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Check-out report and return of keys (Great Britain)
England, Scotland and Wales · in English
€2.00Fill it in online free — pay only to download
14 questions · about 6 min
Made for use in England, Scotland and Wales
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For the end of a tenancy in England, Wales or Scotland (in Wales, an occupation contract). It records the day the keys were returned, the final meter readings, the condition of each room compared with the check-in report and anything the tenant does not accept. Signed by both — or, if the landlord or agent does not attend, completed by the tenant alone with dated photos and sent to them by email and first class post. It is the evidence the deposit scheme’s free dispute service looks at.
- Made for use in England, Scotland and Wales
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- You are moving out of a rented flat in England, Wales or Scotland and handing back the keys.
- Your landlord did not turn up for the check-out and you want your own record with photos.
- The agent says the flat is not clean enough and you want the condition written down at the end.
- You want proof of the day you returned the keys and the final meter readings.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Address of the property
- Town or city
- Landlord
- Tenant
- Date
- Who was present at check-out
- Number of keys
- Electricity meter reading
- Gas meter reading
- Cold water meter reading
- Where the dated photos or video are kept (optional)
- Condition at check-out, room by room, compared with the check-in report
- Points or charges the tenant does not accept (optional)
- Your address after you move out (optional)
Common questions
- What does fair wear and tear mean at the end of a tenancy?
- The deterioration that comes from normal use over the length of the tenancy — faded paint, light carpet wear, loose hinges — which a landlord cannot charge for. Damage, missing items and dirt beyond the condition at check-in can be deducted, at a fair cost. The deposit schemes publish free guides on how their adjudicators judge it, taking account of how long the tenancy lasted.
- What should I do if my landlord does not turn up for the check-out?
- Complete this report yourself on the day you return the keys, room by room, with dated photos or a video; choose the option that you were alone, sign it, and send it that day by email and first class post with a free certificate of posting. Keep a copy and the photos: they are your evidence if deductions from the deposit are proposed.
- When should I ask for my deposit back after the check-out?
- Straight away, in writing, with this report attached. If the landlord proposes deductions you do not accept, the next step is the free dispute service of the scheme that protects your deposit; if it was never protected, a different letter or route applies — in Scotland, an application to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) within three months of the tenancy ending. The letter asking your landlord to return your deposit, in its version for where you live, sets out the routes.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
Related documents
- Inventory and check-in report for a rented home (Great Britain)
For landlords, letting agents and tenants in England, Wales or Scotland at the start of a tenancy — in Wales, an occupation contract. It records the condition of each room, the furniture and appliances, the meter readings, the keys and the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, refers to dated photos, and gives the tenant seven days to add comments. Both sign it. No law requires a landlord to make an inventory (in Scotland, a letting agent who manages the check-in must), but the deposit schemes’ free dispute services rely on one when a landlord proposes deductions at the end.
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