Final property inspection: document the handover

Final property inspection: document the handover. General information.

You are handing back your rented home. Find the contract, initial condition report and old photographs to compare the present condition. List agreed repairs and alterations too. An empty home alone does not show how it was originally handed over.

Photograph rooms and potentially disputed points. Keep originals. Record completed repairs and work still under discussion. Use the inspection report to document these facts and request a copy of the version actually discussed.

Check that the report matches what you observed. Write down disputed conclusions or missing comments specifically. Ask about any damage amount or broad settlement clause. If the meaning is unclear, seek advice before agreeing to more than the recorded condition.

Record the number of keys, recipient and handover time. Check the agreed legal end date too. An early practical key handover does not automatically end rent payments earlier. Make any different arrangement explicit in writing.

Keep the report, photographs and correspondence with your deposit request. Request the reason and itemisation for deductions. Keep a later service-charge statement separate. The guide organises evidence without promising that every damage issue or deduction has already been decided.

Read the full explanation and sources on Tenancy Law in the Netherlands. Have someone assess which rules apply to your situation.