A thorough property inspection at move-in and move-out is the single most effective way to prevent deposit disputes in Saudi Arabia. This checklist covers what to inspect, what to document, and how to create a record that holds up under Ejar compliance requirements and, if needed, formal dispute resolution.
Use this checklist as a starting point. For a digital version that auto-generates an Ejar-ready report, PropX guides you through the same process on your phone.
Before You Start: What to Prepare
- Your phone, fully charged, with camera and storage space available
- The Ejar contract reference number for the tenancy
- The tenant present (or their representative) — both parties should walk through together
- A systematic approach: always move room by room, in the same order
Key principle: Document everything you would want to dispute later — from both sides. Landlords document damage. Tenants document existing wear. Both parties should agree on what is recorded before signing off.
Room-by-Room Checklist
For each room, record:
- Overall condition rating (Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor)
- Wall condition — paint, cracks, stains, holes
- Floor condition — type, visible damage, stains, wear
- Ceiling condition — cracks, stains, paint
- Windows and doors — operation, locks, glass, frames
- Lighting fixtures — present and working
- AC unit — present, operational, any visible damage
- Photographs from multiple angles, including close-ups of any damage
Kitchen
- Countertop condition — chips, scratches, staining
- Cabinet doors and hinges — operation and condition
- Oven / hob — present, clean, operational
- Extractor fan — present, working
- Sink and taps — leaks, water pressure, condition
- Dishwasher (if present) — operational
- Refrigerator (if present) — condition and operation
- Tiling — cracks, loose tiles, grout condition
Bathrooms
- Toilet — flush operation, seat condition, no leaks
- Sink and taps — water pressure, drainage, no leaks
- Shower or bath — tray/surround condition, drainage, taps
- Tiles — cracks, loose tiles, grout discolouration
- Mirror (if fixed) — condition
- Extractor fan — operational
- Water heater (if in unit) — visible condition
Bedrooms
- Built-in wardrobes — doors, rails, shelving condition
- AC unit — condition and operation
- Window operation and locks
- Walls — any marks, holes, or damage beyond normal
- Flooring — carpet wear, tile cracks, or scratches
- Light fittings — present and working
Living and Dining Areas
- Walls — paint condition, any marks or damage
- Flooring — type and condition, any visible damage
- AC units — number, condition, operation
- Curtain rails or blinds (if provided)
- Power sockets and light switches — present and functional
- Balcony (if present) — flooring, railing, drainage
Utilities and Building Services
- Water meter reading — record and photograph
- Electricity meter reading — record and photograph
- Main water stop valve — location and operation
- Parking space (if allocated) — condition noted
- Storage (if allocated) — condition noted
- Keys and access cards — confirm number received
After the Walk-Through
Once the walk-through is complete:
- Review the record together — both landlord and tenant should review everything noted and agree it is accurate
- Note any disagreements — if the tenant disputes a condition rating, record their objection alongside the landlord's assessment
- Get digital sign-off — both parties should confirm the record digitally, with a timestamp
- Provide a copy to the tenant — the tenant is entitled to their own copy of the move-in record
- Store securely — the record needs to be retrievable at the end of the tenancy, which may be years later
Move-Out: What Changes
At move-out, repeat the same process using the move-in record as your baseline. For each item, note whether it is in the same condition, better, or worse than at move-in. Any deterioration beyond normal wear and tear should be photographed and noted with a specific deduction amount if applicable.
The move-out record and the move-in record together form your evidence package — which is exactly what Ejar dispute resolution and the Saudi Real Estate Dispute Committee expect.
Skip the paper
PropX does this automatically
PropX guides you through a structured room-by-room inspection on your phone, generates the report, and gets digital sign-off from both parties — in minutes, not hours.
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