Move Out Inspection: Fill & Download for Free

I can understand that you don't want to be there and you probably don't want to clean up the mess you made during the time you lived there. However, if you do not intend on being there, I recommend that you take pictures when you leave. What will most likely happen is, if there is damage that the deposit does not cover, you could find yourself in court. If you have pictures of every room, then you could at least prove what the place looked like when you left and any damages. You would be able to prove any false damages with pictures of every room, the carpet and tile, the stove, refrigerator, walls closets and windows.And keep in mind, if you end up in court, this will show up on any background check for a future apartment, and you could get denied.If you can, video each room on your cell phone, then download the video on your laptop or computer just in case someone claims damage.

Several years ago in New York City, I lived in an apartment owned by a largely absentee landlord, who was nonetheless quite aggressive and hostile (via email, the only way we could correspond with him).When gave notice that we were going to move out, he declined to conduct a move-out inspection in person. We were already concerned for our security deposit because of his demeanor, so we took extensive pictures of the vacant unit and sent them to him as a precaution. In the master bedroom, there was a large, full-wall-sized mirror which was firmly bolted in. It had been there when we moved in and we had always thought of it as a cool feature of the apartment.When he saw the pictures, he informed us that he was going to deduct money from our security deposit to remove the mirror, which he “had no record of.” When I protested that it was there from we moved in, he angrily told me to “stop lying.”Some years prior when we moved in, he had given us the prior tenants’ contact info, since one of the things he liked to do was outsource logistical arrangements to tenants. So we were meant to coordinate directly with them to hand over keys and so forth.I still had their contact info, so I emailed one of them and asked if she had any pictures showing the mirror present. She did, and sent me a selfie she took on the day she moved out, of herself in the mirror.I sent the picture to the landlord and informed him we’d be presenting this to the small claims court judge if he proceeded to deduct anything from our security deposit. He replied with a one-line email saying that he would not be deducting anything.

Back when I lived in apartments, I took these steps:I do a walkthrough with the landlord before I move in. Noting anything we observe at the time.I record the entire unit with photos and/or video before I move in.I provide a written list of anything I notice to the landlord within a week of moving in.I take care of the place while I live there.I promptly report any problems to the landlord, especially problems that could become worse. Any issues with water, for example, must be reported immediately.When I move out, I make certain to clean the apartment thoroughly. Or I hire someone to clean it thoroughly.I take pictures and/or video of the state in which I leave the apartment.I do a walkthrough with the landlord and return the key when I do the walkthrough.I provide my forwarding address to the landlord so he can return my security deposit promptly.I also know the law about what falls under reasonable wear and tear. For example, I know that carpets have a certain life. If the carpet has been in the apartment for 5 years before I move in, and the landlord decides he wants to replace it when I move out and tries to keep my deposit to do so, I know that I can prove in court that the carpet had no useful life left in it, and therefore, even if I had damaged it, I would not be responsible for the cost of replacing it. The same is true for paint, which is normally two years (but varies by jurisdiction) and everything else.Now, if a landlord tries to claim I damaged something I did not damage, I have proof that I did not damage it. By taking care of the place, I decrease the chances that I will actually do any damage. By cleaning the place, I decrease the chances the landlord will charge me absurd fees for cleaning, and also, am better able to prove that I left the place in great condition. By doing all of this, I have made it virtually impossible for a landlord to win in court if he tries to keep my security deposit inappropriately. If he does try to keep my security deposit, I can tell him that I have video and pictures, so if he tries to keep my money, he won’t have a chance.Back when I used to rent, I wrote a couple of posts on my blog with some suggestions. Here is a post on moving out and the inspection. It addresses some of the same issues. The move out inspection and security deposits in Pennsylvania - Jennifer Ellis, JD, LLC