Ontario Landlord Guide › Move-in inspection checklist for Ontario landlords

Move-in inspection checklist for Ontario landlords

Last updated October 22, 2026 · Written for small Ontario landlords

Unlike some provinces, Ontario's RTA doesn't require a formal move-in condition report. Do one anyway. If you ever claim damage at the LTB (for example an L10 after a tenant leaves), dated photos and a signed checklist from move-in day are what show the damage is new and not normal wear and tear.

Before the tenant arrives

Test every smoke alarm (required on every storey and outside sleeping areas) and every CO alarm (required near sleeping areas if there's a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage). Write down the date.
Make sure heat, hot water and all appliances work.
Meter readings (hydro, gas, water) if utilities are separate or shared.
Count keys, fobs and garage remotes. A key deposit is allowed only if it's refundable and no more than the replacement cost.
Have the signed lease ready (the Ontario standard lease for RTA tenancies; give the tenant a copy within 21 days of signing).

Room by room (do it together with the tenant)

Area	Check and photograph
Entry & halls	Door, locks, floors, walls, light fixtures, closets
Kitchen	Fridge inside and out, stove and oven, hood fan, sink and taps (look for leaks), cabinets, counters, floor
Bathroom(s)	Toilet, tub/shower and caulking, exhaust fan, vanity, mirror, tiles, signs of mould
Each bedroom	Walls (marks, holes), floors and carpet, window and screen, blinds, door and lock, closet, outlets
Living areas	Walls, floors, windows, light fixtures, outlets
Laundry / utility	Washer, dryer and vent, furnace filter date, water heater
Outside / parking	Parking spot, storage, yard condition, garbage bins

Photo tips that hold up

Take one wide shot of each room, then close-ups of any existing damage with a coin or ruler for scale.
Keep the original files (they carry the date) and back them up the same day.
Number the photos and reference those numbers on the checklist.
Both of you sign and date the checklist. Give the tenant a copy.

Shared houses: add these

Which fridge shelf and pantry space belongs to whom (a light label is enough).
Condition of shared furniture and appliances.
Written house rules: garbage and green-bin days, cleaning ("I use it, I clean it"), quiet hours, guests.

Entering later

For an RTA tenancy, a routine inspection needs 24 hours' written notice stating the reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (emergencies excepted).

The toolkit includes a fillable room-by-room Move-In/Move-Out Inspection form with a photo log (PDF + DOCX), and showing and move-in checklists.

Official sources

Not legal advice. This site is general information written by a small Ontario landlord, based on official Ontario and Tribunals Ontario sources as of October 22, 2026. Laws and LTB forms change; check the linked official source before you act, and talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal (or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234) about your situation. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board. Full disclaimer.