Move-In Inventory Checklist Colombia

The move-in inventory (acta de entrega or inventario del inmueble) is the most important document most renters never create. In Colombia, deposits are frequently withheld at lease end using damage claims for pre-existing conditions. A proper move-in inventory signed by both parties at possession is your legal protection.

This guide gives you the complete checklist — every room, every item — plus a template approach for documenting the condition in writing.

The acta de entrega (or inventario del inmueble) is a document listing every element of the apartment and its condition at the time possession is transferred. A proper acta includes:

• Date and parties (tenant full name, ID; landlord full name, ID)
• Property address and apartment number
• Meter readings at handover (electricity, gas, water)
• Condition of every room, surface, fixture, and appliance
• Count of keys and access fobs delivered
• Photographs referenced by item
• Signatures of both parties

Both parties receive a signed copy. If your landlord doesn't offer one, create it yourself and ask them to sign. If they refuse to sign, send it via WhatsApp/email as written notice of condition — a contemporaneous digital record creates a timestamped evidentiary trail.

Entrance / Common Areas

• Front door lock mechanism and condition
• Number and type of keys / access fobs delivered (document count)
• Intercom / doorbell function
• Hallway walls — stains, scuffs, holes
• Flooring condition — cracked tiles, scratches, warping

Living Room

• Wall condition — paint, stains, nail holes
• Ceiling — cracks, water stains, paint peeling
• Window frames and seals — cracks, functionality
• Balcony door (if applicable) — lock, seal, condition
• Electrical outlets — count and function test
• Light fixtures — all bulbs working
• If furnished: sofa, table, chairs — condition and stains noted

Kitchen

• All burners functional (gas or electric)
• Oven function (if present)
• Extractor fan / hood function
• Refrigerator — runs cold, all seals intact, no odors
• Cabinet doors — hinges, no warping
• Sink drain — runs freely
• Under-sink area — no leaks, no mold
• Countertop condition — chips, cracks
• Tile grout — no black mold

Bathroom(s)

• Hot water — runs hot within 60 seconds at morning peak
• Water pressure — acceptable at shower and sink simultaneously
• Toilet flush and fill function
• Shower drain — no slow draining
• Tile grout and caulk — mold condition noted
• Exhaust ventilation — fan works or window exists
• Under-sink cabinet — no water damage
• Mirror and medicine cabinet condition

Bedroom(s)

• Wall condition — all sides, including behind where furniture will go
• Ceiling — cracks, stains
• Closet / wardrobe interior — no mold, hinges work
• Window function and seal
• Outlets — count and placement for bed/workspace
• If furnished: bed frame, mattress condition

Utility Meters

• Electricity meter reading at handover — photograph with timestamp
• Gas meter reading at handover — photograph with timestamp
• Water meter reading (if unit-specific) — photograph with timestamp
• Confirm which utility accounts transfer to tenant vs. remain in landlord's name

1. Photograph every item in the checklist. Don't assume you'll "remember" — you won't in 12 months.
2. Enable GPS metadata on your phone camera so photos are timestamped and geotagged.
3. Take wide shots of each room plus close-ups of any damage, stain, or wear item.
4. Send all photos to your landlord via WhatsApp immediately after the visit. The delivery timestamp is your legal record. Say: "Adjunto fotos del estado del apartamento en la entrega hoy [date]."
5. Keep a cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud) organized by room.