The move-out clean checklist BC landlords actually inspect
7 min read · February 18, 2026
Get your damage deposit back: the room-by-room list, in inspection order, with the items most tenants miss.
Deposit disputes in BC are rarely about big damage. They're about an oven, a window track and a bathroom fan. Here's the list in the order an inspector walks the unit.
Kitchen — where deposits are won
Budget half your total time here. It is the most scrutinised room in every inspection.
- Oven interior, racks, door glass and the drawer underneath
- Range hood filter degreased, fan housing wiped
- Fridge emptied, shelves washed, coils and floor beneath cleaned
- Inside every cabinet and drawer, including the toe kick
- Sink drain, faucet base and backsplash grout
Bathrooms
Descale the shower head, scrub grout lines, clean the exhaust fan cover, and wipe the toilet base and bolt caps — that last one is the single most commonly missed item.
Everywhere else
Walls spot-cleaned and nail holes filled, baseboards wiped, window tracks vacuumed then damp-wiped, closet shelves and rails cleaned, light fixtures emptied of insects, and all floors vacuumed and mopped last.
Document it
Photograph every room after cleaning with a timestamp. In a dispute, photos taken at handover are the strongest evidence you can have.
Kitchen first, photos last, and never skip the toilet base or the window tracks.