Does the Rental Match the Listing? Check the Unit Before You Pay
Compare the address, layout, equipment and authority to let the apartment—not just the photographs.
A listing is an invitation to investigate a home. Before paying, make sure the apartment you have seen is the one described in the agreement and that the people arranging it have the necessary authority.
Match the advertisement to the apartment
Compare tower, unit, bedrooms, area, view and furniture
Keep the listing URL and date, then note the actual tower and unit during the viewing. Compare the floor plan, bedroom count, quoted area, balcony, furniture and outlook. Ask how the advertised area is measured if it differs from another document. Record discrepancies rather than estimating a missing figure yourself.
Check whether advertised facilities can be used
See the parking allocation, pool, gym and included appliances where access permits. Ask about temporary closures, membership restrictions and additional charges. “Gym in building” and “gym access included in this tenancy” are different statements. Get the one that matters to your agreement confirmed.
Confirm who is entitled to offer the tenancy
Verify the broker and the landlord or representative
Ask for the brokerage and broker registration details and check through DLD’s official services. Match the title deed and landlord’s identity to the proposed contract. If someone signs for the owner, request evidence of their authority. A portal verification badge helps describe an advertisement; it does not replace these transaction checks.
Match the payee before sending money
Compare the contract party, invoice issuer and bank or cheque recipient. If payment is requested to a third party, ask for the reason and written authority before proceeding. Keep receipts and correspondence. Do not let an urgent message replace the checks on who receives your money and what the payment secures.
Pause when the offer has materially changed
A different view, layout, appliance list or rent needs new terms
Photograph permitted differences and ask the agent to explain them. A reference photo or alternative apartment may still lead to a suitable home, but the price and conditions need to describe the actual offer. If the explanation stays vague, pause the reservation rather than fill the gaps with assumptions.
Put agreed changes into the contract
Attach the inventory, repairs and revised price
Record furniture, appliances, repairs, annual rent and any revised terms in the contract or an agreed addendum. Keep a dated inventory for furnished homes. A verbal promise is hard to compare with the handover; a written item and completion date are actionable.
Check the final unit and move-in date before signing
Read the actual unit information, tenancy dates, payment schedule and handover arrangements in the final version. Use the contract checklist to finish the review and the condition record to document what you receive. Keep the original listing as evidence, even if it later disappears online.
Official requirements, provider terms and market conventions are identified separately. Confirm the terms that apply to your household before committing.