Rental viewing checklist for newcomers to Australia

Use the viewing to gather evidence

A short inspection is easy to forget when you have seen several homes in one day. Use the same notes for each property so that you can compare the whole arrangement, not just the photos. This checklist is for a pre-application viewing, not a landlord’s routine inspection during a tenancy.

Before leaving home

• Save the listing, address, advertised rent and inspection contact.
• Plan the commute you would actually make, including evening or weekend travel.
• Write down your maximum housing budget, including utilities and moving costs.
• Prepare questions about the start date, agreement length and included facilities.

Use these boxes while this page is open, or print a copy. Web checkmarks are not saved.

Inside and around the property

• Look for damp patches, mould, leaks and signs of damage.
• Check whether rooms, storage and access suit your household.
• Notice street noise, natural light and mobile reception.
• Ask about heating, cooling, hot water and appliances.
• Check shared entrances, laundry, parking and waste facilities.
• Ask permission before taking photographs. Record anything you could not check.

Use these boxes while this page is open, or print a copy. Web checkmarks are not saved.

Questions worth asking in writing

Ask which utilities you would need to arrange, what is included in the rent and who to contact about unresolved issues. If the agent promises a repair or an included item, request written confirmation before relying on it. An unanswered question should stay visible in your comparison notes.

For a Victorian property, Consumer Affairs Victoria provides a minimum-standards checklist. Use that official checklist to check the requirements, rather than treating a nice-looking room as proof of compliance. Other states and territories have their own rules.

Compare after the viewing

Give each property a short summary: total cost questions, commute, condition concerns and outstanding answers. Avoid letting pressure to apply immediately hide a serious uncertainty. Verify who you are dealing with before sending documents or money.

If the property is in Victoria, continue with the Victorian renting checklist. Once you have a move-in date, use the condition-report workflow to organise your evidence.

Official sources & scope

Use the linked official guidance to confirm requirements for your own circumstances. ClearNative is an independent publisher, not a government service.

• Consumer Affairs Victoria: before you move into a rental property