A renter maintenance checklist should protect your deposit without turning you into the landlord. Do the small care tasks you are responsible for, document the condition, and report real repair issues early.
First: check the lease
Maintenance responsibility varies by lease, building, city, and landlord. Before changing filters, touching appliances, or making repairs, check the lease and local rules. If something is the landlord's responsibility, report it instead of quietly fixing it badly.
Move in documentation
- Take photos and video of every room.
- Document stains, cracks, dents, missing parts, and appliance damage.
- Test lights, outlets, faucets, drains, appliances, windows, locks, and alarms.
- Submit the condition report on time and keep a copy.
This isn't maintenance, but it protects you when moving out.
Monthly renter checklist
- Check under sinks for leaks or swelling.
- Report slow drains before they become backups.
- Clean removable dishwasher and range hood filters if your lease expects it.
- Check HVAC filters if tenants are responsible for them.
- Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Look for pests, moisture, mold like growth, or new stains.
- Keep messages and repair requests in writing.
Check under sinks for leaks or swelling
Open kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets and look for moisture, swelling around the trap, rust on connections, stains, or musty smells. Run water for a minute and watch the drain joints. A slow leak that ruins a cabinet floor is the kind of thing landlords charge tenants for if it wasn't reported.
Report slow drains before they become backups
A slow sink or shower drain is usually still fixable with a snake or a quick service call. The same drain after it backs up into the unit can mean flooring damage, mold, and a much harder conversation. Report it in writing as soon as you notice, even if you don't think it's a big deal yet.
Clean removable dishwasher and range hood filters
If your lease expects appliance care, the easy wins are the dishwasher filter (usually twists out from the bottom of the tub) and the range hood grease filter (slides or pops out from the underside of the hood). Both are low-risk to clean and prevent odors and poor performance that landlords can frame as neglect at move-out.
Check HVAC filters if tenants are responsible for them
Many leases put HVAC filter changes on the tenant. Check monthly, replace when gray, bowed, or visibly loaded. Keep a few spares so the task is "swap" not "drive to a hardware store." A neglected filter can stress the system and become a deposit issue if the landlord pays for repair.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Press the test button on every alarm monthly. If batteries are user-replaceable and the unit chirps, swap the battery. If an alarm fails outright or doesn't have a manufacture date you can read, report it to the landlord — most jurisdictions put alarm replacement on the property owner.
Look for pests, moisture, mold-like growth, or new stains
Walk the unit once a month with fresh eyes. Look for fresh droppings, new water stains on ceilings or near windows, dark growth in corners or around bath caulk, and condensation on cold-weather walls. Catching it early gives you photos and a paper trail; catching it at move-out gives you a deduction.
Keep messages and repair requests in writing
Use email or your landlord's repair portal, not phone calls. Include the date, the issue, photos, and what you've tried. Keep copies of every response. A written record is what protects your deposit and gives you leverage if a problem grows.
What to report quickly
- Leaks under sinks, around toilets, near the water heater, or from ceilings.
- Electrical smells, sparking, or outlets that feel hot.
- No heat, no cooling where required, or unsafe appliance behavior.
- Mold like growth, recurring condensation, or damp walls.
- Pests, roof leaks, broken locks, or broken windows.
Report issues early and clearly. Include photos, date, location, and what you tried if anything.
Move out checklist
- Take final photos and video after cleaning.
- Patch only what the lease allows.
- Clean appliances, filters, drawers, cabinets, and floors.
- Remove personal items from storage areas, balconies, and laundry rooms.
- Return keys and document the handoff.
What not to do
Don't make unauthorized repairs, paint without permission, ignore leaks, remove alarms, or hide damage. Those are the things that turn small issues into deposit fights.
Good maintenance rhythm
- Move in: document everything.
- Monthly: check leaks, drains, filters, alarms, and visible damage.
- As needed: report repairs in writing with photos.
- Move out: clean, document, and keep records.