Free guide · Updated 2026

The Ultimate Tenant Move-Out Checklist

A room-by-room checklist to hand over your rental without losing a rupee of your deposit — plus how to capture evidence a landlord can't dispute.

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Why deposits get deducted

Almost every deposit dispute comes down to one question: what did the flat look like when you moved in? If only the landlord has an answer, the deduction sticks.

“The walls were freshly painted”

Repainting is the single most common deduction. Without dated move-in photos of the walls, you cannot show the marks were already there.

“The flat wasn't clean”

Cleaning charges are easy to claim and hard to argue with — unless you photographed every room after the final clean.

“Something is missing or broken”

Fittings, remotes, keys and furniture go on the deduction list. An itemised, photographed inventory ends the argument instantly.

The real problem: your gallery photos aren't evidence

Screenshots and forwarded WhatsApp images lose their metadata, can be edited, and carry no proof of where or when they were taken. That's exactly the gap a landlord points at when you push back on a deduction.

The complete room-by-room checklist

Work through one room at a time. Photograph every item you tick — a tick without a photo is just a memory.

Living room

  • Walls: marks, nail holes, cracks
  • Floor: scratches, stains, loose tiles
  • Ceiling and fan: dust, wobble, damp patches
  • Windows: glass, latches, mosquito mesh
  • Switches, sockets and light fittings
  • Curtain rods and wall fixtures

Kitchen

  • Counter and backsplash condition
  • Sink, tap and drainage
  • Cabinet doors, hinges, handles
  • Chimney or exhaust fan
  • Gas point and regulator
  • Grease or burn marks on walls

Bedrooms

  • Walls and paint condition
  • Wardrobe interiors, shelves, locks
  • Floor and skirting
  • AC: filter, remote, cooling test
  • Windows, curtains, blinds
  • Door locks and every key

Bathrooms

  • Tiles, grout and any cracks
  • Taps, shower and geyser working
  • Drainage speed and any leaks
  • WC seat, flush and cistern
  • Mirror, cabinet, towel rails
  • Seepage or mould on walls and ceiling

Balcony and utility

  • Railing stability and rust
  • Floor drainage and tiles
  • Washing machine point
  • Grill, door and lock
  • All stored items removed

Appliances and furniture

  • Fridge, washing machine, oven
  • Every fan, light and AC tested
  • Beds, sofas, tables, chairs
  • Inventory count matches the agreement
  • Remotes, keys and manuals returned
Recommended

Why verified photos beat gallery photos

DepositVapsi guides you through the same checklist in the app, then locks each photo to a time, a place and a fingerprint — so the evidence stands on its own.

Timestamped at capture

Each photo records the exact moment it was taken, before anyone can argue about dates.

GPS-tagged to the property

Location is captured with the photo, proving the evidence came from your flat.

Hash-verified and AI-reviewed

Every image is cryptographically hashed, and AI flags existing damage room by room.

Before you hand over the keys

  • Deep clean every room, including inside cabinets
  • Repaint or patch damage you have agreed to fix
  • Clear all rubbish and leftover belongings
  • Record final electricity, water and gas readings
  • Settle every utility bill and keep the receipts
  • Photograph each empty room again, dated
  • Return all keys and count them together
  • Get a written deposit-return acknowledgement

Take the checklist with you

A two-page printable PDF with every room, every item and the final handover tasks. Free, no email required.

Download PDF

Move-out questions, answered

When should I inspect the property before moving out?

Do a first pass 2–3 weeks before you hand over the keys, so there is still time to clean or repair anything. Then do a final, fully documented inspection on the day you move out — after the flat is empty and cleaned, and before you return the keys.

How many photos should I take?

Aim for 6–10 photos per room: one wide shot of each wall, plus close-ups of anything a landlord could question — scratches, stains, fittings, appliances and meter readings. A typical 2BHK ends up with 60–100 photos. It feels excessive until the day you need it.

Can a landlord deduct for normal wear and tear?

Normal wear and tear — faded paint, minor scuff marks, small nail holes, ageing fittings — is generally the landlord's cost, not yours. Deductions are meant to cover actual damage or missing items beyond ordinary use. The dispute is almost never about the law; it is about who has evidence of the original condition.

What evidence should I keep after moving out?

Keep your move-in and move-out photos with their original timestamps, your signed condition report, final meter readings, utility-bill receipts, the key handover acknowledgement, and every message where the deposit was discussed. Store it in the cloud, not just on your phone.

Protect your entire deposit in under 5 minutes

Guided room-by-room capture, AI damage review and a professional report your landlord can acknowledge online.

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