From the cradle to the grave: security deposit accounting begins at the inception of the tenancy.
Too many housing providers view security deposit accounting as some chore to comply with at the end of the tenancy when in fact, it begins with a walk-through to compare the property’s condition at move-in to its condition at move-out. Photos and videos are preferable to capture a snapshot of any existing damages or issues.
Both the landlord and the tenant should agree on the condition of each item on this checklist and this will go a long way to avoid costly disputes after the rental relationship has been severed.
