Texas Move-Out Checklist
A move-out checklist is the room-by-room record a Texas landlord completes when a tenant surrenders a rental — comparing the condition at move-out against the move-in record, so any security-deposit deduction rests on documented damage rather than memory.
What it is
A move-out checklist is a written, room-by-room condition record completed at or right after surrender. Used alongside the signed move-in checklist and dated photos, it is the landlord's main evidence for what changed during the tenancy, what is ordinary wear and tear, and what — if anything — can lawfully be charged against the deposit.
When to use it
- The lease is ending and the tenant is surrendering the property
- A tenant has moved out early or after a notice to vacate, and possession is back with the landlord
- Before any cleaning, repairs or re-keying begin — once work starts, the move-out condition is gone
- Before you write the security-deposit accounting, so every deduction traces to a checklist line
What to include — checklist
Print this page to use the checklist on paper.
- Landlord and tenant names, property address and unit number, exactly as in the lease
- The surrender date — when the tenant gave up possession and returned keys — recorded in writing
- The signed move-in checklist laid side by side, with the same rooms in the same order
- Room-by-room condition notes: walls, paint, floors, windows, blinds, fixtures, appliances and plumbing
- Dated photos or video of every room and every item you may later charge for
- Keys, garage remotes, mailbox keys and access devices collected, counted and noted
- The tenant's forwarding address in writing, or a note that you requested it
- Cleaning condition and damage each recorded item by item — damage described separately from normal wear and tear, never blended into one line
- Landlord (and tenant, if present) signatures and the date, with a copy kept in the lease file
Texas-specific requirements
- Texas Property Code §92.103(a): the landlord shall refund a security deposit on or before the 30th day after the date the tenant surrenders the premises. The surrender date on this checklist is what starts that clock — record it accurately.
- Texas Property Code §92.104(b): a landlord may not retain any portion of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear. The checklist should separate wear from damage at the walkthrough, not later.
- Texas Property Code §92.104(c): if any part of the deposit is retained, the landlord must give the tenant a written description and itemized list of all deductions. This checklist is the working record that itemization is built from.
- Texas Property Code §92.103(b): a requirement that a tenant give advance notice of surrender as a condition for refunding the deposit is effective only if the requirement is underlined or printed in conspicuous bold print in the lease.
- Texas Property Code §92.107: the landlord's refund and accounting duties are tied to the tenant giving a written forwarding address; the tenant does not forfeit the deposit by failing to provide one. Ask for it at move-out and note the request.
- Texas Property Code §92.106: a landlord must keep accurate records of all security deposits. Keep this checklist, the photos and the deposit accounting together.
- No specific Texas-mandated move-out checklist form was verified for this page. The value of the checklist is the documentation itself, not a state-prescribed format.
Statute references are included only where verified for this pilot. Where a rule depends on your lease or local court, the page says so instead of guessing.
Common mistakes
- Walking the unit with no move-in checklist or photos to compare against, then arguing condition from memory
- Starting cleaning or repairs before documenting the condition the tenant left behind
- Writing 'damages — $500' as a lump sum instead of itemizing each charge as §92.104(c) requires
- Charging for faded paint, worn carpet paths and other normal wear and tear that §92.104(b) excludes
- Forgetting to record the surrender date, then missing the 30-day §92.103(a) refund deadline
- Skipping the forwarding-address request and having nowhere to send the refund and itemization
Where landlords get this form
These providers publish Texas-specific landlord forms and document tools, including move-in and move-out checklists. We describe them here for comparison; the LawDepot link below is live, and the others will be linked as their partnerships are approved.
| Provider | Best described as | What to check before you buy |
|---|---|---|
| LawDepot | DIY legal-document builder covering leases, applications and notices, form by form or by subscription. See LawDepot's landlord forms | Whether the Texas version is included in a free trial, subscription, or single-document price. |
| ezLandlordForms | Landlord-focused forms library built specifically around rentals, screening and state lease packages. | Whether you need a single form or its Texas state package, and what updates are included. |
| Rocket Lawyer | Document builder bundled with membership options that can include attorney Q&A services. | What the membership includes after any trial, and how cancellation works. |
| LegalZoom | Well-known legal-services platform, strongest on business formation and broader legal products, with some landlord documents. | Whether the exact landlord form you need is offered for Texas, versus a business product. |
Disclosure: LawDepot links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, this site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Other providers are listed for comparison and are not yet linked.
Texas Landlord Paperwork Pack — $19
A printable bundle of the Texas checklists and letter templates from this site, organized in the order a small landlord actually uses them: application, lease signing, move-in, late rent, renewal, move-out and deposit return.
Get the Texas Landlord Pack — $19
Sold and delivered by Gumroad (Open Line Press). Instant download: print-ready pack + editable source.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Texas require a specific move-out checklist form?
- No specific state-mandated move-out checklist form was verified for this page. What Texas law does require is the deposit accounting behind it: a refund on or before the 30th day after surrender under §92.103(a), and a written description and itemized list of deductions under §92.104(c) if any part is retained. A thorough signed checklist is how you prove both.
- When does the 30-day deposit clock start?
- Texas Property Code §92.103(a) counts from the date the tenant surrenders the premises — not from the lease end date if the tenant leaves earlier or later. Record the surrender date on the checklist. Under §92.107, the tenant should also give a written forwarding address; failing to provide one does not forfeit the deposit.
- Can I deduct for normal wear and tear?
- No. Texas Property Code §92.104(b) bars retaining any part of a security deposit to cover normal wear and tear. Use the checklist to record wear as wear, and reserve deductions for damage beyond ordinary use.
- What if the tenant will not attend or sign the walkthrough?
- Do the walkthrough anyway, note that the tenant was invited and did not attend or sign, and lean on dated photos and the signed move-in checklist. An unsigned move-out record with photos is far stronger than no record at all.