Inspection before move-out

Your landlord must write to you within a reasonable time after either of you gives notice to end your rental, or before your lease ends. The letter must say you can ask for an initial inspection (a check of the home before you leave) and be there for it. Ask for it. The inspection happens at a reasonable time, no earlier than 2 weeks before your rental or lease ends.

Your landlord must give you 48 hours' written notice of the inspection date and time, unless you both sign a paper giving up that notice. After the inspection, your landlord must give you a list of the repairs or cleaning it plans to charge you for, and why. You can then fix those items before you leave.

The initial inspection rule does not apply if your rental is ending under a 3-day notice. That notice can be for unpaid rent, breaking your lease, or a nuisance. It can also be for other serious misuse of the home.

Some Georgia landlords must inspect the home at move-out or give back the deposit. The rule covers a landlord who owns more than 10 rental units, or who uses a management agent. Units owned by the landlord’s spouse or children count. The landlord must inspect within 3 business days after the lease ends, or a reasonable time after finding out you left. The landlord must list all damage and its estimated dollar value. The landlord must sign the list and give it to you.

Your landlord may own more than 10 rental units or use a management agent. Then you may inspect the home within 5 business days after the lease ends. The handbook says you must sign the move-out list or write down the items you disagree with. If you agree with the damage on the list, you cannot contest the landlord keeping the deposit to cover it.

You have the right to inspect the home yourself to check if your landlord's move-out damage list is correct. When you and your landlord both sign the list, Kentucky law says your signatures count as final proof that the list is correct.

Before you move out, you can ask for a walk through inspection. The landlord must tell you in writing that you have this right. The inspection happens no earlier than 2 weeks before your lease ends. It gives you a chance to fix problems it finds, so the landlord does not take money out of your deposit for them.

If you ask for a move-out inspection, it must happen no earlier than 2 weeks and no later than 1 week before you move out. Your landlord must give you at least 48 hours' written notice of the date and time.

After the move-out inspection, your landlord must give you a list of any repairs or cleaning they plan to take out of your deposit. You then have until you move out to fix those items yourself.

Before you move out, you can ask the landlord to inspect the apartment with you. The landlord must tell you what needs fixing or cleaning. You can then fix those things before you leave. That protects your deposit.

In the 17 counties listed in the Legal Aid Society renter booklet, say you paid a deposit. Say your lease says you get it back if you did not break or mess up anything. When you are ready to move, do a walk-through with your landlord. A walk-through is a check of the home with your landlord. Set a time. Make a list of anything broken or messed up. Take pictures. You have 5 days to do this. The 5 days start on the day you move out.