5 Things to Check Before Buying an Apartment
The checks that matter most are rarely the ones a show flat is arranged to answer. Five things to verify before any money changes hands.
Nadia Rahman · 8 July 2026 · 5 min read
First, the approved plan. Ask for the RAJUK-approved drawing and compare it against what has been built. Deviations are common, and they are the single most frequent cause of trouble at resale or refinancing.
Second, the document chain. Title deed, mutation, up-to-date rates and taxes, and — for a completed building — the occupancy certificate. Your own lawyer should see these, not just the seller’s.
Third, visit at two different times of day. A south-facing living room is a different room at 9am and 4pm, and a quiet street at noon may sit under a generator or a mosque loudspeaker at other hours.
Fourth, the service charge and what it actually covers. A low monthly figure often means the building is deferring maintenance, which becomes a special assessment later. Ask to see two years of accounts.
Fifth, the neighbours and the management. Speak to at least one resident who is not being introduced by the seller. Ten minutes of candid conversation will tell you more about lift reliability, water pressure and generator backup than any brochure.
Published 8 July 2026. Market conditions change; this piece reflects our reading at the time of writing and is general information rather than advice on a specific property or transaction.
