Free Washington, D.C. Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
A room-by-room condition checklist for documenting a Washington, D.C. rental at the start and end of the tenancy. It is the evidence that protects the security deposit under 14 DCMR §309 — where the landlord has 45 days to return with interest or notify. Fill it out and download a signable multi-page PDF.
A Washington, D.C. move-in / move-out inspection checklist is a written, room-by-room record of the rental unit’s condition at the start of the tenancy and again at the end. It is the single most important document in any security-deposit dispute: paired with date-stamped photos, it distinguishes deductible tenant damage from non-deductible ordinary wear and tear. Under 14 DCMR §309 and D.C. Official Code §42-3502.17, a D.C. landlord has 45 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit with any interest due or give written notice of an intent to withhold, the deposit itself is capped at one month’s rent, and bad-faith withholding can cost three times the amount at issue. Fill in the form below to generate a printable, signable checklist you can use for the move-in walkthrough and again at move-out.
D.C. Deposit & Checklist at a Glance
Governing Rules
14 DCMR §§308–311 · D.C. Code §42-3502.17
Return / Notify
45 Days (+30 to itemize)
Deposit Cap
1 Month’s Rent + Interest
Keep Records
4 Years Min
Wear-and-Tear vs. Damage — the Distinction This Checklist Proves
Ordinary wear and tear is NOT chargeable against the deposit in the District. Faded paint, minor carpet wear in walking paths, small scuff marks near door knobs, and small nail holes are typically wear and tear. Damage beyond ordinary use IS chargeable: large holes in walls, carpet stains or burns, broken fixtures, pet urine damage, smoke damage, missing items, and unauthorized alterations. Recording condition at both move-in and move-out, with photos, is what makes the distinction provable.
How to Use the Washington, D.C. Move-In / Move-Out Checklist
1. Walk the unit together at move-in
Before the tenant takes possession, walk every room together, rate each item Good, Fair, Poor, or N/A, and note every existing defect. This baseline is what proves a condition was pre-existing and not tenant-caused.
2. Photograph every room and defect
Take date-stamped photos of each room and every Poor-rated item. Photos without written notes are weak, and notes without photos are weak; together they are the strongest evidence in a deposit dispute.
3. Both parties sign and keep a copy
Have the landlord and tenant sign the completed move-in checklist and each retain a copy. A signed, two-party record carries far more weight than a checklist one side filled out alone.
4. Offer a joint pre-move-out walk-through
The District does not require a statutory pre-move-out inspection, but offering the tenant an interim walk-through and a written list of deficiencies that could be deducted lets them cure the items and avoid the charges. It is a best practice, not a legal mandate — and it heads off most disputes.
5. Repeat the walk-through at move-out
Using the same checklist, rate and photograph every item again after the tenant returns the keys. Compare against the move-in record to separate ordinary wear and tear from chargeable damage.
6. Return with interest or notify within 45 days
Under 14 DCMR §309, within 45 days after the tenancy ends, return the deposit with any interest due or give written notice of intent to withhold. If you withhold, deliver an itemized statement and refund the balance within 30 days after that notice.
Build Your Washington, D.C. Checklist
Complete the fields below to generate a room-by-room Washington, D.C. move-in / move-out inspection checklist as a multi-page PDF. Use the same form for the move-in walkthrough (establishes baseline condition) and the move-out walkthrough (documents condition at the end of tenancy). Conduct both with the tenant present whenever possible, and pair both with date-stamped photographs. If you are also placing a new renter, begin with thorough tenant screening so the person taking possession is a documented, verified applicant from day one.
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 notes 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. Retain photos for at least four years in a dated cloud backup.
5. Signatures
Both parties should sign and retain a copy. Tenant signature acknowledges the accuracy of the inspection findings (it is not a waiver of legal rights).
Why the Washington, D.C. Move-In / Move-Out Checklist Matters
The Washington, D.C. move-in / move-out inspection process is anchored to D.C. Official Code §42-3502.17 and the Housing Regulations at 14 DCMR §§308–311, which govern security deposits and the return of the deposit at the end of a tenancy. The written checklist is the documentary spine of that process. It establishes the baseline condition at move-in, creates a contemporaneous record at each later inspection, and supplies the evidence for any deduction the landlord claims. Without it, a deposit dispute usually collapses into one party’s word against the other’s — and the party without documentation generally loses.
The checklist protects both sides. For the landlord, it documents that observed damage was caused during the tenancy (and is therefore deductible) rather than pre-existing (and not deductible). For the tenant, it proves that the landlord cannot reach into the deposit for conditions that existed before the tenant ever occupied the unit. A well-documented move-in checklist is the most effective defense against unfair deductions, whichever side you are on. That is also why thorough documentation at move-in matters even mo