Restoring a Property at the End of the Lease: Tips for a Hassle-Free Move-Out

At the end of a lease, the tenant covers routine upkeep and the repairs they caused, while the owner covers major structural work and normal wear and tear. Move-out is a sensitive stage of long-term rental management, and it’s the move-out inspection report that settles who pays for what.

What falls to the tenant

The tenant must return the home in a condition similar to the one recorded when the keys were handed over. That includes some repairs that are their responsibility: cleaning floors and walls, filling holes, cleaning appliances, repairing small items like locks or faucets.

The law makes the tenant answerable for damage and losses that occur during the lease, unless they prove force majeure, fault by the owner or the act of a third party. If the home is returned in poor condition, you can claim compensation for the harm done, on top of the cost of restoring it.

What falls to the owner

The owner is responsible for major work and the structure of the home: urgent repairs, energy improvements, maintenance linked to normal wear and tear. Work needed to keep the home decent is also on the owner, as is the aging of the equipment.

The role of the move-out inspection report

At the end of the lease, a move-out inspection report is drawn up to compare the home’s initial condition with its condition when the keys are returned. If there’s damage or any difference, this report determines what the tenant owes. If a disagreement arises over this document, conciliation procedures let you settle it without going straight to court.

Preparing the move-out well

To limit nasty surprises on both sides:

• Document the move-in inspection report with photos, which will serve as a reference at move-out.
• Use a wear-and-tear schedule to tell normal aging from damage.
• Get quotes as soon as damage is noticed, before withholding anything from the security deposit.
• Ask from the start for the guarantees suited to the tenant’s profile: it lowers the risk of a contentious move-out.

Need a template to frame this inspection? Our free inspection report templates cover both furnished and unfurnished homes.