Free Chicago Move-In / Move-Out Checklist (RLTO)
A room-by-room move-in and move-out condition checklist for Chicago rentals under the RLTO. Document the unit at move-in and again at move-out, then download a signable multi-page PDF. Under Chicago Municipal Code 5-12-080 the deposit must be returned within 45 days, and this record is how you protect it.
A Chicago move-in / move-out checklist is a room-by-room record of a rental unit’s condition at the start and end of a tenancy, used to settle the security deposit fairly under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO). Under Chicago Municipal Code Section 5-12-080, a landlord must return the security deposit and any interest within 45 days after the tenant vacates, and must deliver an itemized statement of any damage deductions within 30 days. Routine cleaning and ordinary wear and tear are generally not chargeable. A checklist that both parties sign at move-in, repeat at move-out, and back with time-stamped photos is the single strongest piece of evidence in a Chicago deposit dispute.
Chicago RLTO Deposit Rules at a Glance
Deposit Return
Within 45 Days
Itemized Statement
Within 30 Days
Deposit Interest
Paid Annually
Governing Law
RLTO 5-12-080
Ordinary Wear and Tear vs. Chargeable Damage — the Critical Distinction
Ordinary wear and tear is NOT chargeable against the deposit under the RLTO, and neither is routine cleaning to ready the unit for the next tenant. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in traffic lanes, small nail holes, and light scuffing are wear and tear. Damage beyond ordinary use IS chargeable: stains, holes larger than one inch, broken fixtures, pet damage, and smoke damage. Mark both the move-in condition and the move-out condition on the checklist and photograph everything, so the distinction is provable if a deduction is contested.
How to Use the Checklist to Protect Your Deposit
1. Complete the move-in walkthrough before keys change hands
Walk the unit together at or before move-in, mark the condition of every surface, appliance, and fixture, and note any pre-existing damage. Take time-stamped photos of each room. Under the RLTO this record is the tenant’s proof of the unit’s starting condition.
2. Both parties sign and keep a copy
Have the landlord and every tenant sign and date the move-in checklist, and each side keeps a signed copy. A signed, dated checklist is far stronger evidence than a one-sided form filled out by only one party.
3. Do a final move-out walkthrough
On or right after the day the tenant vacates, repeat the same room-by-room walk, mark the move-out condition next to the move-in condition, and photograph everything again. Confirm all keys, remotes, and access devices are returned.
4. Separate ordinary wear and tear from chargeable damage
Compare the two columns. Ordinary wear and tear and routine cleaning are not chargeable under the RLTO; only damage beyond normal use may be deducted, and only with an itemized statement and receipts.
5. Track the RLTO deposit deadlines
A Chicago landlord must return the deposit and any interest within 45 days after the tenant vacates. If any amount is withheld for damage, an itemized statement of damages is due within 30 days, followed by paid receipts.
6. Retain the signed record and receipts
Keep the signed move-in and move-out checklist, all room photos, and any repair receipts. The record supports or defends any deposit deduction and any RLTO claim brought in Cook County Circuit Court.
Build Your Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a room-by-room Chicago move-in / move-out checklist as a multi-page PDF. Walk the unit with the other party where possible, mark the condition at move-in, repeat the walk at move-out, and take time-stamped photos of every room. The checklist is strongest when both parties sign and photos are attached. If you are also placing a new renter, pair it with a thorough move-in condition report and keep a copy alongside your security deposit itemization at move-out.
1. Parties
2. Rental Property
3. Living Room / Common Area
4. Kitchen
5. Bedroom(s)
6. Bathroom(s)
7. Systems, Exterior / Other Areas
8. Keys, Remotes, and Other Items Provided
9. Signatures — Move-In
10. Signatures — Move-Out
Why the Checklist Matters Under the RLTO
A move-in / move-out checklist is a room-by-room record of a rental unit’s condition, taken once when the tenant takes possession and again when they leave. In Chicago it does one job better than any other document: it protects the security deposit. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance governs almost every rental relationship in the city, and it decides deposit disputes on evidence of condition, not on either side’s memory. When both parties sign the checklist at move-in and repeat it at move-out, backed by dated photos, the question “was this damage there before, or is it wear and tear?” has a documented answer. Without that record, disputes come down to credibility, and the party with photos usually wins.
The checklist is equally valuable to landlords and tenants. For a tenant, it is proof that the scuffed floor or cracked tile existed on day one, so it cannot be charged at move-out. For a landlord, it is proof that a hole in the wall or a broken appliance is genuine, tenant-caused damage that supports a lawful deduction with an itemized statement. Complete it together, in person, at both ends of the tenancy whenever possible.
Chicago Security Deposit Deadlines (RLTO Section 5-12-080)
The reason the checklist is worth doing carefully is that Chicago’s deposit rules are strict and the penalties are real. Under Chicago Municipal Code Section 5-12-080:
- 45-day return: A landlord must return the security deposit, plus any interest owed, within 45 days after the tenant vacates the unit.
- 30-day itemized statement: If the landlord withholds any part of the deposit for damage, they must deliver or mail an itemized statement of the damages to the tenant’s last known address within 30 days after the tenant vacates, together with paid receipts, or an estimate followed by paid receipts within 30 days of that estimate.
- Deductions are limited: A landlord may deduct only for unpaid rent and for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear. Routine cleaning to prepare the unit for the next tenant is generally not a valid deduction.
- Penalty for violation: A landlord who fails to comply can be liable for damages equal to two times the security deposit, plus the deposit itself, interest, and the tenant’s court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Separately, Section 5-12-081 requires landlords who hold security deposits to pay interest on them each year at a rate the City Comptroller announces annually. Because the 45-day and 30-day clocks both run from the day the tenant vacates, doing the move-out walkthrough promptly and dating it clearly is not just good practice, it fixes the start of the deadlines. If a landlord misses them, the completed checklist and photos are exactly the evidence a tenant needs to pursue the statutory penalty. For the underlying statewide framework, see our state lease agreements library.
Chicago vs. Cook County vs. Illinois
The RLTO covers rental units within the City of Chicago, with a notable exemption for owner-occupied buildings of six or fewer units. Rentals in suburban Cook County outside the city are instead covered by the Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (RTLO), effective 2021, which carries parallel deposit protections. Elsewhere in Illinois, the state Security Deposit Return Act and Security Deposit Interest Act apply to larger buildings. Confirm which ordinance governs your unit, but in all three the move-in / move-out checklist plays the same evidentiary role.
Ordinary Wear and Tear vs. Damage in Chicago
The single most contested question at move-out is what counts as ordinary wear and tear versus chargeable damage. Wear and tear is the expected decline of a unit from normal living, and under the RLTO it can never be charged to the deposit. Damage is harm beyond that normal use. The checklist exists to make the line provable, room by room.
- Wear and tear (not chargeable): faded or slightly scuffed paint, minor carpet wear in traffic lanes, small nail or tack holes, loose grout, minor appliance wear, and normal dirt that routine cleaning addresses.
- Damage (may be chargeable): large or numerous holes, deep stains or burns, broken windows or fixtures, pet urine damage, unapproved paint colors, missing hardware, and anything requiring repair or replacement rather than cleaning.
Two rules resolve most disputes. First, routine cleaning is not damage: a landlord generally cannot charge a departing tenant for the ordinary cleaning that every turnover requires. Second, document both ends: a condition noted as “Fair” or “Poor” at move-in cannot be charged as new damage at move-out. That is precisely why the checklist has a move-in column and a move-out column side by side.
Documentation Best Practices
- Walk through together. Both landlord and tenant present at move-in and move-out makes a signed checklist far stronger than a one-sided form.
- Photograph everything. Time-stamped photos or video for every room, wall, floor, and appliance, at both move-in and move-out.
- Be specific in notes. “Small nail hole three inches above the light switch on the east wall” beats “minor damage.”
- Record pre-existing issues at move-in. Note faded paint or worn carpet on day one so the tenant is not blamed at move-out.
- Date the move-out walkthrough. The RLTO 45-day and 30-day clocks run from when the tenant vacates, so a clear date matters.
- Give a forwarding address. Tenants should provide a forwarding address so the deposit refund or itemized statement can be delivered.
- Keep records for several years. Retain the signed checklist, photos, and receipts long after move-out; deposit disputes can surface months later.
Bottom line
In Chicago, the move-in / move-out checklist is the document that protects your security deposit. Complete it room by room at move-in, sign it, repeat it at move-out with dated photos, and keep a copy. Under RLTO Section 5-12-080 the deposit and interest are due within 45 days, an itemized statement of any damage deductions within 30 days, and routine cleaning and ordinary wear and tear are not chargeable. A signed, photographed checklist is the strongest evidence you can bring to a deposit dispute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a move-in checklist required in Chicago?
Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) does not mandate one universal form, but it strongly protects tenants who document condition, and it requires the landlord to disclose known code violations and the unit’s condition. A signed move-in checklist with photos is the tenant’s primary proof of the starting condition, and it is the single best tool for defending the security deposit at move-out. Complete it at or before move-in and keep a signed copy.
How long does a Chicago landlord have to return my security deposit?
Under RLTO Section 5-12-080, a Chicago landlord must return the security deposit, plus any required interest, within 45 days after the tenant vacates the unit. Missing that deadline exposes the landlord to damages of two times the deposit plus the deposit itself, interest, and the tenant’s attorney fees and costs.
How long does a landlord have to send an itemized statement of deductions?
If a Chicago landlord withholds any part of the deposit for damage, Section 5-12-080 requires an itemized statement of the damages, delivered or mailed to the tenant’s last known address, within 30 days after the tenant vacates. The landlord must also furnish paid receipts, or an estimate followed by paid receipts within 30 days of the estimate. The move-in / move-out checklist is what the tenant uses to challenge an unjustified deduction.
Can my Chicago landlord charge me for routine cleaning?
Generally no. Under the RLTO a landlord may deduct for unpaid rent and for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, but routine cleaning to ready the unit for the next tenant is normally not a valid deduction. Documenting a clean, undamaged unit at move-out on the checklist, with photos, is how a tenant rebuts an improper cleaning charge.
Does a move-in / move-out checklist actually protect my deposit?
Yes. A deposit dispute usually comes down to what condition the unit was in at move-in versus move-out, and who can prove it. A checklist that both parties signed at move-in, repeated at move-out, and backed by time-stamped photos converts a he-said-she-said argument into documented evidence. It is the strongest single record you can bring to an RLTO deposit claim in Cook County Circuit Court or to negotiate a return.
When should the move-out inspection happen?
Do the move-out walkthrough on the day the tenant vacates or immediately after, before the unit is cleaned or repaired, so the record shows the true condition the tenant left. That timing also starts the RLTO clock cleanly: the 45-day deposit return and any 30-day itemized statement both run from when the tenant vacates.
Do I need photos with the checklist?
Yes. Take time-stamped photos or video of every room, wall, floor, and appliance at both move-in and move-out. Photos corroborate the written condition marks, prove pre-existing damage was noted at move-in, and are decisive when a deduction is contested. Attach or file the photos with the signed checklist.
Do Chicago security deposits earn interest, and does the RLTO cover my building?
Yes, RLTO Section 5-12-081 requires landlords to pay interest on security deposits at a rate the City Comptroller sets each year. The RLTO covers most Chicago rental units, but owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units are largely exempt. Rentals in suburban Cook County outside the city are instead covered by the Cook County RTLO, which has parallel deposit protections.
Start every tenancy with thorough screening
A move-in / move-out checklist protects both parties, but screening tenants thoroughly upfront prevents most deposit disputes from ever happening. Tenant Screening Background Check has been verifying renters since 2004 — credit, eviction filings, criminal background, and employment — across all 50 states and DC.
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