The move-out property inspection is where everything is decided: it compares the property returned with the property received, identifies any tenant damage and determines whether the deposit is released. Unlike the move-in inspection, it is not always mandatory — but it is almost always essential.

Practical summary, up to date as of October 2026; it does not constitute legal advice. Check which regime applies to your lease (region and date of signature).

Is it mandatory?

The rules vary slightly from region to region:

  • in Brussels and Wallonia, the move-out inspection is not required as such, but it is strongly recommended: without it, proving damage becomes very difficult;
  • in Flanders, the 2018 decree provides that it must be carried out as soon as either party requests it.

In all cases, a landlord who wishes to withhold part of the deposit has every interest in having a joint move-out record.

When should it be carried out?

Ideally, the move-out inspection should be carried out once the property has been emptied and cleaned, and before the keys are handed back. A property that is still furnished hides walls and floors; a property handed back without an inspection leaves the door open to every kind of dispute.

In Brussels, the official recommendations place this inspection after the tenant has vacated the property, within one month at the latest, and before the keys are handed back. In Wallonia, in the event of disagreement, either party can apply to the justice of the peace before the keys are handed back to have a surveyor appointed.

How does the comparison work?

The move-out inspection follows the structure of the move-in report and compares it, item by item, with the condition observed:

  1. Take the move-in report (and any addenda) as the reference;
  2. Go through the property in the same order, room by room, so that nothing is missed;
  3. Note every difference: a new stain, a hole, a breakage, an item missing or not working;
  4. Classify every difference: damage attributable to the tenant, or normal wear and tear, age-related deterioration, construction defect;
  5. Photograph the findings, ideally from the same angle as the move-in photos;
  6. Take the meter readings and list the keys returned.

Step 4 is where most disagreements arise. We have devoted an article to it: tenant damage or normal wear and tear: how to tell the difference.

Factors to take into account

Beyond the raw comparison, the assessment must take the context of the lease into account:

  • the lease clauses (maintenance borne by the tenant, for example);
  • work carried out during the tenancy, with or without the landlord’s consent;
  • maintenance certificates for equipment (boiler, detectors, chimney sweeping…);
  • written correspondence between the parties during the lease (reporting a leak, a breakdown…).

A tenant who reported water ingress in writing cannot reasonably be held liable for the resulting damp stain.

In case of disagreement

If the parties cannot agree on the findings or on who is liable, either of them can ask the justice of the peace to appoint a surveyor. Before it comes to that, a few good habits prevent many conflicts:

  • a precise, photographed record, rather than vague statements (“dirty walls”);
  • an item-by-item cost estimate that is easy to understand, rather than a lump sum;
  • taking age-related deterioration into account, which reduces the compensation for an item that was already old.

Release of the rental deposit

The rental deposit is capped (two or three months’ rent depending on the region and the form of deposit). At the end of the lease, it is released only with the written agreement of both parties or by decision of the justice of the peace.

In practice, the move-out inspection report serves as the basis for that agreement:

  • no damage attributable to the tenant: the parties sign for full release;
  • damage recorded and costed: the parties agree on the amount withheld and the balance returned to the tenant;
  • disagreement: the justice of the peace rules, often after a survey.

The clearer the record and the better justified the cost estimate, the faster the agreement — and the sooner the tenant gets their deposit back.

Good practice for surveyors

  • Arrive with the complete move-in report, photos included;
  • follow the same inspection order as at move-in;
  • describe damage by location, nature and extent;
  • keep the findings and the cost estimate separate, so that each can be discussed;
  • have the document signed on site, together with the meter readings.

A field tool that automatically reuses the structure of the move-in report and links each photo to its item saves a considerable amount of time, and makes the comparison much easier for both parties to follow.