Renting sight-unseen — did it work out or would you never again?

Did it once, in Lisbon, and I'd do it again only under very specific conditions.

It worked in the sense that the flat was real, the landlord was honest and I got my deposit back. It didn't work in every other sense. "Quiet street" meant quiet at 2pm, when the video call was, and a bar opened underneath at 10pm. The "bright" bedroom faced a wall two metres away. None of it was a lie exactly. It just wasn't the flat I thought I was renting.

My rules now, for your friend:

• ask for the video call at the time of day you'll actually be home
• ask them to open every window and point the camera outside
• ask the neighbours, if the agent will let you speak to anyone
• only sign a short initial term if you possibly can

If the market genuinely doesn't let you wait, those four things at least shrink the surprises.

I did it with a sublet in Uppsala because the housing queue here is long and I had a start date. It was fine, but I made it a six-month sublet rather than a long lease, so I was never stuck with a mistake. That flexibility was worth more than the flat itself.

Diego, the bar opening at 10pm made me laugh, and I've passed your four rules straight on. The short initial term is the one my friend hadn't thought of.