Is this move-in checklist free to use?

Yes. It is published without a sign-up or email gate, and you are welcome to print it, adapt it to your properties or use it as the basis for a template in your own system.

How detailed should a move-in inspection be?

Detailed enough that a change in condition can be attributed at the end of the tenancy. That means recording ordinary, undisputed items too — those are the ones that later become contested.

Who should sign a move-in inspection?

The tenant should review and sign the record they have actually seen, at the property. Practice varies by jurisdiction and tenancy agreement, but a signature captured later against a document assembled in the office carries much less weight.

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Residential · Free template

Move-in inspection checklist

A move-in inspection exists to establish the condition of a property at a known moment, in enough detail that any later change can be attributed. It is read at the end of the tenancy, by somebody with money at stake, and it is either specific enough to settle the question or it is not.

The items below are ordered the way an inspector walks a property rather than by category, because a checklist that matches the route is faster to complete and less likely to leave gaps.

66 check items · 9 sections

How to use this checklist

01
Prepare before arrival
Confirm the property, the tenancy start date and who will be present. Have meter locations and key counts to hand if the landlord has supplied them.
02
Walk the property in a fixed order
Start at the entrance and move through the property the same way every time. Record condition for every surface, fitting and appliance, not only defects.
03
Photograph what the words describe
Take a wide shot to establish location and a close shot to establish condition. Attach each photograph to the item it documents rather than collecting them in one folder.
04
Record meters, keys and alarms
Capture readings and serial numbers as text as well as photographs. Count keys, fobs and access devices, and test every alarm.
05
Sign at the property
Have the tenant review and sign the record before you leave. A signature added later to a document assembled in the office carries far less weight.

The checklist

Before you start

Property address and unit number confirmed
Tenancy start date recorded
Names of everyone present at the inspection
Date and start time of the inspection
Weather and lighting conditions if they affect what is visible

Entrance and hallway

Front door: condition, locks operate, keys turn freely
Door frame, threshold and weather seal
Entry flooring: covering type and condition
Walls and ceiling: marks, cracks, previous repairs
Light fittings present and working
Sockets and switches: condition and operation
Intercom or entry phone if fitted

Living areas

Flooring: type, condition, stains, wear at doorways
Walls and ceiling: marks, scuffs, nail holes, damp staining
Skirting boards and architraves
Windows: opening, locking, seals, condensation between panes
Window coverings: blinds or curtains, condition and operation
Radiators or heating units: condition, leaks, valves operate
Light fittings, sockets and switches
Any furniture included, itemised with condition

Kitchen

Worktops: chips, burns, scratches, sealant condition
Sink and taps: condition, drainage, drips
Cupboard doors and drawers: alignment, runners, handles
Oven: interior cleanliness, shelves present, door seal
Hob and extractor: burners or rings operate, filter condition
Fridge, freezer and dishwasher if supplied: condition and operation
Washing machine connections and condition if supplied
Splashback and tiling: cracks, missing grout
Flooring condition, particularly at appliance edges
Visible plumbing under the sink: leaks or staining

Bathrooms and WC

Bath, shower tray and basin: chips, cracks, staining
Taps and shower: operation, pressure, drips
Sealant around bath, shower and basin: condition and mould
Toilet: flush operates, seat condition, no movement at base
Tiling and grout condition
Extractor fan present and operating
Mirror, cabinet and fittings
Flooring, especially around the toilet and shower
Any damp, mould or staining, with location and extent

Bedrooms

Flooring condition and wear
Walls and ceiling: marks, fixings, previous repairs
Windows: operation, locks, seals, restrictors where fitted
Wardrobes and built-in storage: doors, rails, shelves
Light fittings, sockets and switches
Radiator condition and operation

Meters, safety and services

Electricity meter: reading and serial number
Gas meter: reading and serial number
Water meter: reading and serial number if present
Consumer unit location and condition
Stopcock location recorded
Smoke alarms: present, tested, result recorded
Carbon monoxide alarm: present, tested, result recorded
Boiler: make, location, condition, last service date if displayed

Exterior and outbuildings

Garden or outdoor space: condition as handed over
Fences, gates and boundaries
Paths, steps and drives: trip hazards
Sheds, garages and stores: condition and contents
Bins present and accounted for
External lighting

Keys and handover

Number of each key type issued, described
Fobs, cards or remotes issued
Window key locations
Meter or utility cupboard keys
Tenant has reviewed the record
Tenant signature captured at the property
Inspector name and signature

Practical notes

Record condition for items nobody expects to argue about. Disputes rarely concern a broken window — they concern a scuffed skirting board or a stained carpet edge that was genuinely present at move-in but was never written down.

Describe condition rather than quality. "Kitchen in good order" is an opinion; "worktop chipped 20mm at the sink edge" is a fact that can be evidenced.

Where something cannot be inspected — a locked room, an obstructed area — record that it could not be inspected and why. Silence is later read as coverage.

Common questions

Is this move-in checklist free to use?: Yes. It is published without a sign-up or email gate, and you are welcome to print it, adapt it to your properties or use it as the basis for a template in your own system.
How detailed should a move-in inspection be?: Detailed enough that a change in condition can be attributed at the end of the tenancy. That means recording ordinary, undisputed items too — those are the ones that later become contested.
Who should sign a move-in inspection?: The tenant should review and sign the record they have actually seen, at the property. Practice varies by jurisdiction and tenancy agreement, but a signature captured later against a document assembled in the office carries much less weight.