What should I check and document when I move into a rental?

Do the inspection before you unpack. Go room by room. Check walls, floors, carpet, windows, screens, doors and locks, every appliance, faucets and drains, the toilet, outlets, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Write down every scratch, stain, and broken item, no matter how small.

Take dated photos and video of every room, including inside the oven, fridge, and cabinets. Fill out a written checklist and ask the landlord to sign it. Keep a copy. Send the list by email so you have a time stamp. Ask in writing for repairs to anything that doesn't work.

Some states have strict rules about this. In Massachusetts, a landlord who takes a deposit must give you a signed statement of condition within 10 days. You have 15 days to add damage you find, or a court may treat the list as accurate. California's Department of Real Estate publishes a free inventory checklist. Check your state's rules at hud.gov/states. Use the same checklist again when you move out.

Source: Mass.gov, Learn about paying a security deposit; California Department of Real Estate, Landlords' and Tenants' Rights Guide: Inventory Checklists · Checked October 2026