Free inspection template
Quarterly Landlord Walkthrough
Run this Quarterly Landlord Walkthrough from your phone — online or offline — and get a finished PDF report when you're done.
Overview
What is a Quarterly Landlord Walkthrough?
A quarterly landlord walkthrough is a mid-tenancy check, done with the 24 to 48 hours notice most states require by law, for example California Civil Code section 1954 and Texas Property Code section 92.158, to catch maintenance problems and lease violations before they compound. There's no single national form for the walkthrough itself. The practice draws on state landlord-tenant model documents, such as California's AB 1482 (Assembly Bill 1482) disclosure packet and Texas Real Estate Commission walkthrough forms, plus general property-management practice; none of these is a binding checklist the way the notice-period statutes are. A landlord or property manager runs it, looking for what's changed since the last visit rather than documenting a unit from scratch, which is why it takes 15 to 25 minutes against 30 to 45 for a full move-in report.
This template runs 62 questions across 14 sections and scores the visit: 90% or higher reads Compliant, 75 to 89 reads Action Required, and anything lower is Non-Compliant. Eleven questions are flagged critical, covering smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, exposed wiring, active leaks, egress windows, and water heater safety. A single fail on any of them fails the walkthrough regardless of the overall score. Lease-compliance items like unauthorized occupants, smoking, and pets are framed as observations, not violations, since an actual breach goes through the lease's own notice process instead. Built for a landlord or property manager checking their own property, not an outside inspector grading it.
The checklist
Every checkpoint, in full
A read-only preview of the live template. Clone it to run the inspection on mobile, where each item records Pass, Fail or N·A with optional photos and notes.
Walkthrough Information
7 checksNOTENote on Usage
This walkthrough supports routine landlord-tenant documentation and habitability tracking. It does not by itself satisfy your state's entry-notice, habitability, or other landlord-tenant requirements; the landlord remains responsible for complying with applicable law and the lease.
Property address (incl. unit number)
Tenant name(s)
Notice of entry provided on (date)
Most states require 24–48 hr written notice. Record the date notice was provided.
Tenant present during walkthrough?
Basement, utility, or laundry room present?
Garage or storage area present?
Outdoor area (yard, balcony, patio) present?
Exterior
6 checksProperty exterior in same general condition as prior visit?
Landscaping maintained per lease (lawn cut, no excessive overgrowth)?
No accumulation of trash, debris, or abandoned items in yard or driveway?
No visible damage to siding, windows, doors, or roof since last visit?
Gutters and downspouts visibly clear (where observable from grade)?
Photo of exterior — front of property
Living Areas
6 checksNo new damage to walls, floors, or ceilings beyond normal wear?
Windows operational; no broken panes; screens intact?
No signs of pest activity (droppings, evidence of rodents/insects)?
No signs of water damage on ceilings or walls?
Electrical outlets and switches operational; no exposed wiring observed?Critical
Photo of living area
Kitchen Quick Check
5 checksNo visible plumbing leaks under sink or near dishwasher?Critical
Stove, oven, and refrigerator operational?
Range hood / exhaust fan functional and not clogged with grease?
Cabinets and counters in serviceable condition; no major damage?
No pest activity in cupboards or near appliances?
Bathrooms Quick Check
5 checksNo active leaks at toilet, sink, or tub/shower?Critical
Caulking around tub/shower intact; no signs of water intrusion?
Exhaust fan or window functional for ventilation?
Toilet flushes and refills properly?
No signs of mold or significant mildew?
Bedrooms / Sleeping Areas
3 checksNo unauthorized modifications (painted walls, removed fixtures, added partitions)?
Windows in each bedroom operable (egress requirement)?Critical
Building code requires at least one operable egress window in every sleeping room.
No signs of excessive moisture or condensation on windows / walls?
Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
6 checksSmoke alarm present in each bedroom?Critical
Smoke alarm present outside each sleeping area + on each level of the home?Critical
All smoke alarms tested with test button and sounded?Critical
CO alarm present near sleeping areas (if home has fuel-burning appliance or attached garage)?Critical
Most states require CO alarms; rules vary by state. Mark N/A only if no fuel-burning appliance and no attached garage.
Alarm batteries replaced this visit (or non-removable 10-yr batteries verified)?
Photo of one smoke alarm with date noted (if recently installed/replaced)
Mechanical Systems
4 checksHVAC air filter checked; replaced if dirty?
Water heater area dry (no leaks); pressure relief discharge tube unobstructed?Critical
Electrical panel accessible (3 ft clearance) and free of damage?Critical
No signs of overheating outlets or burning odors?Critical
Basement / Utility Room
4 checksNo standing water, dampness, or musty odor?
Sump pump (if present) operational?
Foundation walls and floor free of new cracks or settlement?
Tenant storage in basement organized and safe (not blocking egress, not on furnace/water heater)?
Garage / Storage
3 checksGarage door operational; auto-reverse functional if powered?
No unauthorized vehicles or tenant business operations observed?
No fuels, flammables, or hazardous materials stored unsafely?
Outdoor Area
3 checksDeck / balcony in safe condition; railings firm; no rot?
Fence and gates (if any) intact and functional?
No signs of pest harborage (woodpiles against house, debris)?
Lease Compliance Observations
5 checksNo evidence of unauthorized pets (if lease prohibits pets)?
No evidence of smoking (if lease prohibits smoking)?
No evidence of unauthorized occupants (extra beds/belongings beyond lease count)?
No evidence of business operations on premises (if lease prohibits)?
Describe any compliance concerns observed (factual observations only — no interpretations)
Maintenance & Action Items
3 checksMaintenance items observed and action plan (item, urgency, target completion date)
Any items require immediate (within 24 hr) action?
Describe immediate-action items and the response
Sign-off
2 checksDate of next planned walkthrough (or annual review)
Landlord / property manager signature
Type your full legal name to acknowledge the observations recorded above.
Yours to edit
Not quite how your site runs?
Clone it and the checklist becomes yours in seconds. Reword a checkpoint, drop in a whole new section, flag what's critical, and add photo or signature fields wherever proof matters. No code, no form-building. And if you'd rather start clean, build a template from scratch in the same builder.
Field procedure
How to run this inspection
Walk the site area by area. Mark each checkpoint Pass, Fail or N·A as you go, and add a photo on any Fail to document it for the report.
STEP 01
Walkthrough Information
Basics + presence checks for optional sections.
STEP 02
Exterior
Walk the perimeter — note property condition, signs of new damage, lease compliance from the curb.
STEP 03
Living Areas
Check overall condition, look for new damage or lease-compliance issues. This is not a deep-clean check.
STEP 04
Kitchen Quick Check
Look for issues that could lead to bigger problems (leaks, ventilation failure, pest signs).
STEP 05
Bathrooms Quick Check
Plumbing, ventilation, and signs of moisture damage.
STEP 06
Bedrooms / Sleeping Areas
Quick check for safety devices and unauthorized modifications.
Run your first Quarterly Landlord Walkthrough today
Clone the template, inspect from your phone, and hand over a finished PDF report before you leave the floor.