The last week of a lease is when the deposit is won or lost. Most deductions come from two things: cleaning that was not done, and belongings that were left behind for the landlord to deal with.
Both are avoidable with a little planning. This checklist runs in the order that keeps the last day from becoming the hardest one.
Two weeks out: read the lease and decide what goes
Check the move-out terms in your lease: how much notice is needed, what condition the unit has to be returned in, and whether there is a required cleaning standard or a walk-through.
Then walk the unit and decide, item by item, what is coming with you. Anything that is not should be sold, donated or booked for removal now, while there is still time for each of those to happen.
One week out: clear everything that is not moving
Do not leave anything behind on the assumption the landlord will not mind. Furniture, mattresses, boxes and even a few bags of rubbish left in the unit, on the balcony or in the storage cage are commonly deducted from the deposit, along with the cost of removing them.
- Furniture, mattresses and bed frames you are not taking
- Anything in storage lockers, balconies, patios and parking spaces
- Items left in closets, cabinets, under sinks and in the freezer
- Old electronics and anything with a battery — these need their own disposal route
- Paint, cleaning chemicals and other hazardous products — these need a household hazardous waste program
The last days: clean in the order dirt falls
Work top to bottom and back to front: ceiling fans and light fittings, then cabinets and shelves, then counters and appliances, then floors last, finishing at the door.
The inside of the oven, the refrigerator and the dishwasher, the bathroom grout and the window tracks are the places a walk-through usually checks first.
Document the unit before you hand back the keys
Once it is empty and clean, photograph or video every room, including the inside of appliances, closets and cabinets, with the date visible. Keep these with your copy of the lease and the move-in condition report if you have one.
If there is a walk-through, attend it, and ask for anything the landlord points out in writing.
Getting rid of what you are not taking
If the timeline is tight, a removal crew can clear furniture, mattresses and boxes from inside the unit, including upstairs apartments and storage areas, in one visit. It is priced by how much of the truck the load fills, so booking it all at once costs less per item than several separate trips.
Book it for a day or two before your final clean, so the floors are clear when you need them.
