Rental Maintenance checklist template

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Move-In Checklist for Landlords and Tenants

By Tyler Nicely on 4 May 2021

Theres more to getting new tenants into your rental than creating a lease, signing it and giving them the key. Under local law, landlords might be required to complete a rental property inspection before tenants move in and again when they move out.

According to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2020, 71% of renters plan to rent their next home. Use our downloadable rental walkthrough checklist to help streamline the move-in process and make it less stressful for both landlord and tenant.

Why is a move-in checklist important?

A move-in checklist provides a convenient and organized way for you to keep track of your rental propertys condition and check for damage beyond normal wear and tear.

For landlords: A move-in checklist helps document existing conditions in the home. A checklist can help hold tenants accountable for damage that occurs to the rental during the tenancy. Documenting preexisting damage can help reduce the likelihood of disputes between the landlord and tenant related to the return of the security deposit.

For tenants: A rental walkthrough checklist helps tenants keep an objective assessment of the condition of their rental. It may also serve as written documentation in case there is ever a legal dispute in the future. Finally, a walkthrough checklist can be a tool tenants use to take inventory of what the landlord might need to repair or improve before or during the tenancy.

Generally, once the landlord and tenant have completed the rental inspection checklist, it should be signed by both parties. Be sure to give a copy to your tenant. You may want to attach another copy of the signed checklist to the lease agreement and file it away until it comes time for the tenant to move out.

Tip: Its a good idea to specify in the lease agreement what the tenant is responsible for in order to keep the rental unit in good condition. In select states, you can use Zillow Rental Manager to easily create, modify and sign a lease with your renter all online.

Whats included in a move-in checklist?

Our move-in checklist is organized with a separate section for each room within the rental property so you can easily walk through and inspect each item. The checklist includes:

• Inspection items broken down by room

• Columns to keep track of repair costs

• Extra fields to personalize the inspection for your propertys features

• Fields for your tenants forwarding address[es] so you can follow up if needed

• Signature lines for up to three tenants

Tip: If you have additional bedrooms or bathrooms, print extra copies of pages 2 or 3 from the download as needed.

How do you record the condition of a rental property?

With all the steps involved in filling your vacancy, its easy to overlook small things during the inspection. You can use the shorthand in the key below to note issues like the condition of the carpet, cracked bathroom tiles or marks on the wall.

Key and abbreviation:

Tip: You can log more detailed notes in the comments section below each room. Consider taking photos to attach with the form as well.

How do you get your property move-in ready?

There are a few things you may want to do to get your property ready for a new tenant, such as:

• Schedule professional services to make any needed repairs.
• Purchase any needed supplies, such as paint, lightbulbs or new blinds.
• Clean up the yard by mowing, raking and pruning overgrown plants.
• Wash the windows and repair any torn window screens.
• Change the air filters in the HVAC system.
• Re-key all the locks.

When welcoming your new tenant, its also a good idea to provide them with instructions on how to set up utilities, pay rent, get renters insurance and report maintenance issues. Stay organized during this busy time with Zillow Rental Manager, the easiest way to manage your listing, handle tenant applications and collect rent payments online.

Related forms:

• Move-out checklist
• Lease agreement
• Landlord notice to enter

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