At the end of your tenancy, you'll make another inspection of the same items, noting their condition at move-out time. If items that were okay at move-in are now damaged, your landlord may hold you responsible for fixing them. But you'll be protected from being billed for damage that existed before you ever moved in.

Take Pictures

Besides completing a checklist, you may also want to document the condition of your unit with photographs or video. If you take photos, have doubles of them developed immediately, write the date they were taken on the backs, and send your landlord a set as soon as you get them back. That way your landlord won't be able to claim that the photos were taken later than they actually were.

If you can, use a camera that automatically date-stamps each photo. If you videotape the premises, clearly state the date and time while you are taping, make a copy and send it to your landlord right away. Repeat this process when moving out.