TX Guide

Last updated: June 16, 2026

Texas Apartment Move-In Inspection Checklist (2026)

Document apartment condition on move-in day in Texas — photos, written notes, deposit disputes, and what to send your landlord before problems stack up.

Texas does not force your landlord to walk units with you on day one — but when move-out arrives, 30-day deposit rules turn into a photo contest. Shoot and email before you unpack the mattress; that carpet stain was there when you arrived, and you want proof.

Landlords who skip a joint walk-through are betting you will not document pre-existing damage. Texas Property Code Chapter 92 does not require them to sign your checklist — your job is to create evidence they cannot ignore later.

Gear for the first hour

  • Phone charged + cloud backup on
  • Flashlight for closets and under sinks
  • Sticky note labeled with unit number + date for wide shots
  • Copy of the lease start page showing unit ID

If the office hands you a move-in form, still take your own photos — forms get lost.

Worth knowing: A blank move-in form with your signature and no attached photos helps the landlord more than you. If they hand you a form, write “see attached photos” and attach them the same day.

Room-by-room defect hunt

SpaceDo not skip
EntryDoor gaps, lock scratch marks, carpet transition strips
Living/bedWall scuffs at furniture height, outlet cover cracks
KitchenBurner ignition, oven smell, dishwasher leak under sink
BathCaulk mildew, toilet rock, exhaust fan hum
WindowsLocks, screens, fog between double panes
HVACRun cool 10 minutes — weak airflow today becomes a July fight
Balcony/patioDrain clogs, railing rust
Closets / pantryShelf cracks, rod sag, pest droppings in corners
Laundry hookupsWasher drain smell, dryer vent lint buildup
Garage / storageWater stains on floor, lock function on storage cage

Pattern: wide shot → close-up → note in email log.

Run water in every sink for two minutes and watch under-cabinet traps. A slow drip on day one becomes a mold claim six months later if you never reported it.

Appliances worth testing before furniture blocks them

Before the couch covers outlets:

  • Range — all burners and oven preheat to set temperature
  • Dishwasher — run a short cycle; check for leaks under the kick plate
  • Garbage disposal — grind ice cube; listen for grinding vs humming stall
  • Refrigerator — cold within an hour; note frost patterns on freezer coils
  • HVAC — cool mode for ten minutes in each zone; weak vents belong in your email

Burn marks on stove drip pans and chipped enamel are wear — still photograph them so move-out does not blame you for years of prior use.

Email log template

Subject: Move-in condition — Unit [number], [date]

Attached: photos/video of pre-existing items:
- Living room: carpet stain northeast corner
- Guest bath: vanity drawer does not close
- HVAC: master bedroom vent minimal airflow

Please confirm receipt and repair timeline.

Send to the official leasing inbox — not only the friendly agent’s personal text thread.

A common snag: roommates assume the lease signer’s photos cover everyone on a joint lease — share the folder if all names are liable.

Video walk-throughs and timestamps

A five-minute video panning each room beats fifty disconnected photos when you forget which bedroom had the ceiling stain. Narrate unit number and date at the start. Upload to cloud storage the same hour — phone loss happens.

Some property managers accept portal uploads; others only read email. Use whatever channel your lease lists for maintenance requests.

Tie paperwork to utilities and DPS

Same week you document the unit:

  • Start electric service in your name for residency proof
  • Keep a copy of the lease for DPS (two address documents often = lease + utility)

At move-out, Texas landlords have 30 days after you surrender the unit and provide a forwarding address in writing to return your deposit or send itemized deductions. Your move-in email with photos becomes the baseline when they claim you damaged carpet that was already stained.

People often ask: whether cosmetic issues count. Minor scuffs rarely justify deposit deductions — but undocumented pre-existing stains get blamed on the outgoing tenant unless you proved otherwise on day one.

When the landlord ignores your move-in email

If you get no reply, forward the same message a week later and note “second request.” Silence does not waive your documentation — it just means you may need the timestamped email in small claims or tenant mediation later.

Do not withhold rent over un-repaired move-in items unless you have met every statutory notice requirement under Chapter 92 — that path is narrow and risky.

Move-out mirror documentation

Repeat the same room-by-room photo routine when you leave. Compare move-out shots to your move-in email if the landlord claims damage you documented on day one. Return keys with a dated receipt or email confirmation — the 30-day deposit clock starts when you surrender possession, not when you finish packing.

Practical documentation only — not a substitute for a tenant attorney.

Property Code anchor

Frequently asked questions

Is a move-in inspection required in Texas?
State law does not require a joint walk-through at move-in. Documenting condition anyway protects your deposit—Texas landlords have 30 days after move-out to return it or send itemized deductions.
When should I photograph a Texas apartment after move-in?
Within 24–48 hours of key pickup, before furniture covers stains and before you drill walls. Timestamped email to the landlord beats a camera roll with no context.
What if the landlord promises repairs verbally at move-in?
Follow up in writing the same day—email or portal message listing each issue and the promised fix date. Verbal-only promises vanish when management changes.

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