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Home Real Estate Documents Rental Inspection Checklist

Free Rental Inspection Checklist

Use our Rental Inspection Checklist to keep an accurate record of your property’s condition.

Updated April 18, 2022 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

A rental inspection checklist documents the condition of your rental unit and keeps the status of each room organized.

You should provide this checklist to your tenant upon move-in, offering an opportunity to report any issues in each room of your rental.

Table of Contents
  • What is a Rental Inspection Checklist?
  • When Should You Require a Rental Checklist?
  • What to Include in a Rental Inspection Checklist
  • Rental Inspection Checklist Sample
  • How to Write (Fill Out) a Rental Inspection Checklist?

Supplemental Forms

If you authorize your tenant to sublet your rental, consider providing a Sublease Agreement so for the renter to give to the subtenant.

What is a Rental Inspection Checklist?

A rental checklist is a document that provides a record of a property’s current condition.

It helps protect both parties to a lease agreement from false accusations or misrepresentations of the condition of the unit.

This document is also known as:

  • Rental Walkthrough Checklist
  • Move-In/Move-Out Checklist
  • Condition of Rental Property Checklist

Why Should You Use a Property Inspection Checklist?

Ensuring that a rental property remains in good condition is a top priority for any landlord.

Keeping track of which previous tenants may be responsible for any uncovered damages can be a difficult task – especially with the stress of trying to rent out a unit.

IMPORTANT

A rental checklist organizes the condition of a property and tracks the liability of all incoming and outgoing tenants.

Failing to notice a missing window screen or chipped wood paneling can result in a potential (and costly) misunderstanding with new tenants – that is one case where our rental inspection checklist helps.

When Should You Require a Rental Checklist?

Tenants should complete a rental inspection checklist immediately upon signing the Lease Agreement and entering their new rental – logging all noticeable damages and defects.

Your role as the landlord or property manager will be to:

  • Verify your tenant’s findings
  • Sign off on the checklist
  • Begin scheduling for repairs

In addition to logging noticeable damages and defects, it is always a good idea to photograph each issue.

Once a tenant vacates your rental, reference your original copy of the rental checklist and determine if the tenant caused excessive damage during the tenancy.

TIP

Light damage resulting from normal wear and tear is always the landlord’s financial responsibility. Still, property owners should deduct the cost of any repairs that fall outside of that definition from the previous tenant’s security deposit.

What to Include in a Rental Inspection Checklist

We have made it entirely stress-free to conduct a property damage assessment with our free rental inspection checklist.

If you want to write a rental checklist even easier, use our builder to create a customized document with step-by-step guidance.

Here is how you fill out a rental inspection checklist.

Once you hand your tenants the keys to their new home:

  • Provide them a copy of our rental inspection checklist
  • Have them walk through the unit, writing down any problems that they notice
  • Ask them to deliver the checklist by the end of the day (or ASAP)

The rental inspection checklist here at Legal Templates conveniently divides each dwelling into the following sections:

EntryLiving RoomBedroom
KitchenDining RoomBathroom

We have also included a garage section in our checklist for single-family houses or condominiums.

During a thorough walkthrough of the rental unit, your tenant should note the condition of various aspects of each room, such as the walls, flooring, mirrors, etc.

Confirm that their findings are valid, and then file a copy of the rental inspection checklist in the tenant’s account.

Rental Inspection Checklist Sample

Below you can find what a rental inspection checklist typically looks like:

Rental Inspection Checklist Example Form

DOWNLOAD PDF
DOWNLOAD MS WORD

How to Write (Fill Out) a Rental Inspection Checklist?

Step 1 – Write Tenant and Landlord Name, and Property Address

1. Tenant. Provide the full name of the tenant, the person renting the property from the landlord or property manager. If there is more than one tenant, provide the names of all tenants.

2. Landlord. Enter the full name of the landlord or property manager, the person who owns or manages the property.

3. Property Address. Fill in the street (physical) address of the rental property.

tenant landlord name

Step 2 – Enter Move-In or Move-Out Date

4. Move-In Inspection Date. Write the date you are conducting the move-in inspection.

5. Move-Out Inspection Date. Fill in the date you are conducting the move-out inspection.

inspection date

Step 3 – Fill in Entry Condition

6. Entry. Write the move-in or move-out condition of each area of the entry if the rental property has an entry area. You can write other portions of the entry not indicated on the checklist.

entry

Step 4 – Document Kitchen Condition

7. Kitchen. State the move-in or move-out condition of each area of the kitchen if the rental property has a kitchen.

kitchen

Step 5 – State Living Room Condition

8. Living Room. Specify the move-in or move-out condition of the living room if the rental property has a living room.

living room

Step 6 – Fill in Dining Room Condition

9. Dining Room. Enter the move-in or move-out condition of the dining room if the rental property has a dining room.

dining room

Step 7 – Note Bedroom 1 Condition

10. Bedroom 1. Fill in the move-in or move-out condition of the bedroom if the rental property has one bedroom.

bedroom 1

Step 8 – Enter Bedroom 2 Condition

11. Bedroom 2. Write move-in or move-out the condition of a second bedroom if the rental property has a second bedroom. If the rental property has more than two bedrooms, you can add additional sections to the checklist.

bedroom 2

Step 9 – Note Bathroom 1 Condition

12. Bathroom 1. Document the move-in or move-out condition of the bathroom if the rental property has one bathroom.

bathroom 1

Step 10 – Write Bathroom 2 Condition

13. Bathroom 2. Enter the move-in or move-out condition of a second bathroom if the rental property has a second bathroom. If the rental property has more than two bathrooms, you can add additional sections to the checklist.

bathroom 2

Step 11 – Document Garage Condition

14. Garage. Write the move-in or move-out condition of the garage if the rental property has a garage.

garage

Step 12 – Fill in the Condition of Miscellaneous Areas

15. Miscellaneous. You can include the move-in or move-out condition of additional spaces in the rental property or items that have not been previously addressed.

miscellaneous

Step 13 – Enter Notes

16. Other Notes. You can include any additional notes as needed.

notes

 

 

Related Landlords Documents

  • Rental Application: A rental application is a document landlords use to screen prospective tenants.
  • Free Month-to-Month Rental Agreement Template | PDF & Word: A legal document outlining a formal relationship to rent a residential premise between the property owner and another party.
  • Short-Term Rental Agreement: Thinking of renting your property to holiday-makers or short-term visitors? Here's how you can create a vacation rental short-term lease agreement.
  • Sublease Agreement: A Sublease Agreement is an agreement between the original tenant who is currently leasing the premises and the new tenant who will be moving into the premises.
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Free Rental Inspection Checklist

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Free Rental Inspection Checklist

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