Free Montana Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
A room-by-room inspection checklist for documenting a Montana rental at the start and end of a tenancy. Record every item, take date-stamped photos, then download a signable multi-page PDF. Protects the deposit under Mont. Code §70-25-202.
A Montana move-in / move-out inspection checklist is the foundational record for any security-deposit dispute. It documents the condition of the rental unit room by room at the start of the tenancy and again at move-out, so a landlord can separate tenant-caused damage from ordinary wear and tear. Under Mont. Code §70-25-202, the landlord must refund the deposit within 10 days when no deductions are taken, or deliver a written list of charges with the balance within 30 days when deductions are made. Montana goes a step further than most states: §70-25-206 requires a written statement of condition at move-in, which makes this signed checklist legally indispensable rather than merely good practice.
Montana Deposit Documentation at a Glance
Document Type
Condition Inventory
Return Deadline
10 / 30 Days
Deadline Statute
§70-25-202
Keep Records
4 Years Min
Wear-and-Tear vs. Damage — the Critical Distinction
Ordinary wear and tear is NOT chargeable against the deposit in Montana. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in traffic lanes, small nail holes, and light scuffing at door knobs are wear and tear. Damage beyond ordinary use IS chargeable: large holes, carpet stains or burns, broken fixtures, pet-urine damage, smoke damage, and missing items. The move-in and move-out ratings, backed by photos, are the record that makes the distinction provable — and under §70-25-201 the landlord carries the burden of proving that a charge is damage, not wear.
How to Complete the Montana Checklist
1. Fill in the parties, property, and inspection type
Enter the landlord and tenant names, the property address, city, county, tenancy dates, and whether this is the move-in, an interim pre-move-out, or the final move-out. Use the same form for both walk-throughs so the two records line up item for item.
2. Walk the unit and rate every item
Go room by room and rate every surface, fixture, and appliance Good, Fair, Poor, or N/A. Do the walk-through with the other party present whenever possible so the record is jointly agreed and harder to dispute later.
3. Describe every Poor-rated item
In the notes field, describe each defect by exact location — a three-inch hole in the north living-room wall near the outlet beats a single rating box. Specific descriptions are what separate damage from wear and tear.
4. Photograph every room
Take date-stamped photos of each room and every Poor-rated item at the same inspection. The written checklist and the photos are the two pillars of a defensible position; neither alone is as strong as both together.
5. Sign and generate the PDF
Have both parties sign, generate the multi-page PDF, and give each person a copy. In Montana the move-in signed record satisfies the §70-25-206 condition-statement requirement, so it is legally indispensable, not optional.
6. Repeat at move-out and compare
Run the identical walk-through when the tenant returns possession, then compare each item against the move-in record to separate new damage from pre-existing conditions and ordinary wear before any deduction is taken.
7. Return or account for the deposit on time
Refund within 10 days if no deductions, or deliver a written itemized list with the balance within 30 days under §70-25-202. Keep the signed checklist and photos for at least four years.
Build Your Montana Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a printable, room-by-room Montana move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Use the same form for the move-in walk-through (which establishes baseline condition and satisfies the Montana condition-statement requirement) and again for the move-out walk-through. Both should be done with the tenant present where possible and paired with date-stamped photographs. If you are also placing a new renter, pair this with a thorough move-in condition report.
The Two-Pillar Documentation Standard
A defensible deposit deduction rests on two pieces of evidence: (1) this written room-by-room checklist signed by both parties, and (2) date-stamped photographs of the same items at the same time. The written checklist alone can be called vague; photographs without descriptions can be challenged. Together they are the strongest possible defense. Always do both, at both move-in and move-out.
1. Parties & Tenancy
2. Property
3. Room-by-Room Condition
For each item select Good (no defects), Fair (minor wear), Poor (visible damage), or N/A (not present). Document any Poor-rated item in the notes field below and photograph it.
Living Room
Kitchen
Bedroom(s)
Bathroom(s)
Common Areas / Exterior / Other
4. Photo Documentation
Date-stamped photos are the second pillar of any defensible deposit claim. Photograph each room AND each Poor-rated item. Retain the photos for at least four years in a dated cloud backup.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. The tenant’s signature acknowledges the accuracy of the inspection findings; it is not a waiver of legal rights.