When the obligations of the landlord and the tenant are not clear, tenant transitions can be stressful to manage. Before a tenant moves into a rental property, the landlord should ensure that everything in the property is in good shape and works well. On the other hand, tenants have the responsibility of issuing landlords with an intention to move notice before moving out of a rental unit.
This enables landlords to inspect the property before a tenant moves out. By doing so, landlords reduce damage costs and minimize any disputes that may arise over security deposits. A similar process should be adopted for new tenants to ensure that existing damages are documented.
The best way for property owners to manage the move-in and move-out processes is through the use of checklists. Move-in and move-out checklists enable landlords to maintain a proper record of damages in a property.
How Move-In Checklists Help Landlords and Tenants
In property management, checklists serve the interests of both the landlords and tenants.
Landlords who use them are able to keep tabs on the condition of their rental properties in an organized way. Using the checklists, property owners can document the current condition of their properties and capture any extraordinary damages that may occur. This makes it easy for them to demand accountability from tenants for any damage done on the property during the tenancy period.
For tenants, move-in checklists make it possible to objectively assess the condition of a rental property at the time of moving in. It also serves as an inventory of the damages that a property owner should improve or repair before the tenant moves in or during the tenancy.
If a legal dispute emerges, the checklist can be used as evidence. Upon inspection, a move-in checklist should be signed by both the landlord and the tenant. A copy should be given to the tenant or attached to the lease agreement.
Why Move-Out Checklists Are Necessary
A move-out checklist is important for both landlord and tenant to fill when the tenancy period comes to an end or when a tenant decides to move out. If the tenant has caused damages to the property during their stay, the landlord is able to document those damages on the move-out checklist and withhold a percentage of the security deposit to cater for the repairs. The checklist is used during the move-out inspection, which is best conducted jointly by the tenant and the property owner.
Once the inspection is completed, landlords should have the tenant sign the move-out checklist and add the date. By doing so, the two parties confirm their awareness of the documented damages. This makes it easy to prove who’s responsible for repairing them in case a dispute emerges.
Details of Move-In and Move-Out Checklists
Though there are many similarities between a move-in checklist and a move-out checklist, there is a very slight difference. As a rule of the thumb, each room in the property should have its own document and the names of specific items should be written in the spaces provided.
For instance, items such as lights, walls, windows, flooring, power outlets, and ceilings may be added to the living room list. On the other hand, in addition to the ones above, the kitchen list could have sinks, appliances, and cabinets. In addition to the item, the checklists should have space for high light repair costs.
At the bottom of the page, the checklists should have space for adding the postal address of the tenant signature spaces for the landlord or their agent and tenants. Landlords should focus on making each checklist as detailed as possible for better protection.
Mistakes to Avoid
Checklists make it easy for landlords to manage their properties, and the best way to complete them is during rental walkthroughs. To ensure that landlords and their tenants enjoy the benefits that come with using move-in and move-out checklists, it’s important that landlords communicate refund of the security deposit at the right time.
For instance, they should avoid informing tenants that their security deposit will not be refunded before completing the inspection on the rental property. Landlords should also share the move-out schedule to tenants in advance and include document changes in their fees.
Final Word
Landlords use move-in and move-out checklists interchangeably as tenants transition. When a tenant moves-out, landlords should seek professionals to fix any damages in the property and purchase the supplies required to get this done.
Once the property is ready, onboard your new tenants by conducting a checklist walkthrough and signing the lease agreement.
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