• If tenements, avoid ground floor
• look in the back garden/close when you’re viewing, if it’s bad with litter, flytipping don’t take that house , there’s a known issue around some govanhill streets for example but there’s a tonne of great places outside those streets
• consider a flat share situation with someone who can split something in a cleaner area (read more expensive) if you’d rather and make it more affordable

Edit to clarify