Most disputes between tenant and landlord don't start from bad faith. They start from things nobody agreed in writing at the outset: who pays to fix the water heater, how utility bills are calculated, and when the deposit comes back. This guide sets out what to verify before signing, and what needs to appear in the contract itself.
The monthly rent isn't the whole of what you'll pay. Calculate before you start looking:
Whether furnished or unfurnished works out cheaper depends on how long you'll stay — compare it in our furnished versus unfurnished guide.
View in daylight, and give specific time to the following:
| What to check | How |
|---|---|
| Damp | Ceiling corners and walls behind furniture, and the smell of closed rooms |
| Water pressure | Open two taps at once, and test on your floor rather than the ground floor |
| Electrics | Try the switches and sockets, and look at the state of the consumer unit |
| Heating and cooling | Actually run it, whatever the season |
| Noise | Open a window and listen; visit once in the evening if you can |
| Security | The main door lock, and lighting in the entrance and stairwell |
Any answer you get verbally needs to reach the contract in writing. A good verbal understanding is worth nothing against one written line when there's a dispute.
Confirm that whoever signs is the owner or their authorised agent. Ask to see proof of ownership and check the name against their ID — see our guide to property ownership documents. Signing with someone who has no standing means a contract worth nothing.
Photograph every room, record the meter readings, and note any pre-existing defect with both parties signing it off. Those ten minutes are what settle the deposit argument a year later.
View in daylight, ask about maintenance, utilities and renewal before signing, verify the landlord's standing, and put everything you agreed in writing. Browse the property listings and start with your own governorate.
Who pays for plumbing, electrical and appliance repairs, how utility bills are calculated and settled, whether there are shared building charges, the renewal terms and any cap on increases, the notice period, and when the deposit is returned.
Both parties' details and the landlord's standing, a description of the property and its address, the rent and payment terms, the deposit and conditions for its return, how maintenance is divided, the term and notice periods, and an inventory if furnished.
Photograph every room, record the meter readings, and note any pre-existing defect with both parties signing it off. Those ten minutes settle the deposit argument when you leave a year later.
Confirm the signatory is the owner or their authorised agent, ask for proof of ownership and match the name against their ID. Signing with someone who has no standing means a contract worth nothing, whatever it says.
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