Texas Rental Property Walkthrough Report
A rental property walkthrough report is the formal condition report a Texas landlord prepares at move-in, at move-out, or during a tenancy — room by room, with dated photos and signatures. It is the single document that later separates pre-existing wear, new damage, and a defensible deposit deduction.
What it is
A walkthrough report is a structured condition record for one property and one inspection date. The same report format is used at move-in to set the baseline, at any periodic walkthrough to note condition during the tenancy, and at move-out to record the end state. Compared side by side, the move-in and move-out reports are the evidence behind the security-deposit accounting.
When to use it
- At move-in, before or as the tenant takes possession, to set the baseline condition
- At move-out, at surrender, before cleaning or repairs change the condition being recorded
- At a periodic walkthrough during the tenancy, on whatever notice and entry terms the lease provides
- Before listing deductions, when you need one document that ties each charge to a recorded condition change
What to include — checklist
Print this page to use the checklist on paper.
- Property address and unit number, the type of walkthrough (move-in, move-out or periodic), and the date and time
- Names of everyone present, and a note if the tenant was invited and did not attend
- Room-by-room entries for every room: walls, paint, floors, ceilings, windows, blinds, doors, fixtures and closets — rated and described, not just marked 'good'
- Kitchen and bathroom detail: appliances present and working, plumbing run and checked, counters, tubs, toilets and exhaust fans
- Pre-existing damage described specifically — location, size and nature — at move-in, so it cannot be charged later
- A dated photo or video log keyed to the report, with the same angles planned again for move-out
- Exterior and other areas the lease covers: yard, patio, garage, storage and parking, where applicable
- A tenant comments section, so disagreements about condition are recorded on the report itself
- Signatures of landlord and tenant with the date, a copy offered to the tenant, and the signed original kept with the lease and deposit records
Texas-specific requirements
- No specific Texas-mandated walkthrough report form was verified for this page. Texas law does not hand landlords a prescribed condition-report format in the research behind this site — the report's value is as evidence for the duties Texas law does impose.
- Texas Property Code §92.104(c): if any part of a deposit is retained, the landlord must give a written description and itemized list of all deductions. A signed move-in report compared with the move-out report is how each item on that list is supported.
- Texas Property Code §92.104(b): no part of a deposit may be retained for normal wear and tear. A report that records wear honestly at move-in makes the wear-versus-damage call at move-out far easier to defend.
- Texas Property Code §92.103(a): the deposit refund is due on or before the 30th day after surrender. Do the move-out walkthrough promptly at surrender so the accounting is not rushed at the deadline.
- Texas Property Code §92.106: a landlord must keep accurate records of all security deposits. File the signed reports and photo log with the deposit records for that tenancy, and do not alter an original report after signing — correct it with a new dated note.
Statute references are included only where verified for this pilot. Where a rule depends on your lease or local court, the page says so instead of guessing.
Common mistakes
- Taking photos with no written report — pictures without descriptions, dates or room labels are hard to tie to a deduction later
- Doing a careful move-out report but no move-in baseline, so there is nothing signed to compare it against
- Marking every room 'good condition' in identical words, which reads as a form filled in without looking
- Never offering the tenant a chance to attend, note comments or receive a copy, then meeting the dispute for the first time over the deposit
- Editing or re-writing the original report after signing instead of adding a dated correction
- Letting the report sit in a phone or inbox instead of filed with the lease and the §92.106 deposit records
Where landlords get this form
These providers publish Texas-specific landlord forms and document tools, including property walkthrough and condition reports. We describe them here for comparison — we do not link out from this pilot site yet.
| Provider | Best described as | What to check before you buy |
|---|---|---|
| LawDepot | DIY legal-document builder covering leases, applications and notices, form by form or by subscription. | Whether the Texas version is included in a free trial, subscription, or single-document price. |
| ezLandlordForms | Landlord-focused forms library built specifically around rentals, screening and state lease packages. | Whether you need a single form or its Texas state package, and what updates are included. |
| Rocket Lawyer | Document builder bundled with membership options that can include attorney Q&A services. | What the membership includes after any trial, and how cancellation works. |
| LegalZoom | Well-known legal-services platform, strongest on business formation and broader legal products, with some landlord documents. | Whether the exact landlord form you need is offered for Texas, versus a business product. |
Partner links activate after approval. When partnerships are approved, links on this page may become affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That will be disclosed here before any link goes live.
Texas Landlord Paperwork Pack — $19
A printable bundle of the Texas checklists and letter templates from this site, organized in the order a small landlord actually uses them: application, lease signing, move-in, late rent, renewal, move-out and deposit return.
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Frequently asked questions
- Does Texas require a specific walkthrough report form?
- No specific Texas-mandated walkthrough report form was verified for this page. Use a thorough room-by-room form anyway: the report is the evidence behind the itemized deduction list §92.104(c) requires and the accurate deposit records §92.106 requires.
- How does a walkthrough report affect the security deposit?
- Directly. The signed move-in report is the baseline and the move-out report is the end state; the difference between them, minus normal wear and tear that §92.104(b) excludes, is what a lawful deduction has to rest on. Without the pair of reports, deductions become one person's memory against another's.
- Should the tenant sign the walkthrough report?
- Yes, where the tenant attends — the signature records that the tenant saw the findings and had the chance to note disagreements on the report itself. If the tenant declines or does not attend, note that on the report and keep the dated photo log.
- How long should I keep walkthrough reports?
- Keep them with the lease and the security-deposit records for that tenancy — §92.106 requires accurate deposit records, and the reports are part of that record. This page does not state a specific retention period, because none was verified for it; when in doubt, keep the file well past the deposit accounting.