Handover protocol at move-in and move-out
Why landlords and tenants document condition, meters, and keys - and how it protects the deposit.
A handover protocol is the walk-through on paper: room-by-room notes, meter readings, keys handed over, and visible damage before furniture arrives or after it leaves. Courts and small-claims judges like contemporaneous records more than months-old texts.
What to capture
- Date, time, and names of everyone present
- Electric, gas, and water readings if tenants pay utilities
- Number of keys, fobs, and garage openers
- Scratches, stains, or broken fixtures - reference photos in an appendix if needed
Attach the protocol to your lease agreement. At move-out, compare against the move-in version before you negotiate deposit return.
Generate the PDF
Use the handover protocol generator, fill fields during the walk-through on a laptop or tablet, preview live, and download a PDF both parties can sign.