Before you sign: a renter's checklist for a rental agreement

You have found the flat, the landlord seems reasonable, and there is a queue of other interested tenants. This is precisely the moment renters make their most expensive mistake — signing the agreement without reading it properly. Ten careful minutes now prevent almost every dispute later.

The numbers

Confirm three figures and that they match what you were told verbally: the monthly rent, the security deposit, and the annual escalation (often around 5–10%). If any of these appears different on paper than in conversation, resolve it before signing, not after.

The exits

Two clauses govern how you leave. The notice period is how much warning either side must give — one month is common. The lock-in period is the minimum you are committed to, during which leaving early can forfeit the deposit. Know both numbers before you commit.

Read the exit clauses as carefully as the rent. The cost of a tenancy is not just what you pay to stay — it is what you pay to leave.

Who pays for what

The agreement should state clearly who bears maintenance and society charges, who handles repairs (structural to the landlord, minor upkeep usually to the tenant), and how utility bills are settled. Ambiguity here is where move-out arguments begin.

The paperwork check

• Is there a dated inventory of fittings and appliances? Photograph everything on move-in day.
• Does the deposit-return process spell out itemised deductions?
• Are both parties' details and signatures correct, and is the agreement registered where your state requires it?

A good landlord will not mind a tenant who reads carefully — it signals someone who will treat the property and the agreement seriously. If a landlord pressures you to sign without reading, treat that as information in itself.