Free West Virginia Move-In / Move-Out Checklist
A room-by-room move-in / move-out inspection checklist for West Virginia rentals. Document the unit’s condition at the start and end of the tenancy, then download a signable multi-page PDF. It is the evidence that protects the security deposit under W. Va. Code §37-6A-1 et seq.
A West Virginia move-in / move-out checklist is a written, room-by-room record of a rental unit’s condition captured at the start of the tenancy and again at the end. Its whole job is to protect the security deposit: the move-in record sets the baseline, the move-out record shows what changed, and the two together separate chargeable damage from non-chargeable ordinary wear and tear. Under W. Va. Code §37-6A-1 et seq., a West Virginia landlord must return the deposit, or deliver a written itemized statement of deductions, within 60 days after the tenancy ends or 45 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever is shorter. A signed checklist paired with date-stamped photos is the strongest evidence either side can carry into a deposit dispute.
West Virginia Deposit & Checklist at a Glance
Governing Law
W. Va. Code §37-6A
Return Deadline
60 Days / 45 If Re-Let
Itemization
Written, Required
Keep Records
4 Years Min
The Two-Pillar Documentation Standard
A defensible West Virginia 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 checklist alone reads as one person’s opinion; photographs alone are undated and unexplained. Captured together, they are the strongest possible defense against a dispute over the deposit. Always do both, at move-in and at move-out.
How to Use the Checklist
The move-in and the move-out inspection use the same form and the same room order. That is deliberate: when the two records line up item by item, anyone reading them can see at a glance what changed during the tenancy. Complete the move-in walk-through before the tenant takes possession, keep the signed baseline, then repeat the identical walk-through once the unit is empty at move-out.
1. Walk through together at move-in
Before the tenant takes possession, walk the unit room by room with the tenant present. Rate the condition of every surface, appliance, and fixture, and note any pre-existing wear so the tenant is not blamed for it later.
2. Rate each item and write specific notes
For each item choose Good, Fair, Poor, or N/A, then describe any Poor-rated item by exact location, such as a three-inch hole in the north living-room wall. Specific notes beat vague ones in a dispute.
3. Take date-stamped photos
Photograph every room and every Poor-rated item with the date visible. Photos without written descriptions are weak, and descriptions without photos are weak, so capture both together.
4. Sign and give both parties a copy
Have the landlord or agent and the tenant sign and date the move-in checklist, then keep a copy each. The signed baseline is the record you compare against at move-out.
5. Repeat the same walk-through at move-out
After the tenant returns possession, walk the same rooms in the same order using the same form, and compare each item against the signed move-in record to separate ordinary wear from chargeable damage.
6. Return the deposit or itemize on time
Under W. Va. Code §37-6A-1 and §37-6A-2, deliver the deposit minus deductions with a written itemized statement within 60 days after the tenancy ends or 45 days after a new tenant occupies, whichever is shorter.
Build Your West Virginia Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a printable, room-by-room West Virginia move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Use the Inspection Type selector to mark whether this is the move-in, an interim pre-move-out walk-through, or the final move-out. Walk the property with the tenant where possible, rate each item, and take date-stamped photos for every room. If you are also placing a new renter, pair the checklist with thorough move-in condition documentation and a completed West Virginia deposit itemization at 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). Describe every Poor-rated item in the Detailed Notes box below and photograph it.
4. Photo Documentation
Date-stamped photos are the second pillar of any defensible deposit claim. Photograph each room and each Poor-rated item, then retain the images for at least four years in a dated cloud backup.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. A tenant signature acknowledges the accuracy of the inspection findings; it is not a waiver of any legal right.
Move-In vs. Move-Out: What Changes
The two inspections share one form but answer two different questions. The move-in inspection asks: what condition is the unit in before the tenant occupies it? Everything you record here is the baseline. Any wear that already exists, whether a scuffed floorboard or a chipped counter, must be captured now, because anything not documented at move-in is presumed to have been fine when the tenant arrived. Complete this walk-through with the tenant present, before keys change hands, and have both parties sign it.
The move-out inspection asks the opposite: what condition is the unit in after the tenant leaves, and what changed? Walk the same rooms in the same order, rate the same items, and set the move-out record next to the signed move-in record. Only differences that go beyond ordinary wear and tear are chargeable to the deposit. West Virginia does not require a landlord to offer a pre-move-out inspection, but the Pre-Move-Out option on this form exists for a reason: an interim walk-through a couple of weeks before the tenant vacates lets them fix small problems and heads off most disputes before they start.
What to Look for in Each Room
Consistency is what makes a checklist persuasive, so rate every item on the same Good, Fair, Poor, or N/A scale in both inspections. A few room-specific pointers:
- Living room and bedrooms: Check walls