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Moving In & Out Questions

What to document when you move in, the notice you owe before you leave, what happens if you stay past your lease, and how to protect your deposit and your rental history on the way out.

What should I document during a move-in inspection?Photograph and video every room, note every existing scratch, stain or issue in writing, and get your landlord to sign a shared checklist — this record is your best protection when you move out.
How much notice do I need to give before moving out?For a fixed-term lease, check your lease's own notice window before it ends. For a month-to-month tenancy, your state sets a specific number of days a tenant must give — see the table below for yours.
What should I do before returning my keys to the landlord?Do a final walkthrough with photos, clean thoroughly, fix small issues you're responsible for, give your forwarding address in writing, and return the keys in a way you can prove.
Do I still owe rent after I give notice to move out?Yes — you owe rent through your official move-out date, which for a month-to-month tenancy is set by your state's required notice period (see the table below), not by whichever date you decide to actually leave.
What happens if I stay after my lease ends?You become what's legally called a holdover tenant, and what happens next depends on your landlord's response and your state's law — they can accept rent and create a new tenancy, start the eviction process, or in some states charge a higher penalty rent for staying without permission.
Can my landlord send me to collections after I move out?Yes — if you owe unpaid rent or other legitimate charges after moving out, your landlord can turn the debt over to a collections agency, and once that happens, the debt collector has to follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, including your right to dispute the debt in writing.
Can a former landlord give me a bad rental reference?Yes — a landlord can generally tell a prospective landlord the truth about your tenancy, including late payments or lease violations, but they can't lie or make false statements that damage your ability to rent, and doing so can amount to defamation.
Can a landlord garnish my wages for unpaid rent?Not directly — a landlord has to sue you and win a court judgment before they can garnish your wages, and even then, federal law caps how much of your paycheck can be taken.

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