Comprehensive Rental Walkthrough Checklist For Landlords

One of the challenges of owning rental property is dealing with damage to the unit. While some wear and tear is normal and expected, many landlords have been burned by tenants causing substantial damage. While you can recoup your losses by retaining all or a portion of your tenant’s security deposit, it’s important to have proof that the damage was caused by your tenant.

The best way to protect yourself as a landlord is by doing a comprehensive rental walkthrough at the start of the lease, when your tenant takes possession, and again when they vacate the property. The walkthrough should include a checklist to note any issues with any major area of the property, from flooring to appliances to outdoor spaces. When it’s time for your tenants to move out, if there is any damage that wasn’t there when they moved in, you may be able to retain their security deposit to pay for repairs.

Based in Lithia, Florida, Eaton Realty works with investors and landlords to help them find, buy, and manage rental properties. Whether you’re new to property investment or an experienced landlord, we can help you with all aspects of the process, from choosing the perfect rental property to managing the property for you. Reach out to talk to a member of our team about being a landlord in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Want to learn even more about protecting your rental property investment? Contact us to speak with an experienced property manager.

 

 

 

When Should You Do a Rental Walkthrough with Your Tenants?

The purpose of a walk-through - or a move-in/move-out inspection - is to check the condition of a rental property. This should ideally be done two times: when a tenant first moves into a rental property and when they vacate the property.

During the initial walkthrough, a tenant (with or without the landlord or property manager) goes through the property to check for damages. Like a rental car inspection, this process protects the tenant as well as the landlord. It’s in the tenant’s best interest to do a complete inspection so that they don’t get charged for any pre-existing issues, like a dent in the floor that was there before they moved into the property.

If a landlord or property manager doesn’t accompany a tenant on their initial walkthrough, they should perform a separate inspection before the tenant arrives. The landlord can then make any necessary repairs before the tenant moves in. They will also have their independent record of the property's condition at this time. Property managers may also take pictures or videos to serve as additional proof of the unit’s condition.

Before a tenant vacates the property, the second walk-through should occur. Typically, a landlord or property manager will schedule this inspection to do with the tenant, although they could each do a walk-through separately. This inspection will check for any damage (beyond normal wear and tear) that the tenant may have caused.

If the tenant caused damage to the property, then the landlord may keep all or part of their security deposit to pay for it. Florida law imposes a strict deadline for either deducting or returning a security deposit. If the landlord doesn’t intend to make a claim on the security deposit, then they must return it within 15 days.

Otherwise, the landlord must provide written notice within 30 days that a claim is being made on the deposit and the reason for imposing the claim. If a landlord does not make a claim on the security deposit within 30 days, they forfeit the right to do so. For this reason, landlords or property managers should do a walk-through inspection of the rental unit as soon as possible after the tenant vacates the property.

A checklist should be used for each of the walkthroughs of the rental. As discussed in greater detail below, the checklist should include the unit's major components. The same checklist should be used at move-out so that it is easy to see what damage occurred during the tenancy.

What Should You Check for During a Rental Walkthrough?

A rental walkthrough should involve more than simply walking into a property, taking a quick look around, and deciding that everything looks OK. You should check for certain things in each room, such as:

Walls

Flooring

Ceiling

Doors

Closets

Appliances

Countertops

Cabinets and drawers

Sinks

Toilets

Light fixtures

Outlets and switches

Windows, screens, and window frames

Lightbulbs

Small imperfections may not need to be fixed, but they should be noted during the initial inspection to ensure that your tenant isn’t held accountable for damage they did not cause.

The walkthrough should also check for safety issues. You should ensure fire extinguishers have not expired and the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have batteries. Look for other unsafe things, like a loose railing on the stairs. Make repairs to reduce the likelihood of someone getting hurt.

A walkthrough should include less obvious things, like whether the plumbing is in good working order. Turn faucets off and on to ensure they work and that there aren’t any drips under the sink or cracks in the tub. You should also do a quick check to make sure that the appliances are in working order.

Don’t forget to open cabinets, cupboards, and closets during a walkthrough. The pulls and handles should be firmly attached, and the hinges should work correctly. You can also check to ensure these spaces are empty and remove anything that might have been left behind.

Finally, check out anything unique about the rental property - like a pool, balcony, or patio. Check for any apparent damage or safety issues, and make any necessary repairs.

Rental Walkthrough Checklist

A checklist should be as comprehensive as possible, covering every aspect of your property. It’s OK if it’s overly broad - such as listing 3 bedrooms when the unit only has 2 - as you can cross off anything that isn’t applicable. The most important thing is that the checklist includes every room or area of the home.

Below, we have compiled a sample rental walkthrough checklist that can be downloaded and adapted for your rental properties. The checklist can have additional items to check, such as the refrigerator or stove in the kitchen or the bathtub in the bathroom. The general format provides a template that is helpful for almost any type of rental property.

Download your free rental walkthrough checklist

Many landlords use abbreviations for their rental checklist to make it easy for their tenants to complete it. For example, you might have the following key at the top of the checklist:

NC: Needs to Be Cleaned

NP: Needs to Be Painted

NR: Needs to Be Repaired

RP: Replace

Your tenant can then put specific details in the notes section, such as “hole in living room wall needs to be repaired” or “closet door in the bedroom is off track.”

At the end of the checklist, you should have a space for your tenant to sign and date at move-in and move-out, along with a spot for you or your agent to do the same. A signature can eliminate or reduce the possibility that a tenant will try to claim that theydidn’t fill out the form. If a tenant disputes a claim on the security deposit, having the completed rental checklist will be good evidence.

This process can be tedious and involves a lot of paperwork and attention to detail. An experienced property manager can develop a walkthrough checklist for you that is customized for your properties. They can also handle the move-in and move-out inspection, repairs, and security deposit claims.

How Eaton Realty Can Help

Owning rental properties can be a great way to secure your financial future. Yet being a landlord is a lot of work, from finding great tenants to conducting move-in and move-out inspections. A seasoned property manager can take on these duties for you to allow you to earn a truly passive income.

Eaton Realty provides real estate services throughout Hillsborough County, Florida. We work with buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants to help them achieve their real estate goals. Our full-service property management ensures that your rental properties are being taken care of properly and in a way that maximizes your profits.

If you’d like to learn more, fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 813-560-0373 to talk to a team member.