Move-Out Inspection Checklist: Protect Your Deposit When Leaving
The weeks before you hand back the keys are your best chance to protect your deposit. This checklist tells you exactly what to check, what to photograph, and what to fix before the landlord's walkthrough — so you leave nothing to dispute.
Start your free report ↓Start two weeks before move-out
Do not leave your move-out inspection to the last day. Begin at least two weeks before your lease ends so you have time to fix minor issues yourself — which is almost always cheaper than having your landlord deduct cleaning or repair costs from your deposit.
The move-out inspection process
Your goal is to return the property in the same condition it was in at move-in, minus fair wear and tear. Compare your move-out notes with your original move-in report. If you did not take a move-in report, use this checklist to document the current state before the landlord's inspection.
Tip: Take move-out photos in the same rooms, from the same angles, as your move-in photos. Side-by-side comparison is powerful evidence.
Room-by-room move-out checklist
Entire property
- All personal belongings removed — including attic, cellar, shed
- All keys returned as agreed
- All landlord's furniture back in original position
- Utility meters read and photographed
- Utility accounts closed or transferred
- Rubbish removed — bins emptied, no items left on kerb
Kitchen
- Oven and hob — degreased inside and out, grill pan clean
- Extractor filter — cleaned or replaced
- Fridge and freezer — defrosted, wiped inside, doors left open
- Dishwasher — cleaned, filter removed and rinsed
- Cupboards — wiped inside, no food or grease
- Sink and taps — limescale removed, no blockage
- Countertops — clean, no stains or burn marks beyond move-in state
- Floor — mopped, no food debris behind appliances
Bathroom
- Toilet — cleaned including under rim, cistern wiped
- Bath or shower — limescale removed, grout scrubbed, silicone mould-free
- Tiles — cleaned, no new chips or cracks since move-in
- Sink — unblocked, no hair or product build-up
- Extractor fan — dust removed from cover
- Mirror — clean, no new marks
Bedrooms
- Walls — fill any nail holes you made, repaint if agreed
- Carpet — vacuumed thoroughly, stains treated
- Wardrobes — emptied, wiped inside
- Windows — cleaned inside and out where accessible
- Blinds or curtains — dusted, washed if fabric
Living Room
- Walls — marks removed, touch-up where needed
- Floor — vacuumed or mopped
- Fireplace (if present) — ash removed, surround wiped
- Windows cleaned
- Light fittings — dust removed, bulbs working
What photos to take on move-out day
- Wide shot of every room from the doorway — same angle as move-in if possible
- Every room's floor from corner to corner
- All appliances in clean state — oven open, fridge open
- Any marks you are leaving that were present at move-in (compare to your move-in photos)
- Meter readings on the final day
- The property address from outside, with the date visible on your phone screen
- Any keys being returned (laid flat in photo)
When to do your move-out inspection
Conduct your own inspection the day before you hand back the keys, not on the handover day itself. This gives you one last chance to fix anything without time pressure.
If your landlord does a walkthrough with you, stay for the whole process and do not sign anything that records damage you dispute on the spot. Ask for the report in writing before signing.
How to use the PDF report
Generate a move-out report using this tool, download it as a PDF, and send it to your landlord the same day you hand back the keys. Subject line: "[Your address] — Move-Out Condition Report — [Date]". Attach the PDF. This email is your timestamped record.
Frequently asked questions
Landlords can deduct for damage beyond normal wear and tear, unpaid rent, and cleaning costs if the property is left in a worse state than at move-in. They cannot charge for repainting walls that just have minor marks, or for carpet wear in normal-use areas.
You have the right to be present in most jurisdictions. Being there lets you dispute anything you disagree with in the moment rather than in writing afterwards.
Point to your move-in report and photos, which should pre-date your tenancy. If you used this tool, your report has a timestamp. This is exactly why move-in documentation is so important.
This varies by country and jurisdiction. In the UK it is typically 10 days after agreeing deductions. In the US it ranges from 14 to 45 days depending on the state. Check your local rules — missing the deadline can be grounds for the landlord to forfeit deduction rights.