What to clean, repair and photograph before you return the keys.
7 rooms, 48 things to check. An end of tenancy checklist you can tick off on your phone or print and take with you. Do it after the place is empty and cleaned, so your photos show the condition you left it in.
- Start at least a week before you move out, so there is time to clean or repair anything the landlord might otherwise deduct for.
- Compare the condition now against your move-in photos: the two together show what changed.
- Clean every surface as you empty each room, before furniture and boxes go.
- Photograph the cleaned result, from the same angle you photographed it on move-in day where you can.
- Keep a copy of any email or message where your landlord lists what they expect you to fix or clean.
How to photograph each room
- Wait until the room is empty and clean. Use daylight or even lighting where you can, and wipe the camera lens first.
- Stand where you stood at move-in, in the doorway or the same corner, and go through the rooms in the same order, so each pair of photos lines up.
- Take an overview of the whole room, then a medium shot that shows where any mark sits next to a door, window or socket, then a close-up of the mark itself.
- Move closer rather than using digital zoom, so the detail stays sharp.
- Keep the original files. Do not crop, filter or draw on the only copy.
- For anything that has changed since move-in, write a short note: the room, what is visible and the date. Describe what you can see, not who caused it or what it might cost.
Compare each room with your move-in photos as you go.
Before you hand back the keys
- Every room has an overview photo from the same position as at move-in
- Every close-up also has a wider shot showing where it is
- Your move-out photos can be paired with your move-in photos room by room
- Meter readings are photographed, and the readings are also written down
- Keys, fobs and remotes are photographed together before you return them
- Your original files are backed up somewhere you will still find them later
- Move-in photos, move-out photos, meter readings, the key receipt and your messages are in one folder, with a one-page index of what is in it
After the walkthrough
- Return all keys, fobs and remotes to the landlord or agent, and get written confirmation (email or signed receipt) that you returned them.
- Send your forwarding address in writing, so the deposit can be returned.
- Ask the landlord or agent in writing for a list of any deductions they intend to make, with reasons and estimated costs.
- If deductions are proposed, compare them against your move-in and move-out photos.
- Keep the landlord's written list of deductions and your photos together: if you dispute any deduction, that is your evidence.
- Check your lease and the law where you live for the deadline by which the deposit must be returned or disputed. In England & Wales, see gov.uk; in the US, deadlines vary by state (search "[your state] security deposit return deadline").
When to do what
- About a week before you leave: Compare each room with your move-in photos and list anything to clean or repair while there is still time.
- On the last day, once everything is out and cleaned: Do the photo walkthrough room by room and take the final meter readings.
- At the handover: Return every key, fob and remote and get written confirmation. If the landlord or agent is doing a check-out inspection, ask whether you can be there, and ask for a copy of the report in writing.
- The same day: Email your photos, meter readings and forwarding address to the landlord or agent, so there is a dated record of the condition you left it in.
- Afterwards: Keep the whole set together until the deposit is settled, and reply in writing to any deduction you disagree with.
When should I do the move-out inspection?
After the place is empty and cleaned, but before you hand back the keys. That way you can fix anything the landlord might deduct for, and your photos show the condition you left it in.
Should I be there for the check-out inspection?
If you can, yes. Ask the landlord or agent when it will happen and whether you can attend: you can point to what was already recorded at move-in, and you will know what was said on the day. In some US states the law also gives you the right to an inspection before you move out, so check the rules for your state. Either way, ask for a copy of the report in writing and take your own photos as well. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should I photograph at move-out?
Every room, from the same positions as your move-in photos: an overview, a medium shot showing where any mark is, and a close-up. Also photograph inside the oven, fridge and cupboards, the meters, the keys you are returning, and anything you photographed at move-in.
How clean does it have to be?
Your lease may say. Many require the place to be cleaned "to a professional standard" or returned in the same condition as move-in, allowing for fair wear and tear (UK) or normal wear and tear (US). If you are unsure, clean it as if you were moving in yourself.
What is fair wear and tear?
Fair wear and tear (UK) or normal wear and tear (US) is deterioration from ordinary use over time, which a tenant is not responsible for. Examples: faded paint, worn carpet in walkways, minor scuffs. Damage is different: burns, large stains, broken fixtures. What counts depends on how long you lived there and the facts.
How long does the landlord have to return my deposit?
It depends on your lease and the law where you live. In England & Wales, check your scheme and your lease; in the US, deadlines are set by state law and vary. Search "[your state] security deposit law" or see gov.uk for England & Wales.
What if the landlord deducts more than is fair?
If your deposit was in a government deposit scheme (England & Wales), you can raise a free dispute through that scheme. In the US, the process depends on your state: some require landlords to provide an itemised list, and you can challenge it in small claims court. Your move-in and move-out photos are your evidence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a checklist guarantee I get my deposit back?
No. What happens to a deposit depends on your lease, the condition you left the place in and the law where you live. A dated move-out record, compared with your move-in photos, makes the facts easy to review rather than easy to dispute.
Free move-out checklist from RentSeal · rentseal.app/move-out-checklist