Moving into a new apartment is an exciting time. With the first moving boxes packed, you’re eager to start fresh in your new space. However, before you leave your old apartment behind, it’s crucial to ensure a smooth handover. Our checklist will help you navigate this process effortlessly. You can download the detailed PDF below.

In the following sections, we explain what you should consider if you move in and have to give up your apartment. To provide you with a quick overview of the various topics, you will find a table of contents below:

 

Download here the free checklist for your apartment handover!

1. Preparing for the apartment handover

By law, you’re required to return the apartment by the last day of your rental period. Often, you can arrange to hand it over a few days earlier. If the last day falls on a Sunday or public holiday, the handover can occur on the next working day.

To avoid last-minute stress, coordinate with your landlord or property management well in advance. If moving out and moving into your new place can’t align perfectly, have an interim solution ready. Remember, once you’ve handed over the apartment, there’s usually no turning back.

Start early

Begin preparing for the handover weeks before your move. You’ll already have plenty on your plate, so taking care of the handover early will save you stress later.

If you still have the original handover protocol from when you moved in or a list of any pre-existing damages, use these as a reference. Walk through each room and ask yourself:

  • What has been damaged during your tenancy, and what can be repaired?
  • Have you made any changes to the apartment that need to be undone?
  • Will you handle the cleaning yourself, or hire a professional?

Create a list of tasks for each room, noting any items you’re unsure about. This will help you stay organized and ensure nothing is overlooked.

2. Assessing damages and repairs

While normal wear and tear is expected, it’s essential to distinguish between acceptable usage and damage that requires repair.

Normal wear and tear

This includes things like carpets and wallpaper turning yellow, or minor scuffs on walls and furniture. These are typically the landlord’s responsibility unless the wear exceeds what is considered normal.

Extensive damage

Serious damage, such as that caused by smoking, pets, or negligence, is your responsibility. You’ll need to arrange and pay for repairs, often involving professionals. Discuss the best course of action with your landlord and insurance company.

As a rule of thumb: small repairs that are low-cost and don’t require specialized skills should be handled by you. This includes replacing a broken toilet seat, fixing a shower hose, or cleaning burnt-in grease from the oven. Taking care of these before the handover will prevent the landlord from charging you exorbitant fees for minor repairs.

Reverting changes

Generally, any alterations you made to the apartment must be undone unless the new tenant explicitly agrees to keep them. This could include removing self-adhesive hooks, personal wallpaper, or carpeting, and repainting walls if necessary.

3. Cleaning the apartment: DIY or hire a professional company?

There are two ways to make your apartment sparkling clean. Either you hire a cleaning company or you take care of the cleaning yourself. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which we have gathered for you.

Hiring a cleaning company

Choosing the right cleaning company can be challenging, with many factors to consider. It can be overwhelming, from the size of your apartment and the specific areas that need cleaning to the level of dirt and the types of surfaces. However, with MOVU, you can simplify this process by booking a cleaning company directly through us. We provide you with offers from the best cleaning companies, allowing you to easily specify your needs and expectations all in one place. This way, you can focus on your move while professionals handle the cleaning, and you can even benefit from a handover guarantee—if the apartment isn’t clean enough, they’ll re-clean it at no extra cost.

The costs are the disadvantage of a professional cleaning company, because cleaning an apartment is of course more expensive than doing it yourself. Here you will find an overview of the average cost of cleaning a house.

Cleaning the apartment yourself

If you opt to clean the apartment yourself, pay attention to the following:

  • Floors: Carpets may need shampooing, and wooden floors should be cleaned according to their finish (oiled, lacquered, or sealed).
  • Kitchen appliances: Ovens, stoves, and extractor hoods are often neglected but need thorough cleaning. Baking soda and water can be effective.
  • Blinds and windows: These often require significant effort to clean. Here you will find further tips for cleaning blinds.
  • Stains and residues: Remove any adhesive, chewing gum, or wax stains.
  • Descaling: All taps, tiles, drains, and showerheads must be free of limescale.
  • Degreasing: Don’t forget to clean and replace the filter pad in the extractor hood.

So that you don’t miss a single spot, it’s worth clarifying detailed questions with the property management or the landlord at an early stage. Our cleaning tips for the final cleaning will help you to avoid nasty surprises on the day of delivery.

4. The apartment handover and acceptance protocol

The final handover is centered around the acceptance protocol, a document detailing the apartment’s condition at the time of handover. If you’ve hired a cleaning company, ensure a representative is present during the handover. As you go through the apartment together, ensure that every item in good condition is checked off. Any damages should be noted in the protocol.

Important: Only sign the protocol if you agree with everything that is noted on it. Even if you disagree on some things, make sure to record these discrepancies in the protocol. Keep a signed copy of the protocol for records and as security.

If no further damages need to be repaired, you can in good conscience request the release of the deposit immediately after signing.

💡Tip: Don’t forget to bring all the keys to the handover. Missing keys can lead to significant costs, as the landlord may need to change the locks. For more information, you can read this article on missing keys.

Final steps before we leave

Congratulations, you’ve completed the handover! Don’t forget to:

Now, you’re all set to enjoy your new home!

To make sure you don’t forget anything, we have compiled all the points for you in a checklist that you can download.