Free Landlord Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
Room-by-room condition report: 12 rooms, 99 items, move-in and move-out columns, signature lines, and tips that win deposit disputes. Works in every state. PDF, 5 pages, no sign-up.
Download the free PDF
How to use it
Walk every room with the tenant before they move in. Circle a rating for each item (Good, Fair, Poor, Damaged), write down existing stains, scratches, holes and missing parts, and take dated photos. Both of you sign and keep a copy. At move-out, walk the same rooms and fill in the move-out column. Anything that got worse beyond normal wear and tear is what you can deduct, and the signed move-in page is your proof.
What's on it
Entry and hallways, living room, kitchen, dining room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, basement or storage, and exterior, plus blank rows for other rooms and a section for keys, remotes and meter readings. Every room lists walls, ceiling, floors, doors and locks, windows, blinds, lights and outlets, and smoke and CO detectors, with fixtures and appliances where they belong.
Know your return deadline
Every state sets its own deadline for returning the deposit or sending an itemized list of deductions, from 14 days to 60. Look up your state's deadline.
DepositDay is the same checklist as an app: timestamped photos burned into every picture, signatures on screen, a side-by-side move-out comparison, your state's deadline countdown, and the itemized deduction letter.
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Common questions
Is this move-in checklist really free?
Yes. Download the PDF and print as many copies as you need. No email or account is required.
Do I need a move-in checklist as a landlord?
Several states require a written move-in condition report before you can deduct for damage, including Washington, Kentucky (where its statute applies) and others. Everywhere else it is your best evidence: a signed, dated report from move-in is what shows a stain or hole is new damage, not normal wear and tear.
What should a move-in inspection include?
Every room, item by item: walls, ceilings, floors, doors and locks, windows, blinds, lights and outlets, smoke detectors, appliances, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, plus the exterior, keys and remotes. Note the condition, describe any damage, take dated photos, and have both landlord and tenant sign.
General information, not legal advice. Check your state statute or a local attorney for requirements where your rental is.