diff --git a/apps/example-app-karma/src/test.ts b/apps/example-app-karma/src/test.ts
index 0a45adb5..827caf48 100644
--- a/apps/example-app-karma/src/test.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app-karma/src/test.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@
 import 'zone.js/dist/zone-testing';
 import { getTestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
 import { BrowserDynamicTestingModule, platformBrowserDynamicTesting } from '@angular/platform-browser-dynamic/testing';
-import JasmineDOM from '@testing-library/jasmine-dom/dist';
-
-beforeAll(() => {
-  (jasmine.getEnv() as any).addMatchers(JasmineDOM);
-});
+import '@testing-library/jasmine-dom';
 
 declare const require: any;
 
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/01-nested-component.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/01-nested-component.ts
index 5b0faeb2..51087b44 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/01-nested-component.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/01-nested-component.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { Component, Input, Output, EventEmitter } from '@angular/core';
   template: ' <button (click)="raise.emit()">{{ name }}</button> ',
 })
 export class NestedButtonComponent {
-  @Input() name: string;
+  @Input() name = '';
   @Output() raise = new EventEmitter<void>();
 }
 
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export class NestedButtonComponent {
   template: ' <span data-testid="value">{{ value }}</span> ',
 })
 export class NestedValueComponent {
-  @Input() value: number;
+  @Input() value?: number;
 }
 
 @Component({
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/03-forms.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/03-forms.ts
index bc035a14..f68766e4 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/03-forms.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/03-forms.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Component } from '@angular/core';
-import { FormBuilder, Validators, ValidationErrors } from '@angular/forms';
+import { FormBuilder, Validators } from '@angular/forms';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'app-fixture',
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ export class FormsComponent {
   get formErrors() {
     return Object.keys(this.form.controls)
       .map((formKey) => {
-        const controlErrors: ValidationErrors = this.form.get(formKey).errors;
-        if (controlErrors != null) {
+        const controlErrors = this.form.get(formKey)?.errors;
+        if (controlErrors) {
           return Object.keys(controlErrors).map((keyError) => {
             const error = controlErrors[keyError];
             switch (keyError) {
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.spec.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.spec.ts
index c215d9c4..ee4209b9 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.spec.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,5 @@ test('is possible to fill in a form and verify error messages (with the help of
     score: 7,
   });
 
-  // not added to the form?
-  expect((fixture.componentInstance as MaterialFormsComponent).form.get('color').value).toBe('G');
+  expect((fixture.componentInstance as MaterialFormsComponent).form?.get('color')?.value).toBe('G');
 });
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.ts
index 2718e389..a672380c 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/04-forms-with-material.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Component } from '@angular/core';
-import { FormBuilder, Validators, ValidationErrors } from '@angular/forms';
+import { FormBuilder, Validators } from '@angular/forms';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'app-fixture',
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ export class MaterialFormsComponent {
   get formErrors() {
     return Object.keys(this.form.controls)
       .map((formKey) => {
-        const controlErrors: ValidationErrors = this.form.get(formKey).errors;
-        if (controlErrors != null) {
+        const controlErrors = this.form.get(formKey)?.errors;
+        if (controlErrors) {
           return Object.keys(controlErrors).map((keyError) => {
             const error = controlErrors[keyError];
             switch (keyError) {
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/06-with-ngrx-store.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/06-with-ngrx-store.ts
index f260b978..470f52d9 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/06-with-ngrx-store.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/06-with-ngrx-store.ts
@@ -3,16 +3,12 @@ import { createSelector, Store, createAction, createReducer, on, select } from '
 
 const increment = createAction('increment');
 const decrement = createAction('decrement');
-const counterReducer = createReducer(
+export const reducer = createReducer(
   0,
   on(increment, (state) => state + 1),
   on(decrement, (state) => state - 1),
 );
 
-export function reducer(state, action) {
-  return counterReducer(state, action);
-}
-
 const selectValue = createSelector(
   (state: any) => state.value,
   (value) => value * 10,
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/08-directive.spec.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/08-directive.spec.ts
index 5df9413a..ea3332b4 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/08-directive.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/08-directive.spec.ts
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ test('it is possible to test directives with props', async () => {
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-  fireEvent.mouseOver(screen.queryByText(hidden));
+  fireEvent.mouseOver(screen.getByText(hidden));
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-  fireEvent.mouseLeave(screen.queryByText(visible));
+  fireEvent.mouseLeave(screen.getByText(visible));
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
 });
@@ -56,11 +56,11 @@ test('it is possible to test directives with props in template', async () => {
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-  fireEvent.mouseOver(screen.queryByText(hidden));
+  fireEvent.mouseOver(screen.getByText(hidden));
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).toBeInTheDocument();
 
-  fireEvent.mouseLeave(screen.queryByText(visible));
+  fireEvent.mouseLeave(screen.getByText(visible));
   expect(screen.queryByText(hidden)).toBeInTheDocument();
   expect(screen.queryByText(visible)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
 });
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/12-service-component.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/12-service-component.ts
index af35f10a..d272e270 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/12-service-component.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/12-service-component.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ import { Component, Injectable } from '@angular/core';
 import { Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
 
 export class Customer {
-  id: string;
-  name: string;
+  id!: string;
+  name!: string;
 }
 
 @Injectable({
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/15-dialog.component.spec.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/15-dialog.component.spec.ts
index f0fbd465..8a0ccd88 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/15-dialog.component.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/15-dialog.component.spec.ts
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ test('closes the dialog via the backdrop', async () => {
 
   // using fireEvent because of:
   // unable to click element as it has or inherits pointer-events set to "none"
-  // eslint-disable-next-line testing-library/no-node-access
-  fireEvent.click(document.querySelector('.cdk-overlay-backdrop'));
+  // eslint-disable-next-line testing-library/no-node-access, @typescript-eslint/no-non-null-assertion
+  fireEvent.click(document.querySelector('.cdk-overlay-backdrop')!);
 
   await waitForElementToBeRemoved(() => screen.getByRole('dialog'));
 
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/16-input-getter-setter.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/16-input-getter-setter.ts
index 11f8c949..22d9641a 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/16-input-getter-setter.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/examples/16-input-getter-setter.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ export class InputGetterSetter {
     return 'I am value from getter ' + this.originalValue;
   }
 
-  private originalValue: string;
-  derivedValue: string;
+  private originalValue?: string;
+  derivedValue?: string;
 }
diff --git a/apps/example-app/src/app/issues/issue-254.spec.ts b/apps/example-app/src/app/issues/issue-254.spec.ts
index 01960b4f..74e90fbb 100644
--- a/apps/example-app/src/app/issues/issue-254.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/example-app/src/app/issues/issue-254.spec.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
-/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/naming-convention */
 import { Component, Inject, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/angular';
 import { createMock } from '@testing-library/angular/jest-utils';
 
 interface Division {
-  JobType: string;
-  JobBullets: string[];
-  Description: string;
+  jobType?: string;
+  jobBullets?: string[];
+  description?: string;
 }
 
 @Inject({
@@ -21,25 +20,25 @@ class JobsService {
 @Component({
   selector: 'app-home-career-oportunities',
   template: ` <ul class="popu-category-bullets">
-    <li class="text-dark" *ngFor="let bullet of dedicated.JobBullets">
+    <li class="text-dark" *ngFor="let bullet of dedicated?.jobBullets">
       {{ bullet }}
     </li>
   </ul>`,
 })
 class CareerOportunitiesComponent implements OnInit {
-  dedicated = {} as Division;
-  intermodal = {} as Division;
-  noCdl = {} as Division;
-  otr = {} as Division;
+  dedicated?: Division;
+  intermodal?: Division;
+  noCdl?: Division;
+  otr?: Division;
 
   constructor(private jobsService: JobsService) {}
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
     this.jobsService.divisions().then((apiDivisions) => {
-      this.dedicated = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.JobType === 'DEDICATED');
-      this.intermodal = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.JobType === 'INTERMODAL');
-      this.noCdl = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.JobType === 'NO_CDL');
-      this.otr = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.JobType === 'OVER_THE_ROAD');
+      this.dedicated = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.jobType === 'DEDICATED');
+      this.intermodal = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.jobType === 'INTERMODAL');
+      this.noCdl = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.jobType === 'NO_CDL');
+      this.otr = apiDivisions.find((c) => c.jobType === 'OVER_THE_ROAD');
     });
   }
 }
@@ -47,20 +46,20 @@ class CareerOportunitiesComponent implements OnInit {
 test('Render Component', async () => {
   const divisions2: Division[] = [
     {
-      JobType: 'INTERMODAL',
-      JobBullets: ['Local Routes', 'Flexible Schedules', 'Competitive Pay'],
-      Description: '',
+      jobType: 'INTERMODAL',
+      jobBullets: ['Local Routes', 'Flexible Schedules', 'Competitive Pay'],
+      description: '',
     },
-    { JobType: 'NO_CDL', JobBullets: ['We Train', 'We Hire', 'We Pay'], Description: '' },
+    { jobType: 'NO_CDL', jobBullets: ['We Train', 'We Hire', 'We Pay'], description: '' },
     {
-      JobType: 'OVER_THE_ROAD',
-      JobBullets: ['Great Miles', 'Competitive Pay', 'Explore the Country'],
-      Description: '',
+      jobType: 'OVER_THE_ROAD',
+      jobBullets: ['Great Miles', 'Competitive Pay', 'Explore the Country'],
+      description: '',
     },
     {
-      JobType: 'DEDICATED',
-      JobBullets: ['Regular Routes', 'Consistent Miles', 'Great Pay'],
-      Description: '',
+      jobType: 'DEDICATED',
+      jobBullets: ['Regular Routes', 'Consistent Miles', 'Great Pay'],
+      description: '',
     },
   ];
   const jobService = createMock(JobsService);
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/.eslintrc.json b/projects/testing-library/.eslintrc.json
index 4089aa79..918e7859 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/projects/testing-library/.eslintrc.json
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
   "extends": "../../.eslintrc.json",
   "ignorePatterns": ["!**/*"],
   "overrides": [
+    {
+      "files": ["*.ts"],
+      "rules": {
+        "@typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment": "off"
+      }
+    },
     {
       "files": ["*.ts"],
       "extends": ["plugin:@nrwl/nx/angular", "plugin:@angular-eslint/template/process-inline-templates"],
@@ -9,6 +15,7 @@
         "project": ["projects/testing-library/tsconfig.*?.json"]
       },
       "rules": {
+        "@typescript-eslint/ban-ts-comment": "off",
         "@angular-eslint/directive-selector": [
           "error",
           {
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/src/lib/models.ts b/projects/testing-library/src/lib/models.ts
index 7f5a02a7..9320fb6a 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/src/lib/models.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/src/lib/models.ts
@@ -268,8 +268,8 @@ export interface RenderTemplateOptions<WrapperType, Properties extends object =
    * `WrapperComponent`, an empty component that strips the `ng-version` attribute
    *
    * @example
-   * const component = await render(SpoilerDirective, {
-   *  template: `<div spoiler message='SPOILER'></div>`
+   * const component = await render(`<div spoiler message='SPOILER'></div>`, {
+   *  declarations: [SpoilerDirective]
    *  wrapper: CustomWrapperComponent
    * })
    */
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/src/lib/testing-library.ts b/projects/testing-library/src/lib/testing-library.ts
index 1a517aa2..1197cf8e 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/src/lib/testing-library.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/src/lib/testing-library.ts
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ export async function render<SutType, WrapperType = SutType>(
     providers = [],
     schemas = [],
     queries,
-    template = undefined,
-    wrapper = WrapperComponent,
+    wrapper = WrapperComponent as Type<WrapperType>,
     componentProperties = {},
     componentProviders = [],
     excludeComponentDeclaration = false,
@@ -89,13 +88,13 @@ export async function render<SutType, WrapperType = SutType>(
   await TestBed.compileComponents();
 
   componentProviders
-    .reduce((acc, provider) => acc.concat(provider), [])
-    .forEach((p) => {
+    .reduce((acc, provider) => acc.concat(provider), [] as any[])
+    .forEach((p: any) => {
       const { provide, ...provider } = p;
       TestBed.overrideProvider(provide, provider);
     });
 
-  const componentContainer = createComponentFixture(sut, { wrapper });
+  const componentContainer = createComponentFixture(sut, wrapper);
 
   let fixture: ComponentFixture<SutType>;
   let detectChanges: () => void;
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ export async function render<SutType, WrapperType = SutType>(
 
   let router = routes ? inject(Router) : null;
   const zone = inject(NgZone);
-  const navigate = async (elementOrPath: Element | string, basePath = '') => {
+  const navigate = async (elementOrPath: Element | string, basePath = ''): Promise<boolean> => {
     if (!router) {
       router = inject(Router);
     }
@@ -139,16 +138,18 @@ export async function render<SutType, WrapperType = SutType>(
             qp[key] = [currentValue, value];
           }
           return qp;
-        }, {})
+        }, {} as Record<string, string | string[]>)
       : undefined;
 
-    const navigateOptions: NavigationExtras = queryParams
+    const navigateOptions: NavigationExtras | undefined = queryParams
       ? {
           queryParams,
         }
       : undefined;
 
-    const doNavigate = () => (navigateOptions ? router.navigate([path], navigateOptions) : router.navigate([path]));
+    const doNavigate = () => {
+      return navigateOptions ? router?.navigate([path], navigateOptions) : router?.navigate([path]);
+    };
 
     let result;
 
@@ -159,21 +160,25 @@ export async function render<SutType, WrapperType = SutType>(
     }
 
     detectChanges();
-    return result;
+    return result ?? false;
   };
 
   return {
+    // @ts-ignore: fixture assigned
     fixture,
     detectChanges: () => detectChanges(),
     navigate,
     rerender,
     change,
+    // @ts-ignore: fixture assigned
     debugElement: typeof sut === 'string' ? fixture.debugElement : fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(sut)),
+    // @ts-ignore: fixture assigned
     container: fixture.nativeElement,
     debug: (element = fixture.nativeElement, maxLength, options) =>
       Array.isArray(element)
         ? element.forEach((e) => console.log(dtlPrettyDOM(e, maxLength, options)))
         : console.log(dtlPrettyDOM(element, maxLength, options)),
+    // @ts-ignore: fixture assigned
     ...replaceFindWithFindAndDetectChanges(dtlGetQueriesForElement(fixture.nativeElement, queries)),
   };
 
@@ -220,9 +225,9 @@ async function createComponent<SutType>(component: Type<SutType>): Promise<Compo
   return TestBed.createComponent(component);
 }
 
-function createComponentFixture<SutType>(
+function createComponentFixture<SutType, WrapperType>(
   sut: Type<SutType> | string,
-  { wrapper }: Pick<RenderTemplateOptions<SutType>, 'wrapper'>,
+  wrapper: Type<WrapperType>,
 ): Type<any> {
   if (typeof sut === 'string') {
     TestBed.overrideTemplate(wrapper, sut);
@@ -236,13 +241,10 @@ function setComponentProperties<SutType>(
   { componentProperties = {} }: Pick<RenderTemplateOptions<SutType, any>, 'componentProperties'>,
 ) {
   for (const key of Object.keys(componentProperties)) {
-    const descriptor: PropertyDescriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(
-      fixture.componentInstance.constructor.prototype,
-      key,
-    );
+    const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor((fixture.componentInstance as any).constructor.prototype, key);
     let _value = componentProperties[key];
     const defaultGetter = () => _value;
-    const extendedSetter = (value) => {
+    const extendedSetter = (value: any) => {
       _value = value;
       descriptor?.set?.call(fixture.componentInstance, _value);
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -268,21 +270,24 @@ function hasOnChangesHook<SutType>(componentInstance: SutType): componentInstanc
   );
 }
 
-function getChangesObj<SutType>(oldProps: Partial<SutType> | null, newProps: Partial<SutType>) {
+function getChangesObj<SutType extends Record<string, any>>(
+  oldProps: Partial<SutType> | null,
+  newProps: Partial<SutType>,
+) {
   const isFirstChange = oldProps === null;
   return Object.keys(newProps).reduce<SimpleChanges>(
     (changes, key) => ({
       ...changes,
       [key]: new SimpleChange(isFirstChange ? null : oldProps[key], newProps[key], isFirstChange),
     }),
-    {},
+    {} as SutType,
   );
 }
 
 function addAutoDeclarations<SutType>(
   sut: Type<SutType> | string,
   {
-    declarations,
+    declarations = [],
     excludeComponentDeclaration,
     wrapper,
   }: Pick<RenderTemplateOptions<any>, 'declarations' | 'excludeComponentDeclaration' | 'wrapper'>,
@@ -295,7 +300,7 @@ function addAutoDeclarations<SutType>(
   return [...declarations, ...components()];
 }
 
-function addAutoImports({ imports, routes }: Pick<RenderComponentOptions<any>, 'imports' | 'routes'>) {
+function addAutoImports({ imports = [], routes }: Pick<RenderComponentOptions<any>, 'imports' | 'routes'>) {
   const animations = () => {
     const animationIsDefined =
       imports.indexOf(NoopAnimationsModule) > -1 || imports.indexOf(BrowserAnimationsModule) > -1;
@@ -341,19 +346,19 @@ async function waitForElementToBeRemovedWrapper<T>(
   callback: (() => T) | T,
   options?: dtlWaitForOptions,
 ): Promise<void> {
-  let cb;
+  let cb: () => T;
   if (typeof callback !== 'function') {
     const elements = (Array.isArray(callback) ? callback : [callback]) as Element[];
     const getRemainingElements = elements.map((element) => {
-      let parent = element.parentElement;
+      let parent = element.parentElement as Element;
       while (parent.parentElement) {
         parent = parent.parentElement;
       }
       return () => (parent.contains(element) ? element : null);
     });
-    cb = () => getRemainingElements.map((c) => c()).filter(Boolean);
+    cb = () => getRemainingElements.map((c) => c()).find(Boolean) as unknown as T;
   } else {
-    cb = callback;
+    cb = callback as () => T;
   }
 
   return await dtlWaitForElementToBeRemoved(() => {
@@ -367,7 +372,7 @@ function cleanup() {
   mountedFixtures.forEach(cleanupAtFixture);
 }
 
-function cleanupAtFixture(fixture) {
+function cleanupAtFixture(fixture: ComponentFixture<any>) {
   fixture.destroy();
 
   if (!fixture.nativeElement.getAttribute('ng-version') && fixture.nativeElement.parentNode === document.body) {
@@ -394,25 +399,21 @@ class WrapperComponent {}
 /**
  * Wrap findBy queries to poke the Angular change detection cycle
  */
-function replaceFindWithFindAndDetectChanges<T>(originalQueriesForContainer: T): T {
+function replaceFindWithFindAndDetectChanges<T extends Record<string, any>>(originalQueriesForContainer: T): T {
   return Object.keys(originalQueriesForContainer).reduce((newQueries, key) => {
     const getByQuery = originalQueriesForContainer[key.replace('find', 'get')];
     if (key.startsWith('find') && getByQuery) {
-      newQueries[key] = async (text, options, waitOptions) => {
+      newQueries[key] = async (...queryOptions: any[]) => {
+        const waitOptions = queryOptions.length === 3 ? queryOptions.pop() : undefined;
         // original implementation at https://github.com/testing-library/dom-testing-library/blob/main/src/query-helpers.js
-        const result = await waitForWrapper(
-          detectChangesForMountedFixtures,
-          () => getByQuery(text, options),
-          waitOptions,
-        );
-        return result;
+        return await waitForWrapper(detectChangesForMountedFixtures, () => getByQuery(...queryOptions), waitOptions);
       };
     } else {
       newQueries[key] = originalQueriesForContainer[key];
     }
 
     return newQueries;
-  }, {} as T);
+  }, {} as Record<string, any>) as T;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -422,7 +423,7 @@ function detectChangesForMountedFixtures() {
   mountedFixtures.forEach((fixture) => {
     try {
       fixture.detectChanges();
-    } catch (err) {
+    } catch (err: any) {
       if (!err.message.startsWith('ViewDestroyedError')) {
         throw err;
       }
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/auto-cleanup.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/auto-cleanup.spec.ts
index c69eda62..1e37f242 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/auto-cleanup.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/auto-cleanup.spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { render } from '../src/public_api';
   template: `Hello {{ name }}!`,
 })
 class FixtureComponent {
-  @Input() name: string;
+  @Input() name = '';
 }
 
 describe('Angular auto clean up - previous components only get cleanup up on init (based on root-id)', () => {
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/change.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/change.spec.ts
index 85cc3667..1ba67513 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/change.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/change.spec.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { render, screen } from '../src/public_api';
 })
 class FixtureComponent {
   @Input() firstName = 'Sarah';
-  @Input() lastName;
+  @Input() lastName?: string;
 }
 
 test('changes the component with updated props', async () => {
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ test('changes the component with updated props while keeping other props untouch
 })
 class FixtureWithNgOnChangesComponent implements OnChanges {
   @Input() name = 'Sarah';
-  @Input() nameChanged: (name: string, isFirstChange: boolean) => void;
+  @Input() nameChanged?: (name: string, isFirstChange: boolean) => void;
 
   ngOnChanges(changes: SimpleChanges) {
     if (changes.name && this.nameChanged) {
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ test('will call ngOnChanges on change', async () => {
   template: ` <div data-testid="number" [class.active]="activeField === 'number'">Number</div> `,
 })
 class FixtureWithOnPushComponent {
-  @Input() activeField: string;
+  @Input() activeField = '';
 }
 
 test('update properties on change', async () => {
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/config.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/config.spec.ts
index ccd004f5..bb8c61fc 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/config.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/config.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Component } from '@angular/core';
 import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { render, configure } from '../src/public_api';
+import { render, configure, Config } from '../src/public_api';
 import { ReactiveFormsModule, FormBuilder } from '@angular/forms';
 
 @Component({
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ class FormsComponent {
   constructor(private formBuilder: FormBuilder) {}
 }
 
-let originalConfig;
+let originalConfig: Config;
 beforeEach(() => {
   // Grab the existing configuration so we can restore
   // it at the end of the test
   configure((existingConfig) => {
-    originalConfig = existingConfig;
+    originalConfig = existingConfig as Config;
     // Don't change the existing config
     return {};
   });
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/integration.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/integration.spec.ts
index afd56698..112177e1 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/integration.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/integration.spec.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ class EntitiesComponent {
   query = new BehaviorSubject<string>('');
   readonly entities = this.query.pipe(
     debounceTime(DEBOUNCE_TIME),
-    switchMap((q) => this.entitiesService.fetchAll().pipe(map((ent) => ent.filter((e) => e.name.includes(q))))),
+    switchMap((q) =>
+      this.entitiesService.fetchAll().pipe(map((ent: any) => ent.filter((e: any) => e.name.includes(q)))),
+    ),
     startWith(entities),
   );
 
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ class EntitiesComponent {
   `,
 })
 class TableComponent {
-  @Input() entities: any[];
+  @Input() entities: any[] = [];
   @Output() edit = new EventEmitter<string>();
 }
 
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/issues/issue-188.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/issues/issue-188.spec.ts
index 8077358a..b150dacc 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/issues/issue-188.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/issues/issue-188.spec.ts
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import { render, screen } from '../../src/public_api';
   template: `<h1>Hello {{ formattedName }}</h1>`,
 })
 class BugOnChangeComponent implements OnChanges {
-  @Input() name: string;
+  @Input() name?: string;
 
-  formattedName: string;
+  formattedName?: string;
 
   ngOnChanges(changes: SimpleChanges) {
     if (changes.name) {
diff --git a/projects/testing-library/tests/rerender.spec.ts b/projects/testing-library/tests/rerender.spec.ts
index 443560a2..0edf69ea 100644
--- a/projects/testing-library/tests/rerender.spec.ts
+++ b/projects/testing-library/tests/rerender.spec.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { render, screen } from '../src/public_api';
 })
 class FixtureComponent {
   @Input() firstName = 'Sarah';
-  @Input() lastName;
+  @Input() lastName?: string;
 }
 
 test('rerenders the component with updated props', async () => {
diff --git a/tsconfig.base.json b/tsconfig.base.json
index 0ad01d03..59f62014 100644
--- a/tsconfig.base.json
+++ b/tsconfig.base.json
@@ -13,9 +13,12 @@
     "sourceMap": true,
     "target": "es2015",
     "typeRoots": ["node_modules/@types"],
-    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
-    "noImplicitReturns": true,
+    "strict": true,
     "noFallthroughCasesInSwitch": true,
+    "noImplicitReturns": true,
+    "noUnusedLocals": true,
+    "noUnusedParameters": true,
+    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true,
     "paths": {
       "@testing-library/angular": ["projects/testing-library"],
       "@testing-library/angular/jest-utils": ["projects/jest-utils"]