Move out inspection

[Jeff Gates]

Can the tenant be charged for this?

I know the landlord must supply a list of deductions from a deposit.

However the move out inspection is optional, I believe. Any comments?

Can the tenant be charged for this?

[Daria B.]

I've never charged outgoing tenants for a move out inspection. I've actually never heard anyone do this. It seems this is part of the business, inspect prior to move in, some have intra inspections, and then the move out.

Inspections are however you want to schedule them. Some will give the paper to the tenant and tell them to fill it out and return it with any issues noted that will be fixed. If they don't, when they move out then if anything is broken they are charged. That is risky and I don't do that. I have my PM do move in/move out inspections and the tenant still has to fill out an inspection form within one week of them taking possession.

[Gail K.]

The requirement for move out inspections will vary from state to state and can even depend on the number of rental properties a landlord owns.   I've found that a fair number of my tenants just leave at the end of the lease, knowing they are leaving damages above normal wear and tear and/or dirt behind and seem willing to give up their security deposit just to avoid facing a walk through.   

I've always thought that strange since every place I've lived in as a tenant I scrubbed clean at move out; both to get my security deposit back and because I'd be ashamed to leave a rental unit filthy,

It's important to understand that even if an inspection is required within a certain number of days after move out, these states still give a landlord a certain number of days to provide the departing tenant with information regarding the status of their security deposit.  It is not unusual that even after this walk through further damage above normal wear and tear may be discovered that will reflect a reduced return of the security deposit.

Gail

[Robert Melcher]

In Texas the PM/landlord has to respond to the outgoing tenant within 30 days, IF:

The tenant left in good standing, provided proper notice, provided a forwarding address, and surrendered all access devices (keys, remotes).

We do one anyway and send the statement (and any check for deposit return) to the forwarding address or last known address.  Always within the 30 days.

Full photo survey before they take possession, date-stamped, and full photo survey with the move-out-inspections. Plus we scan and store the move-in condition form that they are asked to fill out when they take possession.  No secrets, documented proof of condition, and evidence to send in response to any gripes about the money we hold back for damages.

I also recommend an UNACCOMPANIED inspection.  Its hard to be objective when some angry person is telling you "That was there when we moved in!" while you try to document the crayon art, pee stains, and holes in the wall....

[Jeff Gates]

Can the tenant be charged for this?

[Eric G.]

The answer to your question is yes. You can do almost anything within reason if the tenant agrees to it upfront in the lease and signs off on it. If it wasn't agreed to upfront I don't recommend charging. 

[Jeff Gates]

Originally posted by @Eric G.:

The answer to your question is yes. You can do almost anything within reason if the tenant agrees to it upfront in the lease and signs off on it. If it wasn't agreed to upfront I don't recommend charging. 

 Great answer, thank-you!