The 7 things I check in every flat before recommending a tenant sign

I've done over 340 home inspections in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR. In that time, I've learned that most problems — the ones that actually cost tenants money or cause months of stress — tend to cluster in specific, predictable places.

Here are the seven things I check first in every flat. Not because the rest doesn't matter, but because these seven catch the majority of serious problems.

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1. The northwest and southwest walls, behind furniture

These are the walls most exposed to rain-driven moisture. Landlords know this. The fresh coat of paint you see often went on two weeks before you viewed the place.

I take my moisture meter and press it against the wall behind the wardrobe, behind any large furniture pushed against the wall, and at the floor-wall junction. A reading above 25% means active moisture, regardless of what the wall looks like.

What you see is paint. What I'm measuring is what's behind it.

2. Every socket in the kitchen and bathrooms

Wet rooms and electrical faults are a dangerous combination. A faulty earth in a kitchen socket near the sink, or a geyser with incorrect wiring, is a shock hazard that landlords routinely ignore because it's invisible until something goes wrong.

I use a socket tester on every outlet in the kitchen and both bathrooms. Takes 30 seconds per socket. Catches problems in roughly 1 in every 4 inspections I do.

3. The drain in the master bathroom

Fill the basin or floor drain area slightly and time how long it takes to clear. Under two minutes is normal. Over four minutes means a partial blockage — functional today, backed up in monsoon.

Blocked drains are cheap to fix (₹500–₹800). They're also almost impossible to resolve after you've moved in without getting into a dispute about whose responsibility it is.

4. The ceiling above the bathroom on the top floor

If the flat has another flat above it, this doesn't apply in the same way. But if you're on the top floor, or there's a terrace above the bathroom, I check the ceiling carefully. Terrace waterproofing is one of the most neglected maintenance items in residential buildings.

Cracks, stains, or any sign of previous repair work on the bathroom ceiling are red flags.

5. The MCB / fuse box condition

An overloaded or improperly wired MCB panel is a fire risk. I check whether the MCBs are labelled (good sign), whether there are any burn marks or signs of previous tripping damage, and whether the total load seems reasonable for the flat size.

A 2BHK with two ACs, a geyser, and a microwave needs a panel rated for that load. Many older buildings don't have one.

6. The main door frame

This sounds minor. It isn't. A warped or damaged door frame is often the first sign of building settlement. It also means the door itself may not close properly — which matters for both security and the deposit dispute when you leave.

I look at the frame, not just the door. Gaps at the top, visible repair work, or signs the frame has been forcibly straightened are all worth noting.

7. The society notice board

This takes two minutes and often tells me more than an hour of internal inspection. I look for: outstanding maintenance dues notices, pending legal or municipal notices, lift service records, and any signs of active disputes between residents and management.

A well-maintained building has a notice board with routine updates. A problem building has notices about unpaid maintenance, water shortage complaints, or unresolved electrical issues in common areas.

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These seven checks alone will surface the issues that matter in roughly 80% of inspections I do. The full 75-point inspection covers everything else — but if I had to give a renter a ten-minute self-check list before signing, this would be it.

The difference is that I have the tools (moisture meter, socket tester, drain timer) and the trained eye to interpret what I'm seeing in context. Fresh paint on a wall doesn't fool a moisture meter. But it might fool you.

Ramesh P. is Parakh's Lead Field Inspector with 340+ inspections across Gurgaon and Delhi NCR.