there's a problem your landlord may not be able to do anything to intervene.
2. Ground floor flats: If the flat is next to the front entrance you may have to deal with people coming and going at all hours, which is another reason to ask about the neighbours especially if there are shared flats in the building.
3. Gardens: I miss having outdoor space but wasn’t prepared for the time or expense of caring for one that I didn’t own. Establish who is responsible for the upkeep, providing equipment to do so, etc. It’s more expensive than you might think.
4. Windows: Check if the windows can open at all -- a new one on my list. I was surprised to find that the bedroom windows in my current flat were painted shut on the outside and could not be opened. The managing agent repaired them but I did have to keep after them about it.
Also, single pane windows make for draughty flats. Be prepared to spend more on heating.
5. Water pressure: as previously noted, it was a permanent drought in my last flat. The pitiful trickle in the shower was a nightmare especially in winter when the flat was freezing.
6. Venting: again, as previously noted, very important to check to see if vents work, especially in bathrooms without windows.
7. Telephone/cable: Check to see if there is a working landline or cable connection to the flat. Not all flats have them and it can be expensive to have BT or another company run-in a new line.
8. Gas and electric:
--Find out where the meters are located and which ones are connected to your flat. It’s not always obvious.
--Take a meter reading the day you move in (and the day you move out).
--The numbers on the meters don’t always match up to the numbers in the database at the utilities companies. Insist that the agent find out who supplied the gas and electric for the previous tenant. It will save you a lot of time and aggravation when you try and set up your account.
9. Council tax: One flat had council tax included in the rent. The only problem was the managing agent paid it when it pleased them but as tenants, the council chased us for the bill. My preference is to pay it myself, separately.
10. Furnishings: Many flats are rented furnished. Check to see if the items you don’t like can be removed. For example, if you want to buy your own sofa will the landlord/managing remove the existing one? Sometimes the answer is no.
11. Document! As Shahbanou said, take pictures, take notes, put any defect however small on record. The landlord should provide an inventory when you move in. Make sure it’s accurate. The last estate agent tried deduct for items that were damaged or not in the best condition when we moved out, for example, £35 for a cracked telephone jack that was broken when we moved in (we hadn't noticed). They also tried to charge for a light cleaning after I scrubbed the flat from top to bottom.
And a tip for finding a flat: If are looking online and know the area, try the flats without pictures. We had seen several flats online that were taken by the time we called the agents (a matter of hours of them being listed). The ones we were able to secure a viewing of were horrors.
But then I saw one listing for a flat on a street that my partner and I both liked, but no picture. We took a chance, called the agent, and we were lucky enough to be the first people in to view. It was more then decent and we took it on the spot.
