Vancouver landlords and property managers use a consistent set of inspection criteria when assessing move-out condition — most of it flows directly from the BC Residential Tenancy Act and the standard Condition Inspection Report used province-wide. This checklist covers every room and surface that gets inspected, in the order inspectors typically work through a unit.
Before You Start: What BC Law Actually Requires
The BC Residential Tenancy Act requires tenants to return a rental property in the same condition it was received, allowing for reasonable wear and tear. Reasonable wear and tear includes minor scuffs on walls, small nail holes, and carpet wear in traffic areas from normal use. It does NOT include stains, grease buildup, mould (from poor ventilation), or damage caused by neglect.
Vancouver's rental arbitration office (the Residential Tenancy Branch) has consistently ruled that professional cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms is not "wear and tear" — it's a standard tenant obligation. A thorough move-out clean is therefore not optional if you want your full deposit returned.
Vancouver Move-Out Cleaning Checklist
Kitchen
- Oven interior: rack removed, walls, floor, door interior — all grease and carbon removed
- Oven exterior: control panel, door exterior, handle
- Range hood and filter: degreased inside and out; filter washed or replaced
- Stovetop: burner grates removed and cleaned; drip pans replaced if stained through
- Refrigerator interior: all shelves and drawers removed, washed, and replaced; walls wiped; ice box defrosted
- Refrigerator exterior: doors, top, and seals wiped
- Microwave interior and exterior
- Dishwasher: interior wiped, filter cleaned, door seal wiped
- All cabinets: interior shelves, undersides, and door fronts wiped
- Under sink: wipe interior, remove any leakage residue
- Countertops: full surface including edges and backsplash grout
- Sink and faucet: descaled and polished; drain cleared
- Walls: grease splatter around stove and prep areas wiped
- Floor: swept and mopped including corners and under appliances (pulled out if accessible)
- Light fixture and exhaust fan: wiped, bulb working
Bathrooms
- Toilet: bowl, seat (top and underside), tank exterior, base and behind
- Shower/tub: walls and floor scrubbed; grout cleaned; glass door tracks and seals wiped
- Shower glass: squeegeed and dried to remove water marks
- Vanity and sink: descaled and polished; faucet and handles polished; drain cleared
- Mirror: streak-free clean
- Cabinets and drawers: all interiors wiped
- Exhaust fan: face plate removed and wiped; dust cleared
- Floor: scrubbed including grout lines and corners; behind toilet wiped
- Walls: wipe down including around toilet and near shower
Bedrooms
- All closets: interior shelves, rods, and floors swept and wiped
- Closet doors: tracks cleared; door faces wiped
- Ceiling fan or light fixture: dust removed; bulbs working
- Baseboards: dust and wipe full perimeter
- Walls: check for marks above switch plates, near doors, around furniture locations
- Windows: interior glass cleaned; sill and track wiped; screen cleared of debris
- Floor: vacuumed or swept and mopped including under bed area and in corners
Living and Dining Areas
- All walls: marks removed; nail holes filled with spackle if required
- Baseboards and trim: wipe full perimeter
- Windows: interior glass, sill, track, and screen
- Ceiling fan or light fixtures: dusted
- Fireplace (if present): ash removed, glass cleaned, surround wiped
- Balcony or patio: swept; railing wiped; door track cleared
- Floor: thoroughly vacuumed (all carpet areas), mopped (all hard surface areas), corners and edges
Laundry Area
- Washer interior drum: wipe; run a cleaning cycle if drum has residue
- Dryer interior drum: wipe; lint trap cleared and cleaned
- Both exterior surfaces: top, front, sides
- Behind and under units (if accessible)
- Floor around units
Entry and Hallways
- Front door: interior and exterior; handle and frame wiped
- All interior doors: handles, frames, and door faces (both sides)
- Light switches and outlet covers: wiped
- Baseboards throughout
- Floor: swept and mopped
- Storage closets: interior swept and wiped
Final Walkthrough Before Inspection
- All lightbulbs working
- All garbage removed (including recycling and organics bins emptied and wiped)
- Thermostat set appropriately
- All keys, fobs, and parking passes accounted for
- Before-and-after photos taken with timestamps (critical for any deposit dispute)
Vancouver-Specific Notes
Strata Buildings
Many Vancouver condos are strata-managed. When you move out of a strata unit, your cleaning obligations may extend to common areas you used (parking stall cleaned out, storage locker swept). Check your strata bylaws — some buildings require professional cleaning documentation for deposit release.
Mould and Moisture
Vancouver's wet climate means bathroom and kitchen mould is common in older rental stock. Tenants are responsible for mould caused by failure to ventilate (leaving bathroom fan off, drying laundry indoors without airflow). If mould is present, clean it with appropriate product and document that it was there at move-in if possible.
Hardwood Floors
Many Vancouver rentals have original or refinished hardwood floors. Use a hardwood-safe mop (barely damp, not wet); excessive moisture can lift and warp boards. Scratches from furniture are generally ruled as damage (not wear and tear) if severe.
Should You Hire a Professional?
For a 1-bedroom Vancouver rental, a professional move-out clean runs $249–$319. Vancouver's average rental deposit is $1,500–$2,500. The math is simple. Professional cleaners also provide before-and-after timestamped photos that are your strongest evidence in any RTB dispute.
Book a move-out clean in Vancouver →
Related: BC Residential Tenancy Act cleaning guide · Vancouver cleaning services and pricing