Vietnam Apartment Inspection Checklist Before Move-In

At viewing, confirm that this is the same apartment from the listing or video: exact address, floor, window view, furniture, equipment, and condition. In fast Facebook, Telegram, Zalo, or agency deals, a similar unit in the same building may have different noise, view, repairs, meters, and terms.

Before payment, know who is owner, manager, agent, and payee. If an agent shows the place, ask for written owner/manager confirmation of rent, deposit, utilities, repairs before move-in, foreigner registration, notice, and deposit return. The role and deposit workflow is covered in the separate Vietnam rental deposit and contract checklist.

Do not send passport data to every agent during search. Passport, visa, or e-visa details are needed by the responsible accommodation party, but only after a specific property is chosen and the person responsible for registration is clear.

Run every air conditioner on cooling for at least 10-15 minutes. Check whether cold air comes out, whether there is mold smell, cracking noise, water dripping from the indoor unit, wet wall marks, or strange remote-control behavior. In Vietnam, air conditioning is not decorative; it is a core appliance for sleep, work, and humid season.

Open wardrobes, check walls behind furniture, ceiling corners, curtain areas, bathroom, kitchen, balcony, and the outdoor AC unit area. Mold, swollen paint, dark corners, damp smell, and fresh paint on a small patch can point to leaks or poor ventilation.

In Nha Trang near the sea, salt, humidity, bathroom smell, and summer AC load matter more; the Nha Trang apartment guide covers local search logic Nha Trang apartment guide. In Da Nang, rainy season, leaks, drainage, lift, and post-rain parking are important; use the Da Nang housing guide for area and seasonal risk context Da Nang housing guide.

Before move-in, take close photos of electricity and water meters, including numbers and meter ID where visible. If one meter serves several apartments, ask how usage is split, who calculates the bill, and whether past bills can be shown. Separately confirm electricity price per kWh, water, internet, cleaning, parking, management fee, garbage, gas, and laundry.

EVN retail electricity tariff publishes official retail electricity tariff tables, including specific calculation notes for some rented-housing scenarios. For a renter, the practical point is not to recalculate the whole tariff, but to know whether you pay by the official meter, building rate, owner/manager fixed rate, or a commercial building tariff.

Local Nha Trang rental FAQ material also warns that tenants often forget recurring costs such as electricity, water, gas, internet, TV, management fee, trash pickup, security, parking, and corridor cleaning Nha Trang Real Estate FAQ. So “all included” needs a limit: what is included, up to what consumption, and what happens after the limit.

Run Wi-Fi speed tests in the bedroom, at the desk, and where calls will happen. Also test mobile signal with your SIM; some buildings have weak reception because of walls, height, or inner-facing units. For remote work, check not only download speed but stability, upload, ping, and mobile backup.

Ask what internet setup is used: private router inside the apartment, shared router on the floor, shared building connection, or temporary mobile modem. If the connection is shared, evening performance may differ from a daytime viewing. If you can install your own plan, confirm who approves technician access and cable routing.

Look at the workspace practically: enough outlets, sun glare on screen, AC noise above your head, chair space, bedroom door, daytime karaoke, construction, road noise, school, bar, or lift noise.

In the bathroom, run shower, sink, toilet, fan, and hot water. Check pressure, drain smell, leaks under the sink, mold on sealant, water heater condition, door, lock, and drainage after two or three minutes of water. A slow drain during viewing becomes a daily problem after move-in.

In the kitchen, check stove, hood, fridge, freezer, microwave, kettle, cabinets, countertop, tap, drain, and dish space. Confirm who handles gas bottle, water filter, minor repairs, replacement of broken items, and pest control. Do not write “kitchen ok” if appliances were not turned on.

Open the washing machine, smell the drum, check the rubber seal, short cycle, and draining. The fridge should already be cold before the move-in record, not “we will turn it on later”. Record every issue before keys: repair before move-in, repair after move-in by date, or rent discount.

The furniture list should be specific: bed, mattress, sofa, table, chairs, wardrobe, fridge, washing machine, stove, TV, router, curtains, kitchen items, keys, access cards, and remotes. “Fully furnished” does not prevent a dispute if the owner later says a remote, access card, or kitchen item is missing.

Record one continuous video from building entrance through every room, then separate photos of damage: scratches, stains, chips, cracks, leak marks, mold, weak handles, rust, torn screens, broken blinds, mattress, sofa, walls, floor, and ceiling. Send it to owner/manager the same day and keep the reply.

A move-in record is not for conflict; it is for a calm move-out. If an old stain or crack is questioned later, you have date, chat, and photos. This matters when final cleaning, repainting, lost keys, and damage deductions are written broadly.

Before move-in, ask directly: “Can you register temporary residence for a foreigner at this address?” The Vietnam Ministry of Public Security procedure MPS temporary residence declaration procedure describes temporary residence declaration for foreigners through the website, National Public Service Portal, or the Ministry of Public Security portal, and lists fee as none.

In a hotel, reception usually handles it. In an apartment, house, homestay, or serviced apartment, the landlord, manager, or responsible accommodation party should handle it. Practical Da Nang rental guidance for foreigners also puts passport, residence visa, and registration among key foreign-tenant checks Da Nang Villa Realty foreigner rental checklist.

Ask for the data list in advance: full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, visa or e-visa, entry date, and stay dates. If owner/manager does not file foreigner registration, the apartment may be unsuitable for long stay, banking, employer paperwork, document work, or address-related disputes.

Inspect more than the apartment: entrance, lift, stairs, parking, trash, cameras, security, access after rain, nearby cafes, karaoke, schools, construction, pet noise, and traffic. Walk around the building in the evening if you plan to stay more than a month; daytime viewings often hide real noise.

Ask house rules: guests, overnight guests, pets, smoking, quiet hours, parking, bike charging, pool or gym if any, cleaning schedule, garbage pickup, and repair requests. If there is a management office, ask whether tenants can contact it directly or only through owner/manager.

For a short stay, some inconvenience may be acceptable if price and location work. For long stay, avoid a place where smell, noise, dampness, weak internet, or unclear repair process already bothers you during viewing. These problems rarely improve after deposit payment.