What is a move-in inventory?

A move-in inventory is a dated, photographed record of a rental unit's condition and contents at the start of a tenancy, room by room, including walls, floors, fixtures and appliances. It defines the 'original condition' the tenant must restore at the end, and is the strongest evidence in any deposit dispute.

Why is a move-in inventory important in Singapore?

Because reinstatement and deposit deductions are judged against the move-in condition. Without a dated inventory, it becomes one person's word against another at handover. With one, move-out is simply a comparison, protecting both tenant and landlord and preventing most disputes.

Who prepares the move-in inventory?

It is usually coordinated by the agent or landlord at handover, but the tenant should also take their own dated photos and keep a copy. Ideally both parties acknowledge the inventory in writing so it is mutually agreed evidence.

What should a move-in inventory include?

It should cover every room with dated photos and notes on walls, ceilings, flooring, doors, windows, built-in carpentry, fixtures, fittings, and the condition of provided appliances and furnishings, flagging any pre-existing damage so it can't later be charged to the tenant.

Deposit Guide

Move-In Inventory: Protect Your Deposit From Day One

By Mr Kobayashi, Operations Lead, REINSTATE.by MCSG · Updated 24 June 2026 · 5 min read

A dated, photographed move-in inventory is the single best protection for your rental deposit in Singapore. It records the unit's exact condition at handover, room by room, so at move-out, reinstatement and any deductions are settled by comparison, not by argument.

Every deposit guide on this site comes back to one thing: the move-in inventory. It's five minutes of photos that decide thousands of dollars at handover. Here's how to do it properly, the day you collect the keys.

What a move-in inventory is

It's a dated, photo-backed record of the unit's condition and contents at the start of the tenancy. It defines the "original handover condition" the tenant must restore under the reinstatement clause, and it's the strongest evidence in any deposit dispute.

Why it matters so much

Reinstatement and deductions are judged against move-in condition. Without a dated record, handover becomes one person's word against another's, and the tenant usually loses. With one, the same dispute becomes a simple before-and-after comparison. It's the difference between fair wear and tear being assumed (your favour) or contested.

What to include, room by room

Walls & ceilings, colour, any marks, cracks or existing holes.
Flooring, scratches, stains, loose tiles, parquet condition.
Doors, windows & locks, operation and any damage.
Built-in carpentry, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, feature walls.
Fixtures & fittings, lights, switches, taps, sanitary ware.
Provided appliances & furniture, make, condition, working order.
Pre-existing damage, flag everything already there, so it can't be charged to you later.

How to do it right

Photograph everything, dated, wide shots of each room plus close-ups of any flaw.
Do it on handover day, before you move anything in.
Note flaws in writing alongside the photos.
Get both parties to acknowledge it, a mutually agreed record is the strongest.
Keep your own copy safely; don't rely only on the agent's.

Using it at move-out

At the end of the lease, the inventory is your benchmark: reinstate to that condition, then run a documented joint inspection against it. Anything that matches move-in is settled; anything genuinely new is make-good. That's how the deposit comes back in full.

No solid move-in record, and a handover coming up?

Send us the unit and your lease details, we'll assess the current condition, quote any genuine reinstatement against what's fair, and manage the handover so the deposit return is as clean as possible.

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Reflects standard Singapore tenancy handover practice in 2026. A move-in inventory is contractual evidence, not a statutory requirement; its value comes from being dated, detailed and mutually acknowledged. This is general information, not legal advice.

References & further reading

Authoritative Singapore sources for further reading. This guide is general information, not legal advice, confirm current rules with the relevant authority.