Move-out checklist for renters
A room-by-room move-out checklist, the deposit deadlines in four common places, and how to photograph a home so a deduction has to be explained.
The short answer
Clean, then photograph every room in the same order you used at move-in: walls, floors, windows, kitchen, appliances inside, bathroom, heating, meters and keys. Hand back the keys and give your forwarding address in writing. Most places set a deadline for returning the deposit, for example 21 days in California and 14 days in New York.
In the US, only about one renter in five gets the full deposit back, according to figures cited by home sites (Domino). A deposit is often a month's rent. The best protection is a set of photos that shows the home at move-in and again at move-out, room by room, in the same order.
Two weeks before you move out
- Read your lease for the notice period, cleaning rules and anything about carpets or painting.
- Find your move-in record. Photos, an inventory, a check-in report, emails about repairs. You will compare against them.
- Ask for a pre-move-out inspection if your area offers one. In California and New York, tenants can ask the landlord to inspect before they leave, so problems can be fixed first.
- Fix the small things you caused: fill nail holes if your lease allows, replace bulbs, tighten loose handles.
The room-by-room checklist
Clean first, then photograph. Use the same order as at move-in so every photo has a match. These are the steps in the Handback home guide.
| Room or item | Clean or check | Photograph |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance and door | Door, frame, lock | Door both sides, the floor |
| Living room walls | Wipe marks | Each wall, straight on |
| Living room floor | Vacuum, mop | Carpet or floor, wide and close |
| Windows and blinds | Glass, sills, blinds | Each window, frames and screens |
| Kitchen counters and cabinets | Empty and wipe inside | Open cabinets, counters close up |
| Kitchen appliances | Oven, fridge, dishwasher inside | Each one open |
| Bathroom | Tub, grout, sink, toilet, mirror | Each fitting, grout close up |
| Bedroom walls | Wipe marks | Each wall |
| Bedroom floor and closet | Vacuum, empty closet | Floor, closet doors, shelves |
| Heating and AC | Dust vents, filters if yours to change | Units and vents |
| Meters | Note readings | Each meter, readable |
| Keys | Count them | Every key and fob, together |
Handing over
- Return every key and photograph them before you do.
- Give your forwarding address in writing. In Texas, a landlord doesn't have to return the deposit until the tenant gives a forwarding address (Texas Property Code ch. 92).
- Take the meter readings and send them to the utilities.
- Keep a copy of everything you send.
How long the landlord has
Most places set a deadline for returning the deposit, or for sending an itemised list of deductions.
| Place | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | 21 days after you move out, with an itemised statement for any deduction | Civil Code § 1950.5 |
| New York | 14 days after you move out, with an itemised statement | General Obligations Law § 7-108 |
| Texas | 30 days after you surrender the home | Property Code § 92.103 |
| England and Wales | 10 days after you and the landlord agree how much you get back; disputes go to the deposit scheme | GOV.UK |
In England and Wales, the landlord must also put your deposit in a government-approved protection scheme within 30 days of receiving it (GOV.UK). If there is a dispute, the scheme holds the money until it is settled, and your photos are part of what it looks at.
If money is kept
Ask for the itemised list in writing if you didn't get one. Compare each item with your move-in and move-out photos. Reply in writing, item by item, with the photos that show each point. Keep it factual.
If you used Handback, send the link. The landlord or the deposit scheme sees each photo with the time our server received it and can check that none have been changed since. They don't need an account.
Sources
- California Civil Code § 1950.5. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- New York General Obligations Law § 7-108. nysenate.gov
- Texas Property Code, chapter 92, subchapter C (security deposits). statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- GOV.UK, "Tenancy deposit protection". gov.uk
- Domino, "What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit". domino.com
Common questions
When should I take move-out photos?
After you have cleaned and moved everything out, and before you return the keys. Empty rooms show walls and floors properly.
What is normal wear and tear?
The wear that comes from living somewhere: light scuffs, faded paint, worn carpet in walkways. Most deposit rules say a landlord can't deduct for it. Damage, such as holes, burns or broken fittings, is different.
I didn't take move-in photos. Is it too late?
Take move-out photos anyway, and look for anything else from move-in, such as an inventory, a check-in report or emails about problems you reported.
Handback keeps a record of what you photographed and when. It is not legal advice, and it can’t decide a dispute for you.