Free Move-In / Move-Out ChecklistSet up the rooms, then fill it in here or print it and fill it in by hand during the walk-through. No sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.
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Notice: Generated via SnapPaperwork. For genuine inspection records only. Do not fill in a checklist for an inspection that did not happen, or change one after it was signed.
A move-in checklist is a room-by-room list used to record the condition of a home when a tenant moves in or out. For each item you mark its condition and add a note, and the landlord and tenant sign it. Fill it in together at the start and again at the end, and keep a copy.
How to do a move-in inspection in 3 steps
1
Set up the rooms
The checklist starts with the rooms most rentals have. Rename them, add a second bathroom or a garage, and remove what the unit does not have.
2
Walk through together
Fill it in here, or print it and fill it in by hand room by room. Give each item a condition code and describe any damage in the notes: where it is and how big.
3
Sign, copy and keep it
The tenant and the landlord both sign and date it. Each keeps a copy, with dated photos. At move-out, use the same sheet to compare.
Why a move-in checklist matters
Most arguments about a security deposit come down to one question: was that stain, scratch or hole already there when the tenant moved in? A checklist signed by both of you on move-in day answers it.
For the tenant, it shows what not to be charged for. For the landlord, it shows what changed during the tenancy. Deductions from a deposit are usually for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the checklist is how both sides tell the two apart later.
Tips for a good walk-through
Do it before the tenant moves furniture in, in daylight, with the lights and appliances switched on.
Be specific: “2 in scratch on floor by the balcony door” is far more useful than “floor scratched”.
Test things: run the taps and shower, flush the toilet, open the windows, press the smoke alarm test button.
Take dated photos or a video of every room, and note in “Other notes” that you did.
Write down the number of keys, remotes and fobs handed over.
Furnished rental? Add the furniture as items (sofa, mattress, dining chairs) in each room.
Both of you sign every copy. A checklist only one side signed is much weaker.
What the condition codes mean
Code
Use it when
G (Good)
Clean, working, no visible damage.
F (Fair)
Normal wear for its age: light scuffs, faded paint, worn carpet in walkways.
P (Poor)
Heavily worn or barely working, but not broken.
D (Damaged)
Broken, stained, torn, missing parts or needing repair. Describe it in the notes.
N/A
The unit does not have it.
Some states require one
In some states the checklist is not just a good idea. For example:
Washington: a landlord who takes a security deposit must give the tenant a written checklist or statement describing the condition of the unit at the start of the tenancy, signed and dated by both. Without it, the landlord can be liable to the tenant for the deposit (RCW 59.18.260).
Virginia: within five days after the tenant moves in, the landlord must give the tenant a written report of the damage that already exists. The report is treated as correct unless the tenant objects in writing within five days (Virginia Code § 55.1-1214).
Arizona: at move-in, the landlord must give the tenant a move-in form to note existing damage, and tell the tenant in writing that they may be present at the move-out inspection (A.R.S. § 33-1321).
Other states and some cities have their own rules and sometimes their own forms. Check yours.
Condition report rules in Canada, the UK and Australia
Tenancy law is set by each province, nation or state. These are plain-English summaries of the official text, read again on the date shown.
Canada · checked
British Columbia: Landlord and tenant must inspect together at move-in (and move-out), and the landlord completes a condition inspection report both sign. A landlord who does not offer the tenant the inspection loses the right to claim against the deposit for damage. Residential Tenancy Act, ss. 23, 24, 35
Alberta: Inspect within one week before or after the tenant moves in and moves out; the landlord gives the tenant the inspection report. Without the reports, nothing may be deducted from the deposit for damage. Residential Tenancies Act, ss. 19, 46(6)
Ontario: No move-in inspection report is required by the Residential Tenancies Act. A signed checklist with photos is still a useful record. Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Québec and other provinces: Rules differ. Check your province’s residential tenancy law.
United Kingdom · checked
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: No rule requiring a move-in inventory was found in the main tenancy laws. A dated inventory with photos, signed by both sides, helps if the deposit protection scheme has to decide a dispute.
Australia · checked
New South Wales: The landlord gives the tenant 2 copies of a condition report on the prescribed form before or when the lease is signed. The tenant returns one within 7 days, and both complete it again at the end. Residential Tenancies Act 2010, ss. 29, 30
Victoria: Before the renter moves in, the rental provider gives 2 copies of a signed condition report on the prescribed form. The renter returns one within 5 business days, signed or marked with what they disagree with. Residential Tenancies Act 1997, s. 35
Queensland: By move-in day, the lessor gives a signed condition report on the approved form. The tenant signs and returns it within 7 days, marking anything they disagree with. RTRA Act 2008, s. 65
Other states and territories: Rules differ. Check your state or territory’s tenancy authority.
Laws change, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules where the property is, or ask a local professional.
At move-out
Walk through again with the move-in column next to you, and fill in the move-out column item by item. Anything marked differently is what you talk about.
In some states the tenant has the right to be at the move-out inspection. In Virginia, for example, the landlord must tell the tenant of that right, and the inspection takes place within 72 hours of the tenant handing back the unit (Virginia Code § 55.1-1226). Arizona also requires the landlord to tell the tenant in writing that they may attend.
After move-out, most states give the landlord a set number of days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. The deadline depends on the state.
Checked in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Landlord and tenant laws differ from state to state and change often.
Yes. It is free to use, needs no account or sign-up, and never adds a watermark or a SnapPaperwork logo to your checklist.
Who should fill in the checklist?
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Ideally the landlord and the tenant together, during one walk-through. If that is not possible, one fills it in and the other checks it, adds anything missing and signs. Some states set a deadline for this.
Can I change the rooms and items?
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Yes. Rename any room, add rooms such as a second bathroom or a garage, add or remove items, and move rooms up or down. Your list is saved in your browser for the next unit.
Do I have to fill it in on screen?
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No. Many people set up the rooms, print it, and fill in the codes and notes by hand during the walk-through. Codes left as “—” print as empty boxes.
What is the difference between Fair and Damaged?
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Fair is normal wear for the item’s age, such as light scuffs or worn carpet where people walk. Damaged means broken, stained, torn or needing repair. When in doubt, describe it in the notes.
Should we still take photos?
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Yes. Photos or a video with the date show what words cannot. Take them on move-in day and again at move-out, room by room, and note on the checklist that you did.
Why does it print on several pages?
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A full rental has many rooms and items, so the checklist usually takes two or three pages. Each page has its own margins and a page number, and a room that does not fit carries on on the next page under its name.
Does it replace my state’s official form?
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Where a state or city has its own form or required wording, use that. This checklist covers the same ground for everyone else, and you can add or rename anything to match.
Are my details uploaded or stored on your servers?
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No. Everything you type stays in your browser and is never sent to me. The checklist is saved on your own device so it is there at move-out. On a shared computer, press “Clear Form” when you are done.
How do I save the checklist as a PDF?
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Click “Print / Save PDF” and choose “Save as PDF” as the printer, or click “Download PDF” to save a file straight to your phone or computer. “Share” opens your device’s share menu with the PDF attached, for example to email it to the tenant.
