The rental viewing checklist for Ireland (what to check before you sign)

In a tight market, viewings are short, crowded, and rushed. You get fifteen minutes, often in a group, to decide on somewhere you might live for years. That's enough time if you know exactly what to look for. Here's the checklist that turns a quick walk-through into a real decision.

Take photos of everything as you go (with the landlord's permission) — they help you compare places later and they're your record of the property's condition before you move in.

Before you go

• Confirm it's real. If anything about the listing felt off, read our scam red flags first. Never pay anything before viewing in person.
• Check the price is fair. Note the MoveIn price score so you know going in whether you're looking at good value or paying a premium.
• Look up the commute. Map the journey to work or college at the actual time you'd travel, not at 11am on a Saturday.

The room-by-room check

Damp and mould — the big one

This is the single most important thing to check in Irish housing.

• Look in corners, behind furniture, around windows, and on ceilings for black spots or discolouration.
• A musty smell is a warning sign even if you can't see anything.
• Check the bathroom and any bedroom that backs onto an outside wall — these are where damp shows first.
• Fresh paint in one isolated patch can be hiding something. Ask directly: "Has there been any damp or mould here?"