You must return the security deposit if they come back at some point in the future to obtain it. However, not providing a forwarding address doesn’t mean they forfeit their rights. The tenant must provide a forwarding address for the landlord to be required to return the security deposit. If you need to make repairs that warrant keeping all or part of the security deposit, you must provide the tenant with a description of the damages and the charge for the repair. Landlords must follow Texas Landlord-tenant law by returning a tenant’s security deposit on or before 30 days after the tenant moves out. However, you may be able to keep security deposit money for tenant-caused damages. You cannot keep the security deposit for routine wear and tear tasks or for long-term property improvements. Then the third category of items are those that are caused by the tenant. Other items will focus on the long-term maintenance of the property. Some items will be standard cleaning and refreshing to prepare the property for the next tenant. Once you have completed the walk-through, you can create a task list for the property. Should the tenant question your property assessment, you can provide them with the agreed-upon condition on your checklist sheet. It also minimizes the amount of paperwork you have to keep track of. This makes it simple to compare the condition of the rental property from move-in to move-out day. When it is time for the tenant to move out, you can pull out this checklist sheet.
Take note of any issues the tenant points out. Make notes about the condition of the property. Walk through the property with the tenant when they move in. This gives you a record of the exact condition of the property when each tenant moves in. Take pictures of the property before each tenant moves in.
To keep the management of your property simple, create a single checklist sheet for move-in and move-out. The more documentation you have, the easier it will be to justify your repair costs. If you can’t do the walk-through in person with the tenant, let the tenant know when you plan to do it. Additionally, take pictures for future reference. Damages present can get addressed and acknowledged by both parties. That way, you reduce the risk of miscommunication. It is best to do the move-out walkthrough with the tenant present. Confirm the move-out date with the tenant so that you are available to collect the keys. While it would be easy to assume that it is the last day of the lease, this isn’t always the case. The first step is to confirm the tenant’s move-out date. By following this checklist, you will know what damages to look for and the other tasks required with moving a tenant out. Having a pre-printed checklist helps you know what landlords need to do. Now is the time to collect the keys and perform a move-out check. As the landlord, you are now faced with the final stage of your landlord/tenant relationship. The lease is ending, and your tenant is ready to move out.