Dubai Apartment Viewing Checklist: What to Try, Inspect and Ask
Check the actual unit, the building and the written terms before reserving your next home.
Photos help you choose what to view. The appointment is your chance to check how the home works. Bring a short checklist and ask permission before operating equipment or taking pictures.
Try the apartment’s everyday equipment
Check taps, drains, cooling, windows, appliances and storage
Run taps briefly, watch drainage and ask the agent to demonstrate the cooling controls. Check window operation, doors, visible sockets, included appliances and usable storage. Stay within safe normal use; do not open electrical panels or attempt repairs. Record the location of a fault and ask who will fix it and by what date.
Look for water marks, odours, pests and noise
Check under sinks, around windows and near air-conditioning outlets for visible staining or damp. Notice persistent odours or signs of pests. Listen with windows open and closed if permitted, and ask about recurring noise. A freshly painted wall does not explain the cause of an earlier leak; request the repair history where relevant.
Inspect the building you are also renting into
Visit the lift, parking bay and facilities
Check security, lift waiting, the allocated parking space and access-card arrangements. Confirm which gym, pool or other facilities are included and whether any are closed. An advertised amenity is useful only if you can actually use it under your tenancy. Ask about guest access and move-in booking requirements too.
Ask about money and handover
Confirm cheques, cooling and the amount due before keys
For planning, the usual agency fee is 5% of the annual rent, plus 5% VAT on that fee. The security deposit is typically 5% of annual rent for an unfurnished home or 10% for a furnished home. These are market conventions, not a fixed tariff: confirm the actual amounts, any minimum agency charge and the deposit refund terms in writing.
If the costs feel unclear, WhatsApp or call the agent before the viewing: “For this exact apartment, what is the total payable before I receive the keys? Please separate the first rent payment, security deposit, agency fee and VAT, registration, utilities and building charges.” A professional agent should explain their charges clearly and identify any provider amount still awaiting confirmation. Ask for the breakdown in writing after a call.
Add the cooling provider and tariff arrangement, first rent payment and key handover date to the written quote. Ask whether “chiller free” covers all cooling charges or only part of them. Do not assume the agent’s commission includes Ejari or utility deposits unless the quote explicitly says so.
Make the inspection part of the agreement
Send a dated list of existing damage and promised repairs
With permission, photograph the issue and identify the room. Send a concise list to the landlord or agent and request acknowledgement, including the person responsible for each repair and the deadline. The move-in condition guide explains how to retain the same evidence at handover.
Compare the real unit with the advert and contract draft
Match the tower, apartment, furniture, appliances, parking, rent and repair promises across the documents. Ask for corrected terms if they differ. Use the tenancy contract checklist before signing, while your viewing notes are still fresh.
Official requirements, provider terms and market conventions are identified separately. Confirm the terms that apply to your household before committing.