The move-out inspection — the walkthrough done when the tenant leaves — is the counterpart to the move-in inspection. Like it, it isn't mandatory under the Civil Code or the TAL standard lease. And like it, it's almost always the document that decides a damage dispute.
One Quebec particularity changes everything: unlike Ontario or the U.S., security deposits are illegal here. So you can't simply 'keep it from the deposit'. To recover the cost of real damage, you need evidence — and that evidence is the comparison between the move-in inspection and the move-out inspection.
No deposit in Quebec: proof is your only protection
Article 1904 of the Civil Code bars the landlord from demanding any sum other than the first term of rent — so no security deposit, no key deposit, no 'last month' held as security. See our article on why deposits are illegal for the details.
Normal wear or damage: the distinction that decides everything
The tenant must return the unit 'in the condition received', allowing for normal wear (art. 1890 C.C.Q.). You can't bill for normal wear — only for damage beyond prudent, diligent use. That's the nuance the TAL examines first.
| Normal wear (not billable) | Damage (billable) |
|---|---|
| Paint faded after several years | Holes in walls, colour stains, drawings |
| Small nail or frame holes | Large holes, smashed plaster, torn anchors |
| Floor worn in traffic areas | Burns, deep scratches, water damage |
| Yellowed silicone caulking | Mould from a reported lack of ventilation |
| Appliances worn by normal use | Broken, missing, or filthy appliances |
| Light cleaning to redo | Unit left unsanitary, debris, garbage |
How to do the move-out inspection properly
- 1Schedule the inspection at key handover, ideally with the tenant present, room by room.
- 2Use the SAME checklist as the move-in inspection so you can compare directly, room by room.
- 3Photograph and film everything with a visible date (metadata or on-screen timestamp) — especially damaged areas, in close-up and wide shots.
- 4Record every difference from move-in precisely: location, nature, extent of the damage.
- 5Have the tenant sign the move-out document if present — their signature acknowledges the recorded condition.
- 6Keep it all (move-in + move-out + photos): it's this file, not your word, that convinces the TAL.
If the tenant refuses to attend or sign
This is common, and it's not a dead end. The move-out inspection keeps its evidentiary value even without the tenant, as long as you're rigorous:
- Do the inspection as soon as you regain possession and date everything (photos, video, notes).
- Bring a neutral witness (neighbour, manager, broker) who can confirm the recorded condition.
- Send the tenant the move-out inspection and photos in writing — their silence doesn't void your evidence.
- Change nothing before documenting everything: repairing too fast destroys the proof of damage.
Claiming damages: the procedure
- 1Cost the damage with real quotes or repair invoices — not a finger-in-the-air estimate.
- 2Send the tenant a formal demand letter (in writing, ideally registered) detailing the damage, amounts and a payment deadline.
- 3If the tenant refuses or ignores it, file an application at the TAL to claim damages.
- 4Present the full file: signed move-in inspection, move-out inspection, dated photos, quotes/invoices.
Without a move-in inspection, move-out isn't enough
This is the key point: a move-out inspection only has value compared against a signed move-in inspection. Without a starting reference, you can't prove the damage wasn't already there on arrival — and the TAL then applies normal wear very broadly.
Common end-of-lease mistakes
- 1Believing a 'deposit' exists and can be withheld — there is none in Quebec.
- 2Billing for normal wear (faded paint, worn flooring) — dismissed by the TAL.
- 3Claiming the price of new for an already-aged item — only residual value is awarded.
- 4Repairing or repainting before photographing — the proof of damage vanishes.
- 5Having no move-in inspection — with no baseline, the claim collapses.
- 6Waiting months to claim — the file loses credibility and traceability.