Example
On September 1, 2026, a tenant and landlord walk the unit and note a 2-inch scratch on the bedroom door, a stain on the hall carpet and a chipped bathroom tile, and both sign the list. At move-out, those three items cannot be charged against the $1,500 deposit, while a new hole in the living-room wall can. Photos with the date on them settle the arguments the list does not.
In a lease it looks like…
Tenant and Landlord shall complete and sign a move-in condition checklist within three days of move-in. Items not noted on the checklist are presumed to be in good condition at the start of the tenancy.
By state
Several states require a written move-in condition report when a landlord takes a deposit, including Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Washington, and skipping it can cost the landlord the right to keep any of the deposit for damage.
Plain English, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.