What we check.

Entrance4 checks

1. Open and close the main door three times

   Watch the gap at the frame all the way round, and listen for it scraping the floor.

   • Main door does not close flush — gap at the frame
   • Main door scrapes the floor
   • Door frame gap unfilled

2. Lock and unlock it with every key handed over

   Count the keys. The lock should turn without force, from outside and inside.

   • Lock does not turn smoothly / keys missing

3. Ring the bell and look through the peephole

   Press the bell from outside; look out through the peephole from inside.

   • Doorbell or peephole not working

4. Look over the threshold

   Chips show first at the edge the door swings over.

   • Threshold tile chipped

Living room4 checks

1. Tap every floor tile

   With the tapping rod, tile by tile: a hollow tile sounds dull. Look along the floor for raised edges.

   • Hollow tiles on tap test
   • Chipped or cracked floor tile
   • Floor not level — tile edges stand proud

2. Shine a torch along every wall

   Hold it flat to the wall: cracks, waves and patchy paint show in the raking light.

   • Hairline crack on wall
   • Wall undulation visible in raking light
   • Paint patchy or brush marks

3. Look over the whole ceiling

   Stains and damp patches show first in the corners.

   • Ceiling stain — possible seepage from above

4. Run a hand along the skirting and the switchboards

   The skirting tight to the wall all the way round; every switchboard flush with the wall.

   • Skirting gap or loose
   • Switchboard not flush with wall

Kitchen5 checks

1. Run the sink tap on full for a minute

   Watch the pressure, the base of the tap and how fast the sink drains; then smell the drain.

   • Sink drains slowly on water test
   • Tap leaks at the base
   • Low water pressure at the sink
   • Drain trap smells — no water seal

2. Run a hand along the counter’s edge and where it meets the wall

   Feel for chips on the edge; look for an open gap at the wall.

   • Counter chipped at the edge
   • Gap at the counter–wall joint unsealed

3. Tap every tile above the counter

   With the tapping rod: a hollow tile sounds dull. Look for cracks.

   • Dado tiles hollow or cracked

4. Open and close every cabinet shutter

   They should line up with each other and close flush.

   • Cabinet shutters misaligned

5. Find the chimney or exhaust cutout

   In the wall above where the hob will stand.

   • Chimney/exhaust cutout missing or misplaced

Bathroom7 checks

Once for every bathroom.

1. Close and lock the door

   A door swollen by water sticks or will not close.

   • Door swollen — does not close

2. Find the exhaust fan point or a window

   A bathroom needs one or the other to let the damp out.

   • Exhaust fan point missing / no ventilation

3. Tap the wall tiles, floor to ceiling

   With the tapping rod: a hollow tile sounds dull.

   • Wall tiles hollow on tap test

4. Run the basin tap on full for half a minute

   It should drain as fast as it fills.

   • Wash basin drains slowly

5. Run the shower hot, then cold

   The mixer should turn freely, hot on the side marked hot. Then look below the shower ledge for seepage marks.

   • Shower mixer — hot and cold reversed or stiff
   • Seepage mark below shower ledge

6. Flush the WC twice

   A strong flush, the tank refilling and then stopping, and no water at the base.

   • WC flush weak or tank keeps running
   • WC leaks at the base

7. Pour a bucket of water on the floor

   Last in this room: it should all run to the drain. Look for pools, and at the drain cover.

   • Floor does not slope to the drain — water pools
   • Drain cover missing or does not sit flush

Bedroom6 checks

Once for every bedroom.

1. Close the door and turn the lock

   It should close without pushing, and the lock should latch.

   • Door lock does not latch

2. Tap every floor tile

   With the tapping rod, tile by tile: a hollow tile sounds dull.

   • Hollow tiles on tap test
   • Chipped or cracked floor tile

3. Shine a torch along every wall

   Hold it flat to the wall: cracks and patchy paint show in the raking light.

   • Hairline crack on wall
   • Paint patchy or brush marks

4. Slide every window shutter end to end

   Both ways, all the way: it should run freely.

   • Window shutter does not slide freely

5. Hold the level against the sides of the wardrobe niche

   They should be straight up and down, or the wardrobe will not fit.

   • Wardrobe niche out of plumb

6. Find the AC point and its drain outlet

   A power point high on the wall, and a hole or pipe to take the AC’s water out.

   • AC point missing / drain outlet not provided

Balcony4 checks

Once for every balcony.

1. Push the railing hard at every fixing

   It must not move at all. Tap the tiles along its foot.

   • Railing loose at the fixing
   • Hollow tiles near railing

2. Look up at the balcony ceiling

   A stain or damp patch there is waterproofing that has failed.

   • Waterproofing stain on the ceiling below

3. Find the utility drain and the washing machine point

   Where the washing machine is meant to go: a drain in the floor and a power point.

   • Utility drain not provided
   • Washing machine point missing

4. Pour a bucket of water on the floor

   Last on the balcony: it should all run to the spout and away. Look for pools.

   • Floor does not slope to the spout — water pools
   • Spout missing or blocked

Utility / wash area6 checks

Where the flat has one.

1. Push the grill or louvres

   They must not move.

   • Grill or louvre loose

2. Look at the socket nearest the tap

   Near water it needs a splash-proof cover.

   • Socket near the tap not splash-proof

3. Tap the wall tiles and look along the foot of the walls

   A hollow tile sounds dull; a damp patch low on the wall is water coming through.

   • Dado tiles hollow or cracked
   • Damp patch at the skirting — seepage through the wall

4. Find the washing machine’s power point, inlet tap and drain

   All three, close together. Open the tap and watch its joint.

   • Washing machine point missing
   • Washing machine inlet tap missing or leaks
   • No drain outlet for the washing machine

5. Run the wash sink tap on full for a minute

   Watch the base of the tap and how fast the sink drains.

   • Wash sink drains slowly on water test
   • Tap leaks at the base

6. Pour a bucket of water on the floor

   Last here: it should all run to the drain. Then smell the drain.

   • Floor does not slope to the drain — water pools
   • Drain blocked or smells — no water seal

Electrical & plumbing6 checks

1. Open the distribution board

   Every MCB labelled for what it feeds. With everything fitted switched on, nothing should trip.

   • MCB not labelled
   • MCB trips on load

2. Flick every switch in the flat

   Each should sit firm in its board, and down should mean on.

   • Switch loose or reversed

3. Put the socket tester in every socket

   Room by room: it shows a dead socket and a missing earth.

   • Socket dead on tester
   • No earthing on tester

4. Find the geyser point in every bathroom

   A power point high on the wall, near the hot water line.

   • Geyser point missing

5. Turn the main water valve off and on again

   It should turn by hand. Look at the inlet joints for drips.

   • Main water valve stiff or leaking
   • Water inlet leaks at the joint

6. Find the electricity and water meters

   Installed, with the reading clear.

   • Meter not installed / not readable

Windows & finishes5 checks

1. Open, close and lock every window

   Each should slide smoothly end to end, and the lock should engage.

   • Window does not slide smoothly
   • Window lock does not engage

2. Look along every pane against the light

   Scratches, cracks and paint drips show when you look along the glass, not through it.

   • Glass scratched
   • Glass cracked
   • Paint drips on frame or glass

3. Push every window grill

   It must not move. Look for rust at the joints.

   • Grill loose or rusting

4. Look for putty pops on the walls

   Small round blisters in the paint; a torch held flat to the wall shows them.

   • Putty pops on wall

5. Pour water down the outside of each window

   With a mug, along the top of the frame: none should come in. Look for missing rubber.

   • Rubber seal missing — water enters on test

Any other room6 checks

Dining, study, store, passage — what any room can be wrong in.

1. Close the door and turn the lock

   It should close flush without pushing, and the lock should latch.

   • Door does not close flush / lock does not latch

2. Tap every floor tile

   With the tapping rod, tile by tile: a hollow tile sounds dull.

   • Hollow tiles on tap test
   • Chipped or cracked floor tile

3. Shine a torch along the walls and over the ceiling

   Hold it flat to the wall: cracks and patchy paint show in the raking light; stains show first in the corners.

   • Hairline crack on wall
   • Paint patchy or brush marks
   • Ceiling stain — possible seepage from above

4. Run a hand along the skirting

   It should be tight to the wall all the way round.

   • Skirting gap or loose

5. Slide the window end to end

   Both ways, all the way: it should run smoothly.

   • Window does not slide smoothly

6. Test every switch and socket

   The socket tester in each socket; every switch on and off.

   • Switch or socket dead on tester