Move-in vs move-out inspection in France: what are the differences?

Introduction

The move-in inspection and move-out inspection both describe the condition of a rented property, but they do not serve exactly the same purpose.

For more detail on the points discussed below, also read Move-in property inspection in France: complete checklist, Move-out property inspection in France: complete checklist and Security deposit deductions in France: what can a landlord charge?.

The move-in inspection establishes the initial reference point. The move-out inspection records the property's condition when the keys are returned and allows the parties to compare how it changed during the tenancy.

This comparison can help distinguish between:

defects already present at move-in;
normal wear and tear;
incidents reported during the tenancy;
possible damage;
items that were repaired, replaced or are missing.

Key point: the move-out inspection should not be read in isolation. Its value comes from comparison with the move-in inspection and the property's history during the tenancy.

1. Move-in vs move-out: what is the difference?

Move-in

The move-in inspection describes the property when the tenant takes possession.

It records the initial condition of rooms, surfaces, equipment, keys and applicable meter readings.

Move-out

The move-out inspection records the property's condition when the keys are returned.

It is used to compare each item with the initial record and identify changes over time.

French regulations require the format of the inspection documents to allow comparison between move-in and move-out.

2. Comparison table

Item	Move-in	Move-out
General condition	Initial reference	Condition at departure
Floors, walls, ceilings	Described	Compared with move-in
Equipment	Identified and described	Checked and compared
Meter readings	Recorded where applicable	Recorded at departure
Keys and access	Handed to tenant	Returned to landlord
Photos	Optional but useful	Optional but useful
Tenant address	Address used at start	New forwarding address
Move-in inspection date	—	Recorded at move-out
Wear and tear	Limited relevance at start	Important in assessing changes
Security deposit	File is created	Comparison may inform justified deductions

3. Why a precise move-in inspection matters

A vague move-in inspection makes later comparison difficult.

For example, 'living room: good condition' is less useful than a precise description identifying the floor, visible scratches and associated photographs.

4. Common dispute: a defect appears at move-out but was not recorded at move-in

This is a frequent situation.

The landlord identifies a scratch, crack, stain, impact or damaged item at move-out.

The tenant replies:

'It was already there when I moved in, but it was not written in the move-in inspection.'

The move-in inspection is an important reference, but it may not be the only evidence available.

The tenant may be able to rely on:

dated move-in photographs;
emails or messages sent to the landlord;
a request to supplement the move-in inspection;
an incident report;
earlier documents or photographs;
other evidence showing the property's condition at the relevant time.

5. What if the tenant makes comments within 10 days?

Article 3-2 of the French Law of 6 July 1989 allows the tenant to ask the landlord or representative to supplement the move-in inspection within 10 days of its preparation.

This is particularly useful when a defect is discovered shortly after the tenant moves in.

6. What if the landlord does not issue a new inspection document?

The law provides for a request to supplement the inspection and, where the landlord refuses, possible referral to the competent departmental conciliation commission.

The absence of a newly generated PDF should therefore not make the tenant's request disappear.

It is useful to retain:

the date of the request;
the exact comments;
photographs;
proof of transmission;
the landlord's response or absence of response;
any refusal.

These records may become important years later when the move-out inspection is compared with the initial file.

7. What if a problem is reported one month or six months later?

After the 10-day period, a report is not necessarily a formal supplement to the move-in inspection under Article 3-2.

It may still be valuable evidence.

An email, message, photograph or incident ticket can show:

that the problem existed on a certain date;
that the landlord had been informed;
what the issue looked like at that time;
whether later work was carried out.

A report made six months after move-in does not automatically prove that the defect existed on the day the keys were handed over.

It can, however, establish that the issue existed by that later date and help reconstruct the chronology.

8. The tenancy history may matter as much as the two inspections

To understand a difference at move-out, the complete chronology may need to be reviewed:

move-in inspection → supplements → reports → incidents → repairs → move-out inspection

This can prevent a tenant being wrongly blamed for deterioration connected with a leak, equipment failure or another issue reported during the tenancy.

9. Normal wear and tear versus damage

Not every difference is tenant-caused damage.

The 30 March 2016 decree defines normal deterioration resulting from time or ordinary use as wear and tear.

Possible examples, depending on the circumstances, include:

paint naturally fading over several years;
light use marks;
flooring gradually wearing in traffic areas;
seals ageing naturally;
equipment showing age-related deterioration.

Possible damage may include, depending on the circumstances:

a broken door;
broken glazing;
a major burn on a worktop;
a supplied item being broken;
excessive or major holes;
damage resulting from improper use.

These are not automatic classifications. Initial condition, age, duration of occupancy and cause must all be considered.

10. Length of occupation matters

The same change may be assessed differently after six months and after eight years.

Longer occupancy naturally increases the amount of ordinary wear that may be expected.

11. Cleaning and minor repairs before move-out

The tenant is not required to restore the property to brand-new condition.

However, ordinary maintenance and tenant repairs remain relevant.

Before departure, it is useful to review cleaning, limescale, appropriate minor repairs, bulbs, small fittings, keys, badges and access devices.

12. Photographs at move-in and move-out

Photographs are most useful when they are dated and linked to a specific room, item and observation.

They supplement, rather than replace, a precise written description.

13. What if the parties disagree?

Factual descriptions are preferable to immediate conclusions about responsibility.

If an inspection cannot be established jointly and amicably, a commissaire de justice may intervene under the applicable procedure.

14. Security deposit impact

Where the move-out inspection conforms to move-in, the French statutory maximum period for returning the deposit is generally one month from return of the keys, subject to any amounts lawfully remaining due.

In other cases, the general maximum period may be two months.

Any deduction must be justified.

A recorded difference does not automatically mean that the tenant is financially responsible.

15. How Homellya supports move-in / move-out comparison

Homellya allows a new inspection to be created from the property inventory or from a previous move-in or move-out inspection.

Existing items, condition values, comments and photographs can be reused as a working basis and updated to reflect the current condition.

16. Keeping tenant comments and tenancy history

Tenant review can be retained separately from the original inspection.

The tenant can add comments, photographs and assessments and indicate agreement or disagreement.

This makes it possible to retain continuity across:

move-in inspection → tenant comments → incidents → repairs → move-out inspection

17. Signature and document verification

Once finalized, the inspection can be electronically signed in Homellya when that feature is used.

Documents generated by Homellya can also include a QR code linking to a public verification page where the document's Homellya origin and status can be checked.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between move-in and move-out?

Move-in establishes the initial reference. Move-out records the condition at departure and allows changes to be assessed.

What if a defect was not recorded at move-in?

The move-in inspection is important evidence, but other material may also be considered, such as dated photographs, messages, supplement requests or incident reports.

Must the landlord issue a new PDF after a request made within 10 days?

French law gives the tenant the right to request that the move-in inspection be supplemented within 10 days. If the landlord refuses, the tenant can refer the matter to the departmental conciliation commission. The request and supporting evidence should therefore be retained even if a new document is not immediately generated.

Does a problem reported six months later prove it existed at move-in?

Not necessarily. It can, however, prove that the issue existed by the date of the report and that the landlord was aware of it.

What is normal wear and tear?

It is deterioration resulting from time or ordinary use. Initial condition, duration of the tenancy and the age of materials should be considered.

Can every difference be charged to the tenant?

No. Wear and tear, ordinary maintenance, tenant repairs and actual damage must be distinguished.

Can Homellya reuse a previous inspection?

Yes. A new inspection can be created from a previous inspection so that items, comments, photos and condition information can be reused and updated.

Key takeaways

Move-in establishes the initial reference.
Move-out measures how the property changed.
A defect missing from the initial document may still be supported by other evidence.
The tenant may request a supplement within 10 days.
A dated request should remain in the file even if the original document is not immediately reissued.
A later incident report can prove that a problem existed at that later date and that the landlord knew about it.
Normal wear and tear must be distinguished from damage.
Incident and repair history can be decisive at move-out.
Homellya can preserve continuity between inspections, tenant comments, incidents and final documents.

Conclusion

A proper move-in / move-out comparison is not simply a search for differences.

The key questions are when a change appeared, why it appeared and what evidence allows the chronology to be reconstructed.

A defect missing from the initial inspection did not necessarily arise after move-in. Conversely, simply stating that it was already present may not always be enough.

Photographs, comments made within 10 days, emails, incident tickets, repair records and tenancy history can all help explain what happened.

With Homellya, the landlord can reuse a previous inspection, retain observations and photographs, organize tenant review and maintain documentary continuity through move-out.

Discover Homellya's property-inspection tools

Read the move-in inspection checklist

Read the move-out inspection checklist

Legal sources

French Law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, in particular Articles 3-2, 7 and 22.
Decree no. 2016-382 of 30 March 2016 on property inspections and normal wear and tear.
Decree no. 87-712 of 26 August 1987 on tenant repairs.
French Civil Code, Article 1731.
Service-Public.fr guidance on property inspections and security-deposit returns.

This article provides general information and does not constitute personalized legal advice.

Introduction

The move-in inspection and move-out inspection both describe the condition of a rented property, but they do not serve exactly the same purpose.

This comparison can help distinguish between:

defects already present at move-in;
normal wear and tear;
incidents reported during the tenancy;
possible damage;
items that were repaired, replaced or are missing.

Key point: the move-out inspection should not be read in isolation. Its value comes from comparison with the move-in inspection and the property's history during the tenancy.

1. Move-in vs move-out: what is the difference?

Move-in

The move-in inspection describes the property when the tenant takes possession.

It records the initial condition of rooms, surfaces, equipment, keys and applicable meter readings.

Move-out

The move-out inspection records the property's condition when the keys are returned.

It is used to compare each item with the initial record and identify changes over time.

French regulations require the format of the inspection documents to allow comparison between move-in and move-out.

2. Comparison table

Item	Move-in	Move-out
General condition	Initial reference	Condition at departure
Floors, walls, ceilings	Described	Compared with move-in
Equipment	Identified and described	Checked and compared
Meter readings	Recorded where applicable	Recorded at departure
Keys and access	Handed to tenant	Returned to landlord
Photos	Optional but useful	Optional but useful
Tenant address	Address used at start	New forwarding address
Move-in inspection date	—	Recorded at move-out
Wear and tear	Limited relevance at start	Important in assessing changes
Security deposit	File is created	Comparison may inform justified deductions

3. Why a precise move-in inspection matters

A vague move-in inspection makes later comparison difficult.

For example, 'living room: good condition' is less useful than a precise description identifying the floor, visible scratches and associated photographs.

4. Common dispute: a defect appears at move-out but was not recorded at move-in

This is a frequent situation.

The landlord identifies a scratch, crack, stain, impact or damaged item at move-out.

The tenant replies:

'It was already there when I moved in, but it was not written in the move-in inspection.'

The move-in inspection is an important reference, but it may not be the only evidence available.

The tenant may be able to rely on:

dated move-in photographs;
emails or messages sent to the landlord;
a request to supplement the move-in inspection;
an incident report;
earlier documents or photographs;
other evidence showing the property's condition at the relevant time.

5. What if the tenant makes comments within 10 days?

Article 3-2 of the French Law of 6 July 1989 allows the tenant to ask the landlord or representative to supplement the move-in inspection within 10 days of its preparation.

This is particularly useful when a defect is discovered shortly after the tenant moves in.

6. What if the landlord does not issue a new inspection document?

The law provides for a request to supplement the inspection and, where the landlord refuses, possible referral to the competent departmental conciliation commission.

The absence of a newly generated PDF should therefore not make the tenant's request disappear.

It is useful to retain:

the date of the request;
the exact comments;
photographs;
proof of transmission;
the landlord's response or absence of response;
any refusal.

These records may become important years later when the move-out inspection is compared with the initial file.

7. What if a problem is reported one month or six months later?

After the 10-day period, a report is not necessarily a formal supplement to the move-in inspection under Article 3-2.

It may still be valuable evidence.

An email, message, photograph or incident ticket can show:

that the problem existed on a certain date;
that the landlord had been informed;
what the issue looked like at that time;
whether later work was carried out.

A report made six months after move-in does not automatically prove that the defect existed on the day the keys were handed over.

It can, however, establish that the issue existed by that later date and help reconstruct the chronology.

8. The tenancy history may matter as much as the two inspections

To understand a difference at move-out, the complete chronology may need to be reviewed:

move-in inspection → supplements → reports → incidents → repairs → move-out inspection

This can prevent a tenant being wrongly blamed for deterioration connected with a leak, equipment failure or another issue reported during the tenancy.

9. Normal wear and tear versus damage

Not every difference is tenant-caused damage.

The 30 March 2016 decree defines normal deterioration resulting from time or ordinary use as wear and tear.

Possible examples, depending on the circumstances, include:

paint naturally fading over several years;
light use marks;
flooring gradually wearing in traffic areas;
seals ageing naturally;
equipment showing age-related deterioration.

Possible damage may include, depending on the circumstances:

a broken door;
broken glazing;
a major burn on a worktop;
a supplied item being broken;
excessive or major holes;
damage resulting from improper use.

These are not automatic classifications. Initial condition, age, duration of occupancy and cause must all be considered.

10. Length of occupation matters

The same change may be assessed differently after six months and after eight years.

Longer occupancy naturally increases the amount of ordinary wear that may be expected.

11. Cleaning and minor repairs before move-out

The tenant is not required to restore the property to brand-new condition.

However, ordinary maintenance and tenant repairs remain relevant.

Before departure, it is useful to review cleaning, limescale, appropriate minor repairs, bulbs, small fittings, keys, badges and access devices.

12. Photographs at move-in and move-out

Photographs are most useful when they are dated and linked to a specific room, item and observation.

They supplement, rather than replace, a precise written description.

13. What if the parties disagree?

Factual descriptions are preferable to immediate conclusions about responsibility.

If an inspection cannot be established jointly and amicably, a commissaire de justice may intervene under the applicable procedure.

14. Security deposit impact

In other cases, the general maximum period may be two months.

Any deduction must be justified.

A recorded difference does not automatically mean that the tenant is financially responsible.

15. How Homellya supports move-in / move-out comparison

Homellya allows a new inspection to be created from the property inventory or from a previous move-in or move-out inspection.

Existing items, condition values, comments and photographs can be reused as a working basis and updated to reflect the current condition.

16. Keeping tenant comments and tenancy history

Tenant review can be retained separately from the original inspection.

The tenant can add comments, photographs and assessments and indicate agreement or disagreement.

This makes it possible to retain continuity across:

move-in inspection → tenant comments → incidents → repairs → move-out inspection

17. Signature and document verification

Once finalized, the inspection can be electronically signed in Homellya when that feature is used.

Documents generated by Homellya can also include a QR code linking to a public verification page where the document's Homellya origin and status can be checked.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between move-in and move-out?

Move-in establishes the initial reference. Move-out records the condition at departure and allows changes to be assessed.

What if a defect was not recorded at move-in?

The move-in inspection is important evidence, but other material may also be considered, such as dated photographs, messages, supplement requests or incident reports.

Must the landlord issue a new PDF after a request made within 10 days?

Does a problem reported six months later prove it existed at move-in?

Not necessarily. It can, however, prove that the issue existed by the date of the report and that the landlord was aware of it.

What is normal wear and tear?

It is deterioration resulting from time or ordinary use. Initial condition, duration of the tenancy and the age of materials should be considered.

Can every difference be charged to the tenant?

No. Wear and tear, ordinary maintenance, tenant repairs and actual damage must be distinguished.

Can Homellya reuse a previous inspection?

Yes. A new inspection can be created from a previous inspection so that items, comments, photos and condition information can be reused and updated.

Key takeaways

Move-in establishes the initial reference.
Move-out measures how the property changed.
A defect missing from the initial document may still be supported by other evidence.
The tenant may request a supplement within 10 days.
A dated request should remain in the file even if the original document is not immediately reissued.
A later incident report can prove that a problem existed at that later date and that the landlord knew about it.
Normal wear and tear must be distinguished from damage.
Incident and repair history can be decisive at move-out.
Homellya can preserve continuity between inspections, tenant comments, incidents and final documents.

Conclusion

A proper move-in / move-out comparison is not simply a search for differences.

The key questions are when a change appeared, why it appeared and what evidence allows the chronology to be reconstructed.

A defect missing from the initial inspection did not necessarily arise after move-in. Conversely, simply stating that it was already present may not always be enough.

Photographs, comments made within 10 days, emails, incident tickets, repair records and tenancy history can all help explain what happened.

With Homellya, the landlord can reuse a previous inspection, retain observations and photographs, organize tenant review and maintain documentary continuity through move-out.

Discover Homellya's property-inspection tools

Read the move-in inspection checklist

Read the move-out inspection checklist

Legal sources

French Law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, in particular Articles 3-2, 7 and 22.
Decree no. 2016-382 of 30 March 2016 on property inspections and normal wear and tear.
Decree no. 87-712 of 26 August 1987 on tenant repairs.
French Civil Code, Article 1731.
Service-Public.fr guidance on property inspections and security-deposit returns.

This article provides general information and does not constitute personalized legal advice.