The room-by-room list our cleaners use on every move-out in Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Print it, tick it off, and photograph each room when you're done.
Under section 37 of BC's Residential Tenancy Act, a tenant moving out must leave the unit reasonably clean, and undamaged apart from reasonable wear and tear. The Residential Tenancy Branch's Policy Guideline 1 sets out who is responsible for what, item by item, and is worth reading before your move-out inspection. If the unit isn't left reasonably clean, the tenant is generally responsible for the cleaning costs.
Landlords and tenants complete a condition inspection together at move-out. Dated photos of every room are your best record, whichever side of the inspection you're on.
The checklist
Kitchen
Inside oven, racks and drawer
Stovetop and under burners
Range hood and filter
Inside fridge and freezer, shelves out
Dishwasher inside, seals and filter
Inside every cabinet and drawer
Counters, backsplash and sink
Cabinet fronts, handles and kick plates
Bathrooms
Toilet inside, outside, base and bolts
Tub, shower, glass and tracks descaled
Grout scrubbed
Inside vanity and drawers
Mirrors and medicine cabinet
Exhaust fan cover
Fixtures polished
All rooms
Inside closets, shelves and rods
Baseboards hand-wiped
Doors, frames and handles
Light switches and outlet covers
Interior windows, sills and tracks
Blinds wiped
Light fixtures (reachable)
Vents and returns
Walls spot-cleaned
Floors
Carpets vacuumed, edges included
Hard floors washed
Stairs and landings
Balcony or patio swept
Before you leave
Walk-through against this list
Nothing left behind in cupboards
Lights off, windows locked
Keys/lockbox returned as instructed
Before and after photos of every room
Tips from our crews
Book the clean after the movers, not before. Furniture hides dust lines and marks.
Start high and finish low: fixtures and shelves first, floors last.
Leave the oven and fridge for last-day morning, when they're empty.
Take photos in daylight with the lights on, from the doorway of each room.
Keep receipts. If you hire a cleaner, the invoice is part of your record.
Property manager or landlord? We turn over rental units on a flat price by unit size, with a photo report the same day. See how it works or use our vacancy cost calculator.
This checklist is general information, not legal advice. For disputes, contact the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Port Moody & the Tri-Cities
Get your place back
Tell us the address and what needs doing. You get a firm price back, usually the same day.
