Rental Property Inspection Checklist

This checklist covers move-in, mid-lease, and move-out inspections for residential rentals. Each phase has a different focus — documenting the starting condition, catching problems early, or confirming what the tenant is responsible for at the end. Use the relevant section before each walkthrough.

Before Each Inspection

Applies to all inspection types:

• Notify the tenant in writing. State notice requirements vary — 24 to 48 hours is common for non-emergency entry, but confirm what applies in your jurisdiction before scheduling.
• Pull up the record from the most recent inspection. For a first move-in, there will be nothing to compare against yet.
• Bring a phone or camera, a notepad or printed form, and a flashlight. An outlet tester is useful for any full interior walkthrough.

Move-In Inspection

The goal is to document the property's condition before the tenant has possession. These records become the baseline for every inspection that follows.

Entry and Common Areas

• Check that all exterior doors open, close, and lock properly, including deadbolts.
• Test all windows: open, close, lock, and check screens for damage.
• Check the condition of walls, ceilings, and floors — note cracks, stains, scuffs, or soft spots.
• Test all light fixtures and switches.
• Check closet doors and any built-in storage.

Kitchen

• Run the faucet and check under the sink for leaks, water stains, or soft cabinet floors.
• Test the garbage disposal, dishwasher, range, oven, and hood exhaust.
• Check refrigerator seals and confirm it holds temperature.
• Inspect cabinet doors and hinges.
• Check countertop condition — chips, cracks, and stains.
• Test GFCI outlets near the sink.

Bathrooms

• Flush the toilet and check for slow drainage or water still running after the flush.
• Run the shower and tub: check water pressure, drain speed, and caulk condition around the surround.
• Check under the sink for moisture.
• Test the exhaust fan.
• Check flooring near the toilet and tub base — soft spots usually mean water has been getting under the surface.

Bedrooms

• Check that windows open, close, and lock. Confirm screens are in place.
• Test electrical outlets.
• Check closet doors and the overhead light or ceiling fan.
• Note flooring condition, wall condition, and any existing marks or damage.

Laundry Area

If the unit includes laundry connections:

• Inspect the washer hookup for drips or corrosion at the valves.
• Check the dryer vent for obstructions — a blocked vent is a fire hazard.
• Look at the floor around the connections for water staining.

Exterior

• Walk the roofline from ground level: look for missing shingles, visible sagging, or debris accumulation.
• Check the foundation perimeter for cracks and confirm that water drains away from the structure, not toward it.
• Check gutters and downspouts: look for blockages, loose sections, and whether downspouts direct water away from the building.
• Walk all exterior stairs, steps, and walkways: check for trip hazards, loose handrails, and cracked pavement.
• Check exterior lighting.
• Note any trees with branches close to the roof or growing toward the structure.

Safety Equipment

• Test every smoke detector and note its location. Replace batteries if needed.
• Test carbon monoxide detectors.
• If a fire extinguisher is provided with the unit, check that it is charged and within its service date.
• Confirm that all exterior door locks and any keyed interior locks function correctly.

Move-In Documentation

• Photograph every room, every fixture, and any pre-existing damage.
• Record the date of the inspection on every photo and in any written notes.
• List existing damage in writing, even if minor.
• Have the tenant review and sign the condition report. If the tenant is not present, ask them to submit written acknowledgment of the property's condition within a set number of days.
• Keep a copy of the condition report and all photos. Give the tenant a copy.

Mid-Lease Inspection

A mid-lease check — done once or twice a year — catches problems before they become expensive. The focus is on change from the baseline, not full documentation.

• Check under kitchen and bathroom sinks for new leaks or moisture.
• Look at ceilings and bathroom grout for staining or mold.
• Test smoke and CO detectors and replace batteries.
• Check the dryer vent if the unit has laundry.
• Walk the exterior: gutters, downspouts, roofline from the ground, and drainage around the foundation.
• Photograph any damage that was not present at move-in.
• Note any maintenance issues the tenant has reported but that have not yet been resolved.

Move-Out Inspection

Do this walkthrough before returning the security deposit. Compare directly against the move-in inspection record.

Interior Walkthrough

• Walk each room against the move-in condition report. Note new damage, missing fixtures, or changes to walls, floors, and ceilings.
• Test all appliances and fixtures.
• Check doors, window screens, and closet doors for damage not present at move-in.
• Look at bathroom caulking and grout — deterioration that started after move-in is different from what was documented at the baseline.

Exterior Walkthrough

• Repeat the exterior checks from move-in: foundation, gutters, visible roofline, walkways, and exterior lighting.
• Note any changes from what was recorded at the beginning of the tenancy.

Deposit Documentation

• Photograph all damage before any cleaning or repairs begin.
• Compare each area directly against the move-in photos.
• Distinguish normal wear from tenant-caused damage. Scuff marks on baseboards, minor nail holes, and carpet wear from ordinary use are typically considered normal. Holes in walls, broken fixtures, or stained caulking that was clean at move-in are typically not. What counts as normal wear is defined by state law, so confirm the standard that applies before withholding any portion.
• Keep a written record of every deduction with the corresponding photo and cost estimate or repair invoice.
• State deadlines for returning the deposit and providing an itemized accounting vary — confirm the timeline that applies in your jurisdiction before the tenant's final day.

Drive-By Checks

Between full inspections, a quick pass by the property takes a few minutes and can catch visible problems before they go unnoticed for months.

• Check the exterior condition of the building, including windows and siding.
• Look at the roofline and gutters from the street.
• Note overgrowth near the structure or trees that appear to have grown toward the roof or power lines since the last check.
• Check for trash accumulation or outdoor storage that was not there before.

When to Call a Professional

Some findings go beyond what a visual walkthrough can assess.

• Cracks in the foundation, sagging floors, or uneven settling — a foundation specialist can tell you whether the issue is cosmetic or structural.
• Suspected electrical problems beyond what an outlet tester can check, especially in older wiring systems.
• Plumbing leaks behind walls or under slabs.
• Roof damage that looks like more than surface wear.
• Mold that is widespread or appears to be growing behind finished surfaces.

Keeping Inspection Records

• Store photos organized by property, unit, and inspection date.
• Keep the signed condition report or written tenant acknowledgment with the lease file.
• Hold all move-in records until at least the end of the tenancy plus the period during which the former tenant could dispute a deposit deduction.
• Record what repairs were identified after each inspection and whether they were completed.

The move-in inspection record is the most important document in a landlord-tenant relationship outside the lease itself. A clear set of dated photos and a signed condition form resolves most disputes before they go further.

If keeping repair requests from falling through the cracks is the harder part, the guide on how to manage rental properties without a property manager covers how to track maintenance alongside rent, leases, and other property records.

Updated July 2026