Pre-inspection before move-out: write the list, record the handover
How to use a walk-through a few weeks before move-out, so the tenant fixes a lot themselves.
Ask the tenant for a pre-inspection a few weeks before move-out, write a clear list and separate damage from normal wear. The pre-inspection does not replace the handover, where you record the condition that counts.
What goes on the pre-inspection list?
The clearer each point is, the more the tenant will fix before they move out.
- 1
The room and the exact spot
Say exactly where each point is, so the tenant can find it.
- 2
What you expect
Say what the tenant should do: repair, remove, clean or repaint.
- 3
Damage, not normal wear
Normal wear does not belong on the list of jobs.
- 4
Repainting only with a valid clause
You can ask for repainting only if the lease has a valid clause on Schönheitsreparaturen (cosmetic repairs such as repainting).
- 5
A line that the list is provisional
Add one line saying that the list is provisional and that the condition at the handover is what counts.
- 6
The handover date
Add the date and time of the actual handover.
Why this matters
The six-month period for your damage claims starts when the flat is returned (§ 548 BGB), and the condition on that day is what counts. A good pre-inspection makes the handover shorter. But you can only base your settlement on the handover itself.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make the tenant agree to a pre-inspection?
No, a pre-inspection is voluntary. Most tenants agree once you explain the benefit: they can fix things themselves, and cheaply, before they move out.
Do I lose claims that are not on the pre-inspection list?
You do not lose those claims if you mark the list as provisional. At the handover, record everything you see on that day.
Is the pre-inspection enough if the tenant does not turn up for the handover?
No, the pre-inspection is not enough. Record the condition on the day the flat is returned anyway, because only that condition counts.
Also in this topic: Organising a Wohnungsbesichtigung: landlord rulesProving damage with photos: what landlords need at handoverDeadlines at a change of tenant: landlord table
Is your tenant moving out soon?
Walk through the flat with your tenant beforehand and record every room at the handover. BildProof guides you through the flat and creates a structured condition report you can compare with move-in.
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