Before You Take a Rented Home: Check Electricity, Water and Internet First

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People look at the room size, the rent and the neighbourhood, and then discover the real problems in the first week: the water comes for one hour a day, the bill is charged at a rate they did not expect, the connection is in someone else's name, or no broadband provider serves the building. These are not rare. This guide gives you a utilities checklist for the visit, before you pay a deposit. It focuses on three things: electricity, water and internet. For the rest of the move-in process, see the security deposit and move-in checklist.

Updated: 25 October 2026

Part 1: Electricity

Ask the landlord - Is there a separate meter for this portion, or a shared one? If shared, how is the bill split? - If a sub-meter is used, who reads it, and at what rate per unit do you pay? Ask to see an earlier bill. - Is the connection in the owner's name? Are there any unpaid dues on it? - What is the sanctioned load, and will it handle the appliances you use (cooler, geyser, iron, AC)? - What happens during power cuts: is there an inverter, a generator or nothing?
Test during the visit - Switch on every light and fan. Try each socket with your phone charger. - Look for loose wires, burn marks, cracked switchboards and signs of wall damp near electrical points. - Check that the earthing is provided where you will use heavy appliances. Ask an electrician if unsure. - See where the main switch and MCB are, and that you can reach them easily.
At move-in: photograph the meter reading with date, and have the landlord note it down too.

Part 2: Water

Ask the landlord - What is the source: municipal supply, borewell, tanker or a mix? - At what times does water come, and for how long? - Is there an overhead tank, and who maintains the motor? - Is drinking water supplied, or do you arrange a filter or can? - Who pays for water charges, and are they included in the rent?
Test during the visit - Open every tap, including the kitchen, bathroom and washing area. Check pressure and colour. - Flush the toilet and watch for slow drainage or smells. - Look under the sink and around the geyser point for leaks and stains. - Check the ceiling and walls for seepage marks, especially in the top floor and bathrooms. - Ask a neighbour, politely, whether water supply is reliable in summer.

Part 3: Internet and mobile signal

Test your mobile signal in each room, including the one you will work or study in. Try a call and a speed check.
Ask neighbours which broadband providers operate in the building.
Ask the landlord whether you may get a new connection installed and where the wire or router can be placed. Some owners or societies need to give permission.
Ask how long installation usually takes, and whether you must keep the connection after leaving.
If you work from home or study online, check where the router could be positioned so every room gets a signal.

A quick room-by-room scoring table

Carry this on your phone and rate each item: good, acceptable or a problem.
Bedroom — Electricity: Sockets, fan, light; Signal: Mobile signal
Kitchen — Electricity: Socket for fridge or mixer; Water: Tap, sink, drainage
Bathroom — Electricity: Geyser point, exhaust; Water: Pressure, flush, leaks
Balcony or terrace — Electricity: Light; Water: Tank, seepage; Signal: Router position
If two or more items are a problem, discuss them before agreeing to the rent, or consider negotiating the rent or asking the owner to repair them in writing.

Put promises in writing

Verbal promises such as "the owner will fix the geyser next week" or "power backup will be arranged" should be added to the agreement or at least written in a message that the owner replies to. Add the point to the rent agreement if it is important, such as who pays for electricity and water, how bills are shared and who handles repairs.

At the end of the tenancy

Take final meter readings with the landlord, pay dues up to the date, and ask for a written confirmation that no bill is pending. Keep copies of the last bills. If you took a broadband connection, request closure or transfer before you leave.

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Safety tips

Meet in a public, well-lit place and, where possible, take someone with you.
Inspect the item before you pay and check it matches the listing.
Never pay in advance, share OTPs, or move payment outside the agreed meeting.
Keep contact through the listing page — contact details are privacy-gated in the app.
Report suspicious sellers instead of continuing the conversation.

Frequently asked questions

Can the landlord charge a different rate for electricity than the utility?

Practices vary and local rules apply. Ask for the rate in advance and see the bills, and check the local regulations or the utility's rules if the rate seems unusual.

Should I get the electricity connection in my name?

Sometimes tenants can; sometimes the owner keeps it. Ask the landlord and the utility what is allowed and what documents are needed.

What if the water supply is very irregular?

Decide whether you can manage with storage, and discuss who maintains the tank and motor. If it is a dealbreaker, look elsewhere.

Do I pay for internet installation?

Usually the tenant arranges and pays for it. Check provider charges and any lock-in period.

What if I find a problem after moving in?

Photograph it, tell the landlord promptly in writing, and keep records of the response.

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