What to Check Before Booking a Hostel: A Checklist

Before booking a hostel, check five things: that the person you are paying is the real owner or manager, that the room and washroom match the photos, that there is backup power and clean water, that the building is safe to sleep in, and that every cost and rule is in writing. The checklist below turns that into items you can tick off during a visit.

How to use this hostel checklist

Visit in the evening if you can: it shows you the street after dark, the noise level and what dinner looks like. If you are moving from another city, ask for a live video call (not a recorded video) where the owner walks from the gate to the room and opens the washroom tap.

Ask your questions by WhatsApp, SMS or email so the answers stay in writing, and don't pay anything until the important items below are ticked.

The listing and the owner

Most money problems start with someone who isn't the real owner, or a listing that doesn't match the building. Check this first.

[ ] The name of the person you are dealing with matches the owner or manager named on the listing
[ ] You've checked the owner's CNIC yourself and asked for proof that they own or manage the building. A "verified" label on any website is not a check of the building's condition, so you still need the rest of this list
[ ] The photos match what you see: the same tiles, windows, beds and cupboards
[ ] Rent, deposit and whether the deposit is refundable are written on the listing or in chat
[ ] You know who runs the hostel day to day (owner, manager or warden) and have their number
[ ] You've asked whether the hostel registers residents with the police. Lahore Police say this applies whenever "a house or a hostel room is rented"

The room

You'll spend most of your hours here, so check what the photos can't show.

[ ] The number of beds matches what you're paying for. A "3-seater" should have three beds, not four
[ ] The mattress is in good condition (lift the sheet)
[ ] Each person gets a cupboard that locks, plus a study table and chair
[ ] The window opens and the fan works
[ ] No damp patches, seepage marks, musty smell, or bedbugs in the mattress seams
[ ] The door locks, and you know who else has a key
[ ] Working plug points near the bed and table

Washroom and water

Water problems are the hardest to fix after you move in, so test them yourself.

[ ] You know how many people share each washroom (count them)
[ ] Turn on the tap and shower: check the pressure, colour and smell of the water
[ ] Hot water in winter. If it comes from a gas geyser, the geyser is fitted outside or in a well-ventilated spot, not inside a small, closed bathroom
[ ] You've asked when the water tank was last cleaned
[ ] Drinking water comes from a filter, RO plant or bottles, and you know who pays for it
[ ] In a girls' hostel, washrooms are inside the hostel area and every door locks properly

Electricity, UPS and load-shedding backup

In summer, the backup decides whether you can sleep and study through load-shedding.

[ ] There is backup power (UPS, generator or solar), and you know what runs on it: lights, fans, the Wi-Fi router?
[ ] You know how long the backup lasts during a long power cut
[ ] You know how electricity and AC are charged: included in rent, split between residents, or a sub-meter per room
[ ] If the bill is split, you've seen last summer's bill. Estimate your share with this electricity bill calculator
[ ] No loose wires, burnt sockets or overloaded extension boards

Food and mess

If the mess doesn't suit you, you end up paying twice: for the mess and for food outside.

[ ] You know whether the mess is included or charged separately, monthly or per meal
[ ] You've seen the weekly menu and meal times, and they fit your class timings
[ ] You know whether you pay less for meals you skip, for example when you go home at weekends
[ ] You've looked at the kitchen itself, not just the dining table
[ ] You've asked a current resident how the food really is

Wi-Fi

Weak Wi-Fi means online classes and assignments eat your mobile data every month.

[ ] Run a speed test in the room, not next to the router
[ ] Wi-Fi is included in rent, or you know the extra charge
[ ] The router stays on during load-shedding, and someone fixes it quickly when it goes down

Safety and security

You can live with a weak mess for a while. You can't quickly fix an unsafe building.

[ ] A guard at the gate and an entry register for visitors
[ ] CCTV covers the gate and corridors, and there are no cameras in rooms or washrooms
[ ] A fire extinguisher on each floor. Read the refill or expiry date on its tag
[ ] At least two ways out of the building, and no exit is padlocked or blocked
[ ] Gas heaters are not used in closed sleeping rooms, LPG cylinders are kept in a ventilated place, and there is no smell of gas
[ ] A warden or manager is available at night, and you have their number
[ ] A first-aid box, and you know the nearest hospital
[ ] In a girls' hostel: a female warden on site, a fixed gate time, and male visitors kept to a reception area

Carbon monoxide from a faulty heater or geyser has no colour or smell, so the gas items matter. More in our student accommodation safety guide.

Rules

Rules that clash with your timetable cause more trouble than a small room.

[ ] Gate or curfew time, and what happens if your lab or job runs late
[ ] Guest rules: where visitors can sit, and whether a parent can stay overnight
[ ] Notice period for leaving, written down (for example, one month)
[ ] Rules (and fines) for cooking in rooms, kettles, irons, heaters and smoking
[ ] A copy of the rules: a printed sheet, or at least a photo of it

Costs and paperwork

Any money matter that isn't written down is hard to claim back later.

[ ] Monthly rent, and exactly what it includes: mess, electricity, Wi-Fi, laundry, cleaning
[ ] The deposit amount, whether it is refundable, what can be deducted and how soon it is returned after you leave
[ ] How many months of advance rent are needed
[ ] Any one-time admission fee, and whether any part is refundable
[ ] How you pay (bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa or cash), with a receipt for every payment
[ ] How much notice the owner gives before a rent increase
[ ] What happens to your money if you leave in the middle of a semester

Our guide to security deposits and advance rent explains how to agree the refund terms before you pay.

The area

A cheaper room far from campus can cost more once you add daily transport.

[ ] Do the trip to campus once at your class time and note the cost. For a bike or car, this fuel cost calculator gives a monthly figure
[ ] The street is lit at night, and the gate isn't down a dark, empty lane
[ ] A pharmacy, general store and ATM are within walking distance
[ ] You know the nearest university point (bus) stop, metro stop, or how easy it is to get a Careem, InDrive or Bykea
[ ] Your phone has signal inside the building

Questions to ask the owner or warden

What exactly does the rent include, and what is charged separately?
Is the deposit refundable? What can be deducted, and how many days after I leave will I get it back?
How long does the backup run, and what runs on it?
How many people share this room and this washroom?
What is the notice period if I want to leave?
What time does the gate close, and what happens if I'm late?
Do you register residents with the police?
Can I speak to someone who lives here now?

Red flags: walk away if you see these

You are asked to pay before you have seen the room, in person or on a live video call
The owner won't put the rent, deposit or refund terms in writing
The person in chat and the person at the hostel are different, or their names don't match
On arrival, "that room is gone, but this one is available" for more money
Pressure such as "three students are coming tomorrow, pay today"
Payment is wanted in a third person's account
No fire extinguisher, a padlocked exit, or a gas heater running in a sleeping room
Current residents tell you deposits are not returned

If something feels wrong, keep looking. Our student accommodation page covers the other types of places you can compare.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check first when visiting a hostel?

Start with what is hardest to fix later: the washroom and water, backup power during load-shedding, and safety (exits, fire extinguisher, and how gas heaters and geysers are installed). Then check the room, the food, and that every cost and rule is in writing.

Can I book a hostel without visiting it?

Yes, but ask for a live video call from the gate to the room first. Then pay only a small token to hold the room, and only once you have the rent, deposit and refund terms in writing.

Does a "verified" label on a listing website mean the hostel is good?

No. A "verified" label on any website is not a guarantee about the building's condition. Check the owner's CNIC yourself, ask for proof that they own or manage the building, and still check the room, water, power and safety yourself.

Sources

Calculators in this guide

Enter your own sizes for an exact answer.

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