Guide
Evaluate a rental listing before you commit.
Six checks that separate a clear rental decision from an expensive surprise.
Ask for the listing file first
Before a viewing becomes an application, ask for the information that makes the home understandable: who is listing it, when it is available, what the landlord accepts and which fees or deposits may apply.
- Owner or agent identity and authority
- Property address or approximate location and inspection status
- Rent, fees, deposit and payment schedule
- Refund, cancellation and complaints terms
Check who is responsible for the home
The person listing the home should make the owner or agent authority clear, including who can arrange a viewing and agree the tenancy. No rental listing replaces independent checks on the home, the agreement or the payment recipient.
If the person listing the home cannot explain their authority or refuses basic checks, pause before sharing money or sensitive information.
Look for inspection evidence
Photos, a checklist and a dated inspection record should answer basic questions about the home, access, visible condition and what was actually seen. An inspection is evidence of a visit, not a guarantee of every repair or future condition.
Confirm availability and viewing details
A home can be listed and still be unavailable. Confirm the move-in window, viewing slot, keys or access contact and any current occupants before you make plans around it.
Read the total move-in cost
Ask for one written total that includes annual rent, service fees, deposits, agreement or agency fees and the first payment. If an installment schedule is offered, confirm the dates, method, total cost and who receives each payment.
Review the agreement before money
Read the tenancy agreement and payment schedule before signing. ilee will not hold customer money directly. Any future collection or payout path must use a licensed provider and the verified account stated in the signed terms.
Pause if
- The person listing the home cannot explain their authority
- Price pressure arrives before the listing file or agreement does
- The home is unavailable but the listing still asks for commitment
- Fees, payment recipients or refund terms appear only at the point of payment
Take these with you
- Authority, inspection and availability matter as much as the room photos.
- An inspection record shows what was seen, not everything that can ever go wrong.
- Confirm the total cost and every payment recipient before paying.
- Review the agreement and approved payment method before signing or paying.