Move-out checklist to protect your security deposit

The last week of a lease is when a deposit is won or lost. Work through this move-out checklist, and finish with dated photos of every room.

Updated October 19, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules about rentals differ by state, province and city, so check yours.

Walk the whole place and photograph it as it is. This clip: the side of a house after a branch came down.

Weeks before

Reread your lease for notice rules and move-out conditions.
Give written notice in the way and by the date your lease requires. Keep a copy.
Ask your landlord whether there is a walk-through, and request a date.
Find your move-in photos and condition form.

Clean as the lease expects

Remove all your belongings and trash.
Clean floors, counters, sinks, tub, toilet and mirrors.
Wipe out the oven, fridge, cabinets and closets.
Fill small nail holes only if your lease allows it and you can do it neatly. Ask first if you are unsure.
Replace burned-out bulbs and missing smoke alarm batteries you removed.

Photograph every room, from the move-in angles

When the place is empty and clean, photograph each room, wall, floor, appliance interior and closet. Match your move-in angles so differences are easy to see. Include anything outside you were responsible for. Our guide to security deposit photos shows how to organize them.

Return keys and ask for it in writing

Return all keys and ask for a signed receipt, or send an email saying when and how you returned them. Give your forwarding address in writing so the deposit statement reaches you.

If charges show up

Compare each charge to your photos and your move-in record. Ask for an itemized statement if you did not get one. Normal wear is different from damage; see normal wear and tear vs damage. Check your state's rules on timing and itemizing, since they differ.

In Dingkeep. Use your Dingkeep record to line up move-in and move-out photos by date, and use the dated note to tell your landlord about anything that showed up along the way.

Dingkeep: Renter Photo Record. iPhone, United States and Canada.

Questions renters ask

When should I take my move-out photos?

After you finish cleaning and remove your belongings, and before you return the keys.

Should I be there for the landlord's walk-through?

If you can, yes. Photograph the place the same day in case you disagree later about what the walk-through found.

Do I need to repair damage before I leave?

Check your lease. Normal wear is generally not charged to a renter, but real damage may be. Document the condition either way.