Questions to Ask When Touring an Apartment
52 questions for an apartment tour, starting with this apartment rather than the building brochure: the true monthly cost, what the walls and windows are next to, what breaks and who fixes it, and what the last tenant knew that you do not. The detailed condition walkthrough comes first, then who owns and runs the building, then the application, fees and lease terms to settle before you pay anything. If you are seeing four places in one weekend, ask the same ones at each so the answers can be compared afterwards.
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The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
What is the total monthly cost for this unit, including anything charged separately from rent?
Why ask it
Rent plus mandatory fees is the number to compare. Trash, pest control, amenity, technology, and valet charges are often listed under a heading like monthly services and add 50 to 150 to a rent that looked competitive online.
Is the price on the listing the price of this unit, or a starting price for the floor plan?
Why ask it
Listings often advertise the cheapest version of a layout, on a low floor or facing a parking lot. Ask them to confirm the rent for this exact unit number, and whether it changes with a shorter lease term.
Which utilities will I be paying, and what did a tenant in this unit pay in January and in August?
Why ask it
Asking for two specific months exposes what an average hides: electric heat in a poorly insulated building, or air conditioning in a top-floor unit. If they cannot produce real figures, ask which utility company serves the building and call them yourself.
How old are the furnace, the water heater, and the windows?
Why ask it
These three set your utility bills and your comfort more than anything else in the apartment. Single pane windows and an aging furnace mean you will be paying to heat the street, and neither shows up in photographs.
Which direction do these windows face, and how much direct light does this room get in the afternoon?
Why ask it
Orientation decides whether the apartment is dark in winter or unbearable in summer, and it is the single thing tenants most often regret. If you are touring on a grey day, ask, then check the compass on your phone rather than taking their word.
Can I run the shower and the kitchen tap at the same time?
Why ask it
Do it, do not just ask. Pressure that collapses when a second tap opens is a plumbing problem you will meet every morning, and it cannot be fixed by a landlord who does not own the building's risers.
What is on the other side of this wall, and what is directly above this bedroom?
Why ask it
A shared wall with a lift shaft, a laundry room, a stairwell, or a neighbor's living room decides whether you sleep. Ask them to point at the layout, since a bedroom under someone else's kitchen is a different apartment from a bedroom under a bedroom.
Has this unit had water damage, pests, or mold, and when was it last treated?
Why ask it
Look at ceiling corners, under the sink, and around the tub while you ask. Fresh paint in one patch of ceiling is worth a follow-up question, and a landlord who volunteers a past leak and the repair is usually more reliable than one who says never.
Which appliances stay, and which of them am I responsible for if they break?
Why ask it
Leases frequently assign the washer, dryer, microwave, or garbage disposal to the tenant, especially if a previous tenant installed them. Establish now who pays when the twelve year old dishwasher fails, because it will.
What will be repaired, replaced, or cleaned before I move in, and can that go in writing?
Why ask it
Everything promised on a tour evaporates at signing unless it is on paper. Ask for a dated addendum with each item listed, because we will take care of that is not something you can hold anyone to in November.
Can I control the heat and air conditioning in this unit myself?
Why ask it
Buildings on central systems switch between heating and cooling on a seasonal schedule, which means no heat in a cold October and no cooling in a warm April. Find the thermostat and check whether it does anything.
How is the cell signal in here, and which internet providers actually service this address?
Why ask it
Test your phone in the bedroom, the bathroom, and the far corner while you are standing there. Some buildings have an exclusive arrangement with one provider, which sets a floor on your internet price and a ceiling on your speed.
Where does laundry happen, and what does one load cost?
Why ask it
Ask how many working machines serve how many units, and go look at them. Three machines for forty apartments is a queue on Sunday, and a card-only system nobody can reload is a recurring irritation.
Where do packages go, and has anything gone missing recently?
Why ask it
The honest version of this answer usually arrives as a hesitation. A lobby with an unsecured pile inside an unlocked door is a real cost if you order anything, and it is worth asking whether there is a locker or a doorman signature process.
How do I get in: key, fob, or code, and what does a replacement cost?
Why ask it
Lockout and replacement fees are quietly steep, sometimes a hundred or more for a fob, plus a call-out charge after hours. Ask who to call at midnight when a fob dies, and whether anyone answers.
How do I report a repair, who shows up, and what is the response time on no heat or no hot water?
Why ask it
You want to know whether maintenance is a person in the building, a contractor across town, or the owner's cousin at weekends. Ask for the emergency number now and see whether one exists.
How much notice do I get before someone enters, and who holds a key to this unit?
Why ask it
The list of key holders often includes contractors and a management office, which is worth knowing. Ask how notice is delivered and whether showings to prospective tenants near the end of a lease follow the same rule.
Who lived here before, how long did they stay, and why did they leave?
Why ask it
A unit that has turned over three times in three years is telling you something the tour is not. Bought a house is a good answer, could not say is a neutral one, and a vague answer about a difficult tenant deserves a follow-up.
For this unit specifically, what is the parking, storage, and trash arrangement?
Why ask it
These are assigned per unit, not per building, so a spot may be a waitlist and storage may be a cage in a wet basement. Ask where the bins actually are, because a fourth floor walk-up with bins in an alley is a daily chore.
What is the total to move in, and what has to happen for the deposit to come back?
Why ask it
Get the itemized figure and the return deadline before you apply, along with anything the lease requires at move-out such as professional carpet cleaning. Those requirements are the deposit deductions you can predict in advance.
Is this the unit I would be renting, or a model?
Why ask it
Model apartments are renovated, staged, and often a different layout or floor. If you are shown a model, ask to see the actual unit before you pay anything, and treat a refusal as a reason to walk.
How long has it been empty, and what was the last tenant paying?
Why ask it
A unit sitting vacant for three months in a tight market has something wrong with it or is overpriced. Both are useful, and the previous rent tells you how much room there is to negotiate.
Can I test the outlets, and where is the breaker panel?
Why ask it
Bring a phone charger and try several. Dead outlets, two prong outlets with no ground, and a bathroom with no protected outlet all point to wiring that has not been touched in decades. If the panel is inside a locked room you do not control, you cannot reset your own breaker on a Sunday.
What does this street sound like at night and at the weekend?
Why ask it
A midweek afternoon tour tells you nothing about a bar two doors down or a route used by lorries at six in the morning. Ask, then verify yourself before signing.
How well does sound carry, and what are the quiet hours?
Why ask it
Quiet hours only matter if someone enforces them. Ask what happens after a complaint is made, because the honest answer is often nothing much.
Can I see the storage, gym, roof or whatever else was in the listing?
Why ask it
Advertised amenities are sometimes shared with a second building, sometimes locked, sometimes charged separately, and occasionally still under construction. Ask to see each one you would actually use, and ask the hours, since a gym that closes at eight is no use to someone who works late.
What can I change: paint, shelves, a wall-mounted television, and what has to be undone when I leave?
Why ask it
Modification rules affect your deposit at the end rather than just your decorating. Brackets and paint colors are the most common source of move-out deductions.
Who owns this building, and who manages it day to day?
Why ask it
An owner-occupier, a local landlord with six units, and a national management company behave very differently about repairs and rent increases. If the agent will not name the owner, you are renting from someone you cannot reach when it matters.
What share of tenants renewed their lease last year?
Why ask it
This is the closest thing to a satisfaction score, and agents at well-run buildings tend to know it. Heavy turnover in a market where people are struggling to move is a signal worth taking seriously.
Have there been break-ins, car break-ins, or package thefts here in the last year?
Why ask it
Ask directly and watch for the pause. Many places will answer honestly if the question is specific, and a straight answer paired with a fix, new lockers, a rekeyed door, is more reassuring than a flat denial.
Is anything planned for the building in the next year: renovation, roof work, a change of owner?
Why ask it
Scaffolding, drilling, and a new owner rewriting policies are all things a current tenant would want to have known. It is a fair question and the hesitation before the answer is informative.
What is the most common complaint you get from tenants here?
Why ask it
Phrased as a routine question rather than an accusation, so it often gets an honest answer: parking, noise, package theft, the lift. Nothing at all is not a believable answer for any building.
Is that a net effective rent after a concession, or the amount I pay every month?
Why ask it
A two month concession spread across a year makes a 3,000 apartment advertise at 2,500. Both numbers matter: the lower one for your first year, the higher one because next year's increase is calculated from it.
What are the income and credit requirements, and do you accept a cosigner or guarantor?
Why ask it
Knowing the threshold before you pay to apply saves the fee. If a guarantor is allowed, ask what documentation they need, since some buildings require the guarantor to meet a higher multiple than the tenant.
How does the application work: fees, who is screened, and how fast do you decide?
Why ask it
Establish whether the fee is refundable, whether every adult pays it, and how long you are on the hook. A holding deposit that becomes non-refundable at submission is worth knowing about before you hand over a card.
What does it take to hold this unit, and is that money refundable?
Why ask it
Holding deposits and application fees are often non-refundable and are collected before you have read the lease. Ask what happens to it if the application is declined or if you withdraw.
How is rent paid, and are there fees for online or card payments?
Why ask it
A percentage fee on card payments, or a flat charge on the portal, adds a real amount over a year. Ask whether bank transfer is available and free.
What is the late fee, and how many days is the grace period?
Why ask it
Late fee structures vary from a flat charge to a daily accrual. Ask when rent is counted as late and how a payment that clears on the fifth is treated.
Do I need renters insurance, at what coverage level, and do you require proof?
Why ask it
Most buildings require it and some specify a liability minimum and name themselves as an interested party. It is inexpensive, but a policy that does not meet the stated terms can put you in breach.
What lease lengths do you offer, and what does a shorter term cost?
Why ask it
Short and month-to-month terms usually carry a premium, sometimes a large one. If you may move within the year, price that flexibility now rather than paying a lease-break fee later.
How much has rent gone up at renewal in this building over the past two years?
Why ask it
Past increases predict your second year better than anything in the lease. A building that raised rents ten percent last year is quoting you a one-year price, not a two-year one.
What happens if I need to break the lease, and is there a buyout clause?
Why ask it
The two common structures are a fixed buyout, often one to three months of rent, and liability for rent until the unit is re-let. Which one applies changes your worst case by thousands.
Can I sublet or add a roommate later, and what does that cost?
Why ask it
Adding a person usually means a new application, a fee, and sometimes a rent increase. Buildings that prohibit subletting entirely leave you no option except a buyout if your plans change.
What are the rules about guests, roommates, and someone staying long term?
Why ask it
There is usually a limit on consecutive nights a guest can stay, and adding a roommate normally means a new application and a fee. Ask now if a partner might move in later, because doing it quietly is a lease breach.
What are the pet rules: deposit, monthly fee, weight or breed limits?
Why ask it
Pet rent is charged monthly and never returned, unlike a deposit, and breed restrictions are often driven by the building's insurance rather than preference. Get both parts in writing before you apply.
Is there a separate house rules document, and can I read it before I apply?
Why ask it
House rules are usually incorporated into the lease, which makes them binding whether or not you saw them. Quiet hours, guest limits, balcony restrictions, grill bans, and parking enforcement all live in that document.
What are the move-out requirements: notice period, cleaning, paint, carpet?
Why ask it
Notice periods of sixty days are common and missing one can cost an extra month. Professional cleaning and carpet charges are the most frequent deposit deductions, so ask which are automatic.
At the end of the lease, what happens if I do nothing?
Why ask it
The three possibilities are automatic renewal for a year, conversion to month to month, and a holdover penalty of well above normal rent. Agents often do not know, which is a reason to read the clause yourself.
Is there anything about this apartment you'd want to know if you were moving in?
Why ask it
Puts the person in your position and gives them permission to mention the thing they have been not mentioning. Many will, because most agents would rather not deal with a tenant who feels misled.
Could I come back at a different time of day, or speak to someone who lives here?
Why ask it
A second visit in the evening, or five minutes with a current tenant, reveals more than any answer on the tour. Reluctance to allow either is the most useful signal you will get.
Can you confirm by email the rent, the term and every recurring charge for this exact unit?
Why ask it
Numbers quoted aloud have a way of moving between the tour and the lease. An email that names the unit number, the monthly total and the lease length gives you something to compare against the document you are asked to sign.
Can I read the full lease and all addenda before I pay anything?
Why ask it
The addenda hold the terms that matter: fees, pets, parking, entry, subletting, arbitration. A landlord unwilling to share the documents before payment is telling you something worth acting on.
Inspecting the Unit, Not the Tour
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Things to Physically Test While You Are Inside
- Run the hot tap and time how long it takes to warm, then run the shower with the kitchen tap on
- Flush every toilet and watch how fast the bowl refills
- Open and close every window and check for drafts, condensation between panes, and whether they lock
- Turn on the heat and the air conditioning and wait long enough to feel whether anything happens
- Plug a phone charger into outlets in each room, including the ones behind furniture
- Open the fridge and oven, check the seals, and look at the age sticker inside the door
- Open every closet and cupboard, looking at the corners and under the sink for water staining or droppings
- Stand still for a full minute in the bedroom with the tour guide quiet, and listen
- Check that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and not hanging off the ceiling
Look at These Before You Leave the Building
- The laundry room, counting working machines against the number of apartments
- The bin store or trash chute, and how far you carry trash from your door
- The stairwell and lift, including whether the lift has a recent inspection certificate
- The parking area at the hour you would normally arrive home
- The mailboxes and package area, and whether either can be reached from the street
- The corridor outside the unit, for cooking smells, noise, and how the neighbors keep their doorways
When to Visit
Go back at a different hour
Most tours happen midday when the building is empty and quiet. A second look at 7pm on a weekday, or 10pm at a weekend, shows you the noise, parking, and traffic you would actually live with. Ask to swing by even if you cannot get inside.
See the actual unit, not the model
Model apartments are staged with smaller furniture and better light. If the unit is still occupied and you are shown a model instead, ask when the real one can be viewed and be wary of signing before you have stood in it.
Photograph everything on the day you get keys
Before a single box comes in, take timestamped photographs of floors, walls, appliances, window frames, and under sinks, and note existing damage on a move-in condition form. This is the evidence that decides deposit disputes a year later.
Warning Signs During a Unit Tour
- A rushed walkthrough, or being discouraged from testing taps and windows
- Air freshener or fresh paint in one small area of a ceiling or wall
- A landlord who cannot say how repairs are reported or who does them
- An application fee or deposit requested before you have seen the actual unit
- Vague answers about the last tenant or how long the unit has been vacant
- Promised repairs that they decline to put in writing
- No lease copy available to read before you apply