Move-in inspection Farsta – what to check before you sign

Move-in inspection in Farsta: what to check before you sign

When you move into a rental apartment in Farsta, a move-in inspection is the most important step to protect you as a tenant. You carry it out together with the landlord before you take possession of the keys, and the purpose is to document the condition of the apartment so that both parties know what state it was in at move-in.

If you do not carry out a move-in inspection, you risk being held responsible for damage that was already there when you moved in. In this guide we go through what to check, how to document the condition, and what Swedish tenancy law says.

Why a move-in inspection matters

A move-in inspection means that you and the landlord go through the apartment together and note any damage, defects and wear and tear. The result is entered into an inspection protocol that both parties sign.

The protocol becomes your evidence if a dispute later arises over who caused a damage. Without a signed protocol, it is your word against the landlord's, and it is often difficult to prove that a stain on the floor or a broken window was not your fault.

Under the Swedish rent act (Jordabalken, chapter 12), the tenant has an obligation to take care of the apartment and to report defects that are discovered. A move-in inspection makes it clear which defects existed from the start, so that you do not have to pay for them when you move out.

Preparations before the inspection

Before you meet for the move-in inspection in Farsta, it is good to be prepared. Bring:

• A camera or mobile phone for taking photos
• A notepad or a printed checklist
• The lease agreement so you can check what is included

Book the inspection so that it takes place before you start unpacking. It is easier to see damage in an empty apartment than in an apartment full of moving boxes and furniture.

What to check – room by room

During the move-in inspection in Farsta, you should go through every room and every surface carefully. Here is what you must not miss:

Walls, floors and ceilings

Check that walls, floors and ceilings are intact and clean. Look for:

• Stains, holes or cracks in walls and ceilings
• Scratches, dents or water damage on floors
• Signs of damp or mould, especially in bathrooms and the kitchen

Photograph every damage you find and state where it is located in the protocol.

Windows and doors

Open and close all windows and doors. Check that they work as they should and that there are no broken panes or faulty locks. Also consider the entrance door and any basement or storage rooms included in the rent.

Kitchen and appliances

Test the stove, oven, refrigerator and freezer if they belong to the apartment. Check that the sink is intact and that there are no leaks under the sink. Open cabinets and drawers and make sure they open and close without problems.

Bathroom and toilet

Check that the toilet, sink, shower and bathtub work. Look for water damage around the floor drain, in corners and behind the washing machine if there is one. Check that ventilation works and that there is no smell of mould.

Electricity and lighting

Test all light switches, sockets and lamps. Check that the fuses are labelled and that you have access to the fuse box if you live in an apartment where the tenant is responsible for their own fuses.

Sign the protocol – and take your own photos

When you have gone through the whole apartment, you should sign the inspection protocol. Read it carefully before you sign. Make sure that all damage you found is noted, even those that seem small.

Also take your own photographs of every room and of every damage. Keep the photos together with a copy of the protocol. Digital photos with a timestamp are strong evidence if a dispute later arises.

If the landlord refuses to carry out a move-in inspection or refuses to sign a protocol, you should still document the condition yourself. Photographs and your own notes are better than nothing, even though they do not have the same evidentiary value as a jointly signed protocol.

What the Swedish rent act says

Under chapter 12 of the Swedish rent act (Jordabalken), the tenant shall take care of the apartment and use it in a manner consistent with the lease agreement. The tenant also has an obligation to report defects and faults to the landlord within a reasonable time after they are discovered.

If you do not report a defect that you discover at move-in, you may later be held responsible for having it remedied or the landlord may claim compensation for the damage. This is why the move-in inspection is so important: it clarifies which defects existed before you moved in.

The landlord, on their part, is responsible for the apartment being in a habitable condition at move-in and for maintaining it during the tenancy.

Particularly for you as a tenant in Farsta

Farsta is part of Stockholm's southern suburbs and has a large supply of rental apartments. Many landlords in the area are large housing companies such as Stockholmshem, but there are also private landlords and smaller housing companies.

If you rent a student apartment in Farsta, your landlord may be SSSB (Stockholms studentbostäder) or Akademiska Hus. Regardless of who owns your apartment, the same rules apply for move-in inspection and inspection protocol.

Contact Hyresgästföreningen if you have questions about your rights as a tenant in Farsta, or if you need help interpreting an inspection protocol or a lease agreement.

Summary

A move-in inspection in Farsta takes only an hour or so, but it can save you a lot of money and trouble further down the line. Go through the apartment together with the landlord, sign a protocol where all damage is noted, and take your own photographs as documentation. Then you have it in black and white what condition the apartment was in when you moved in — and you avoid the risk of being charged for damage you did not cause.

If you are unsure about what should be in the protocol or how to report a defect, you can always turn to Hyresgästföreningen for guidance.