Rental move-in inspection checklist (Singapore): protect your deposit on day one
Most deposit disagreements at the end of a lease come down to one question: was that mark already there when you moved in? An hour spent recording the flat's condition on your first day is the best protection you have, for tenants and landlords alike.
Before you start
- Ask for the inventory list that comes with the tenancy agreement, if there is one. Check each item against it and note anything missing or damaged.
- Do it before you move your things in. An empty flat is much easier to photograph.
- Bring: your phone (charged), painter's tape and a marker, a phone charger to test sockets, and a bottle of water to test floor traps.
Room by room
Every room
- Walls and ceiling: marks, stains, holes from old nails or screws, cracks, peeling paint, water stains on the ceiling.
- Floor: scratches, chips, stains, lifting vinyl, cracked or loose tiles.
- Doors and windows: open, close and lock each one. Note scratches, sticking, broken handles or locks, torn insect screens.
- Lights, sockets and switches: test each one with a phone charger. Note anything that doesn't work.
- Aircon: run each unit for 10 minutes. Check it cools and doesn't drip. Ask when it was last serviced.
- Curtains and blinds: stains, tears, broken tracks or cords.
- Furniture (if furnished): every scratch, stain, wobble or broken part.
Kitchen
- Run the tap and look under the sink for leaks.
- Switch on the hob, hood, oven and fridge. Check the fridge seals and the inside of the oven.
- Open every cabinet door and drawer. Note chipped edges, loose hinges or water damage under the sink.
- Check the countertop for chips, burns and stains.
Bathrooms
- Flush the toilet and check the base for leaks.
- Run the shower and basin taps. Check the water heater.
- Pour water near the floor trap and check it drains.
- Look for mould on the silicone and grout, and cracks in the basin or tiles.
Service yard and household shelter
- Washing machine (if provided): run a short cycle and check for leaks.
- Drying rack and brackets.
- Shelter door: it should close and the handles turn.
How to record it so it counts later
- Number each issue on tape (#01, #02…) and photograph it close up and from further away, with the number in the shot.
- Write one list: number, room, what it is, exact spot. "Living room, wall behind TV, three nail holes" is far more useful than "wall marks".
- Take a short video walk-through of each room as well.
- Send the list and photos to the landlord or agent within the first few days, by email or message, and keep their reply. A dated message both sides have seen is your best record.
When you move out
Do the same walk-through, using the same list. Anything already on your move-in list wasn't caused by you. Normal wear and tear from everyday living is different from damage; talk it through with your landlord and check what your tenancy agreement says.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Your tenancy agreement sets out what you're responsible for.
Our app, KeyDay Kit, was built for BTO defect checks, and the same method works for rentals: room by room, numbered issues, photos you can mark up and one report. It's free to try at keydaykit.com.