Tenancy

The Flat Inspection Checklist for NZ Renters

What to check before you sign a tenancy: a room-by-room flat inspection checklist covering warmth, damp, water pressure, security, bills and the paperwork that protects you.

By The FlatMatchr Team · 19 June 2026

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A flat can look great in photos and feel very different in person. Viewing it properly, and inspecting carefully before you sign, is the best way to avoid a cold, damp or overpriced surprise. Use this checklist when you view a place in New Zealand.

Before you go

• Confirm the rent, bond and bills arrangement in writing.
• Ask for the property's Healthy Homes compliance statement.
• Check the commute and the neighbourhood at the time of day you would actually travel.
• Bring your phone for photos and a torch for dark corners.

Warmth and damp

New Zealand homes are often colder and damper than they look, so this is the single most important section.

• Is there a fixed heater that can warm the main living area? Portable heaters do not count under the Healthy Homes Standards.
• Look for insulation confirmation (ceiling and underfloor).
• Check windows for condensation, mould or black spots, especially in bedrooms and around window frames.
• Sniff for a musty smell, a tell-tale sign of damp.
• Check that bathrooms and the kitchen have extractor fans or openable windows.

Water, power and connectivity

• Turn on taps to test hot water and water pressure in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Flush the toilet and check the shower runs hot.
• Count power points in each room and check they work.
• Ask about internet options and average power bills for the property.
• Check phone reception inside the flat.

Security and safety

• Confirm there are working smoke alarms in the right places (these are required).
• Check that windows and doors lock properly.
• Look at outdoor lighting and how secure the entrance is.
• Ask about off-street parking and bike or storage space.

Kitchen, bathroom and shared spaces

• Test the oven, stovetop and rangehood.
• Check the fridge and laundry arrangements (in-flat, shared, or none).
• Look under sinks for leaks or water damage.
• Assess whether the shared spaces are big enough for everyone who lives there.

The flatmates and the agreement

If you are moving into an existing flat, the people matter as much as the property. Have an honest conversation about cleaning, bills, guests and quiet hours, and put the arrangement in a flat-sharing agreement. For the legal essentials behind the tenancy itself, see our guide to bond and tenancy basics and the official rules at Tenancy Services.

After the inspection

If you go ahead, complete a property inspection report with the landlord at move-in, noting any existing damage with photos and dates. This protects your bond when you move out, because it proves what the place was like before you arrived.

A careful inspection takes twenty extra minutes and can save you thousands of dollars and a miserable winter. When you are ready, browse rooms and flats on FlatMatchr to find a place worth inspecting.