Free Idaho Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
A room-by-room move-in and move-out inspection checklist built for Idaho. Document the unit at the start and end of the tenancy, then download a signable multi-page PDF. Aligned to Idaho Code 6-321 and the 21-day deposit return rule.
An Idaho move-in / move-out inspection checklist is a written, room-by-room record of a rental’s condition at the start of the tenancy and again at the end. Under Idaho Code 6-321, that documentation is the evidence that separates deductible damage from non-deductible ordinary wear and tear — and it is what backs up the signed itemized statement the landlord must provide with any deduction. Complete the same checklist twice: once at move-in to set the baseline, once at move-out to compare. A signed checklist plus date-stamped photos is the single strongest protection for the security deposit on both sides, and it feeds directly into Idaho’s return clock: twenty-one days by default, or up to thirty days only where the rental agreement fixes a longer time.
Idaho Move-Out at a Glance
Default Return
21 Days
Maximum
30 Days (If Lease Fixes It)
Governing Statute
Idaho Code 6-321
Keep Records
4 Years Min
Wear-and-Tear vs. Damage — the Distinction That Decides the Deposit
Ordinary wear and tear is NOT deductible from an Idaho security deposit — the statute itself bars retaining any part of the deposit to cover it. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in walking paths, small scuff marks at door knobs, and minor nail holes from hanging pictures are wear and tear. Damage beyond ordinary use IS deductible: large holes, carpet stains or burns, broken fixtures, pet urine damage, and smoke damage. Idaho Code 6-321 treats wear and tear as deterioration from intended use without negligence, carelessness, accident, or misuse — so the move-in checklist establishes what was already there and a tenant is not charged at move-out for a condition that pre-dated the tenancy. Document both conditions with photos so the distinction is provable.
How to Use This Move-In / Move-Out Checklist
1. Document the move-in baseline
Within the first few days of the tenancy, walk the unit room by room with the tenant present, rate the condition of every surface, appliance, and fixture, and record specific notes. This baseline is what every later inspection is compared against.
2. Take the move-in photos
Take date-stamped move-in photographs — a wide shot of each room plus close-ups of any existing defect — and store the originals in a dated cloud backup. Idaho does not require photos by statute, but they are the strongest evidence in a deposit dispute.
3. Offer a joint move-out walk-through
Idaho imposes no pre-move-out inspection duty, but offering the tenant a joint walk-through before final move-out lets deficiencies be identified and cured, which sharply reduces disputes over the deposit.
4. Run the final move-out inspection
After the tenant returns possession, walk the same checklist again — before any cleaning or repair — and rate each item. Compare against the move-in record to separate ordinary wear and tear from chargeable damage.
5. Take the move-out and post-repair photos
Photograph the unit after return of possession and again after any repair or cleaning behind a deduction. Retain all photos for at least four years and provide them to the tenant with the deposit accounting.
6. Return the deposit or send the itemized statement
Refund the full deposit within twenty-one days — or within thirty days if the lease fixes a longer time. If you keep any part of it, include a signed statement itemizing each amount retained, its purpose, and a detailed list of expenditures under Idaho Code 6-321.
7. Sign, deliver, and retain
Have both parties sign the checklist where possible, give the tenant a copy, and keep the signed checklist, photos, and receipts for at least four years to support any future dispute.
Build Your Idaho Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a room-by-room Idaho move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Choose the inspection type (move-in, joint pre-move-out walk-through, or final move-out), rate each item, and add detailed notes for anything marked Poor. Pair every walk-through with date-stamped photos. When you are done, download the signable PDF and give the tenant a copy. If you are also placing a new renter, start with thorough tenant screening — the cleanest move-outs come from tenants screened carefully at move-in.
1. Parties & Tenancy
2. Rental Property
3. Room-by-Room Condition
For each item choose Good (no defects), Fair (minor wear), Poor (visible damage), or N/A (not present). Describe every Poor-rated item in the detailed notes below and document it with a photo.
4. Photo Documentation
Photos are your strongest evidence. Idaho does not require them by statute, but date-stamped photos taken before and after each inspection are what win deposit disputes. Retain them for at least four years and provide them to the tenant with any deduction accounting.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. A tenant signature acknowledges the recorded condition — it is not a waiver of any legal right.