Off-campus rental move-in checklist

When you rent off-campus, make sure you protect yourself by conducting a rental inspection and understand property standards.

Conduct a Rental Inspection

When you walkthrough the rental, before you have moved anything in, take a tally of issues to protect you from damage claims when you move out. 

Here are some things you should look out for: 

 Cracks in floor, ceiling, walls, etc.

 Damage to the property's exterior. 

 Working smoke detectors. 

 Powered electrical outlets. 

 State of any included furniture. 

 State of the stove and other appliances. 

 Working and secured windows and doors. 

 Tip: Take pictures of every room from multiple angles in order to protect yourself from accusations of damages. 

Property Standards

Every landlord has the duty to provide and maintain your property up to a certain standard. 

These standards are typicallly enshrined in bylaws that change from municipality to municipality. 

If you believe your landlord is in violation of property standards bylaw and they are not taking action, you can reach out to the city to check and/or report: 

• Waterloo bylaw
• Brantford property standards bylaw