Tenant Move Out Checklist: What to Do When Moving Out of a Rental Property

A rented property rarely feels like a real home – you don’t have the freedom to do what you want with the place and the thought that you’ll leave, sooner or later, doesn’t let you invest too much sentimental value into the rented house or apartment.

If you’re not allowed to hang your photos on the walls or don’t dare to mark your child’s height on the door frame out of fear that you may damage the property, then you can never truly feel at home in your rental place.

And even if the terms of your rental contract are not very strict and you can do these things, you still know that when you move out, there will be no way to replicate your kid’s height marks – or take any other tangible memories associated with your current residence – into your next home.

Speaking from personal experience, I can assure you that when the time comes for you to move to a new place, you’re unlikely to be very sad about leaving your rental property. On the contrary, you’re likely to feel truly excited about the new chapter in your life, just like I felt each time I had to move out of a rental.

And yet, you’ll certainly want the moving-out process to go smoothly, without any problems, or conflicts – so that you get your security deposit back, part with your landlord on good terms, and have a hassle-free relocation.

Follow the 8 steps of this comprehensive tenant move-out checklist to achieve this feat and start your new life on a positive note.

Step 1. Review Your Rental Contract

The first thing to do when planning to move out of a rental is to go over the provisions in your lease agreement. You need to be aware of your renter’s responsibilities when moving out and to know how early you need to notify your landlord about your move.

Review the rules and regulations regarding the tenant move-out notice and utility transfers, check the maintenance obligations you have agreed to, and pay attention to any special terms and provisions in the contract.

Once you know what is expected from you when moving out of the rental property, make sure you add all the tasks and deadlines to your moving calendar so you can take care of everything in a timely and efficient manner.

Step 2. Give a Move Out Notice to Your Landlord

The lease will define how far in advance you need to give your landlord a move-out notice. Most rental contracts require a written notification to the property owner at least one month before the move-out date.

So, you’ll most probably need to write a tenant move-out letter and send it to your landlord about 5 weeks prior to Moving day – make sure the date of your letter is clearly stated.

Your notice should include a statement of the good condition of the rental property, the date of your move, and your new address. When your landlord knows that they can get in touch with you, they will be sure that you’re not trying to evade responsibility and disappear without paying your last rent or your utility bills.

Make your letter polite and conclude it with a request to have your security deposit returned – provided that the property is in the same condition it was when you moved in, of course.

If the amount of money equals the rent for one month, you can suggest that the landlord keeps the deposit and you don’t pay the last installment. Depending on the state law, that may or may not be possible.

Good to know: In case you’re moving out of a rental before the lease expires, you need to provide justifiable reasons for leaving ahead of time and ask your landlord to cancel the lease and re-rent the property (or to allow you to sublet the property to someone else – the new tenant will be paying you rent and you’ll be paying the landlord).

If a suitable replacement tenant is not found, however, you’ll be responsible for paying rent for the full lease term.

Step 3. Repair Any Damages

The most important point on any moving checklist for renters is to ensure the good condition of the rental property. So, your next task is to inspect your rented house or apartment and fix any damage you may have caused over your time there.

You’re required to return the property in the same condition as it was when you moved in, so make sure you check the house or apartment against the condition report from when you moved in to find out what exactly you’re responsible for.

Normal wear and tear is expected and acceptable, but according to the maintenance obligations in your rental contract, you may need to:

• Fix and repaint the walls – repair holes made for mounting shelves or installing equipment or for hanging mirrors and pictures, restore crumbling plaster and chipped-off corners, replace broken tiles, fix any scratches or dents, repair damaged door frames and repaint the walls to their original color (if applicable);
• Replace broken windows;
• Make sure there are no problems with the electrical and plumbing systems;
• Make sure all lighting fixtures, kitchen appliances, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and any other equipment and devices that were in the rental when you moved in are functioning properly.

If you rented a house, you will also have to:

• Inspect the roof, replace broken tiles, and have the chimney swept;
• Repair any damage to the fence;
• Ensure all outdoor lighting is in working order;
• Trim trees and bushes and mow the lawn;
• Make sure the garage is in the same condition it was when you moved in.

Keep in mind that you’re also responsible for any damage caused to the property during the move-out process, so take care to protect the floors, walls, doors, stairs, etc. of your rental home when taking your items out of the property.

How to Prevent Property Damage When Moving Out

Good to remember:

1. Be sure to have any repair works documented and keep the receipts for all the materials you’ve purchased and services you’ve paid for.
2. If you made some permanent improvements to the property, you can request the amount of money you spent on them to be deducted from your last rent.

Step 4. Give the Place a Thorough Cleaning

Once you’ve made the necessary repairs (if any), you need to clean the place – no signs of repair works should remain and no mess should be left behind.

Of course, you’ll need to give the property a final sweep after your items have been taken out, but you’re strongly advised to complete all the more serious cleaning tasks beforehand – when you have enough time and energy to complete the job in an efficient manner.

Your lease may have specific cleaning requirements (professional carpet cleaning, steam cleaning, etc.) or may simply say that the property must be left clean and tidy.

Either way, the tenant move-out cleaning checklist below will ensure you don’t miss a thing:

• Wash the windows and wipe the sills;
• Clean the curtains, blinds, and other window treatment as appropriate;
• Wipe doors and door frames, furniture handles and light switches, etc.;
• Clean kitchen appliances;
• Wash and disinfect sinks, tubs, showers, etc.;
• Wipe and disinfect countertops, cabinet tops, and other kitchen and bathroom surfaces;

• Clean the bathroom and sanitize the toilet;
• Dust furniture and ceiling fans;
• Steam clean mattresses and upholsteries (you may be required to have them professionally cleaned before moving out of the rental);
• Vacuum and wash carpets (or have them professionally cleaned);
• Sweep and mop floors;
• Throw out the garbage;
• Sweep the pathways and remove dead leaves and debris from the lawn and the gutters – provided that your rental property has a yard;
• Clean up garages, patios, sheds, balconies, etc., if applicable.

If you do the cleaning yourself, take pictures and videos to document your work and the good condition of the property. If you use professional cleaning services, keep the receipts.

This evidence will come in handy in case of a conflict with your landlord concerning your security deposit.

Must-read: Moving Cleaning Checklist

Step 5. Pay Off Your Bills

The next item on your moving-out checklist is to take care of your financial obligations – pay off your utility bills (for gas, electricity, and water), service fees (for Internet, cable TV, and phone), waste management fees, etc.

Depending on the terms of your contract, you may or may not need to contact utility companies and arrange for the services at your rental to be disconnected at the time of your move.

Either way, make sure you have the utilities in your new home set up by move-in day.

How to Transfer Utilities When Moving

Good to remember:

1. Take readings of all gas, electricity, and water meters in your rental property on moving day and photograph them for proof.
2. Unless you can pay online, leave enough money for any bills that are due when you will already be away.

Step 6. Remove All Your Things from the Rental

When moving out of a rental, you will take your personal belongings with you, of course, but there are some items that are really easy to forget about.

None of them should remain in the rental property, as your landlord can charge you for having to take out and dispose of your stuff.

So, make sure you:

• Sort out your belongings ahead of time and get rid of everything you don’t need or don’t like anymore – sell or donate useful items that are still in good condition and throw away damaged items and items that are too worn out to be used ever again;

• Take down your pictures, calendars, and other wall décor, remove stickers and magnets from remaining appliances and furniture, get your towels, shower curtains, mats, and toiletries from the bathroom, pack your own bedding, curtains, and tablecloths, take your doormats and area rugs, hangers and silverware, etc.;
• Double-check drawers and cupboards for forgotten personal items, pantry items, cleaning products, office supplies, hobby materials, provisions, etc.;  
• Have a look in the attic, basement, and garage – check for old toys and gadgets, forgotten tools and yard equipment, stored fuel, etc.;
• Take a walk around the yard – remove old slippers and stacks of paper, take your flower pots and garden decorations, look for toys and pet items, etc.

Every single item that was not in the rental when you moved in should not be in the rental when you move out. All your belongings should be safely packed for moving and entrusted to reliable movers who will deliver them to your new home intact and unscathed.

How to Plan a Move

Step 7. Schedule a Move-Out Inspection

The last item on your tenant move-out checklist is to schedule an inspection of the rental property.

Call your landlord a week or so before moving day and ask them to conduct a move-out walkthrough of the rental unit. Be sure to have the utilities on until the inspection is over so that the landlord can verify the good working order of all systems and devices.

Be present at the move-out inspection, discuss any issues and concerns your landlord may have in a polite and friendly manner, try to find mutually beneficial solutions, and request your tenancy deposit back.

Eviction Moving Services: Your Options as a Tenant Being Evicted

Step 8. Get Your Security Deposit Back

Provided that you have fulfilled all your renter’s responsibilities when moving out, you should have no problems getting your deposit money back.

If a conflict arises between you and your landlord concerning a specific aspect of the contractual terms, you have several options:

1) Try to settle the issue with negotiations

Stay calm and try to negotiate with your landlord.

Produce evidence about the repair and cleaning work done or call on some witnesses.

Be ready to make small compromises – you may be able to get your deposit back if you do some additional cleaning, for example (keep in mind that any additional agreements should be legally binding for both parties).

2) Prepare a demand letter

If your landlord refuses to return your deposit even though you have strictly observed the provisions in the rental contract, your next step is to prepare a demand letter – set your requests, detail your reasons, and warn your landlord that you’re going to file a case in court if your rightful demands are not fulfilled.

Make a copy of the letter and send it by certified mail with the return receipt requested. The letter will show your landlord that you know your tenant rights and are not afraid to take the necessary legal measures to retrieve your deposit.

Depending on the state law, the property owner will have two to four weeks after receiving the letter to either return your money or provide a written statement of deductions (for unpaid utility bills, repairing damaged items, cleaning the property, etc.).

3) Go to a small claims court

If there’s no response or if you disagree with your landlord’s statement, you’ll need to go to a small claims court and make your case.

Ask to receive double the amount of your deposit or at least the interest for the period during which the deposit was illegally kept. You may even sue your former landlord for damages resulting from you not being able to use the withheld money when you needed it.

Needless to say, the property owner will be responsible for paying for the court expenses as well.

Of course, remember that going to court without having complied with all your contractual obligations will result in you losing your security deposit and getting a penalty.

Now that you know what to do when moving out of a rental property, the move-out process – and the entire relocation process – should go smoothly and stress-free. You’ll be off to a good start in your new home and will keep only good memories of your old rental place.

Good luck with your new life!

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