So you have found a great place in Vancouver area to rent, negotiated your rental price, and getting ready to move in. Before you sign the Lease with your landlord, you should request a proper move-in inspection of the property that you are about to lease for an extended period of time. Property managers in Vancouver always make sure that inspections are done because it protects their interest just as much as yours. If there are any damages or alterations left from the previous tenant, they clearly mark it in their official BC residential inspection form, and provide you with a copy stapled to your Lease. If you are renting from private owners, then you need to do a walk through with them, marking down any damages or previous renovations, and have them sign the list. This way both of you are aware of the property’s condition at the time of signing the Lease. Make sure to save your inspection form until the very end of your tenancy, so that you can present it to the landlord when you decide to move out.

Moving-out inspections in Vancouver follow the same procedure, except when you are moving out you compare the condition of the rental property before and after the time period your Lease. Pay a careful attention to small details, such as scratches on painted walls, cleanliness of kitchens and bathrooms, and any marks left on the floor area. You should protect yourself from having to pay for the damage left by the previous tenant! At the same time, you can gain excellent landlord references if you perform a careful inspection and can show that you have left their property in a clean condition with no new damages. You will also receive your security and damage deposit in full if you can show that you have not contributed to the deterioration of the rented place.

The Residential Tenancy Act in BC states that a certain amount of a typical wear and tear is completely acceptable and should not be deducted from your damage deposit. This factor reinforces the need for both the landlord and tenant to do a diligent job at the time of move-in and move-out inspections. If everything is noted in due time and agreed by you and your landlord, the less likely there is the likelihood of future disagreements or conflicts. By doing moving-in and moving-out inspections you are ensuring a pleasant relationship with your landlord, whose references will be important if you will be renting other properties in the future.