Exit Location Report for a Residential Lease

Verified 04 May 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

An exit inventory must be made when the tenant leaves the dwelling and returns the keys. The rules vary depending on whether the dwelling was rented empty or furnished.

Empty

Conditions

The inventory can be carried out at the time of the liberation of the premises or very shortly thereafter.

The housing must contain the equipment mentioned in lease.

The inventory must be carried out under good lighting conditions.

State of play conducted amicably

The inventory is carried out in a contradictory and amicable manner by the tenant and the owner (or his representative).

It is recommended to agree on an inventory date by registered mail with notice of receipt.

The tenant does not have to pay for the establishment of the exit site list (for example: the exit site list fees charged by the real estate agency).

Any clause in the lease that requires the tenant to pay for the condition of the premises is abusive. It must be considered unwritten.

In case of dispute

An amicable inventory may not be possible in the following situations:

  • One of the parties (owner or tenant) does not attend the meeting of the state of play
  • One of the parties refuses to take stock of the situation
  • One of the parties refuses to sign it

Then you have to call in a commissioner of justice (formerly bailiff and judicial auctioneer) to carry out the inventory. The Commissioner of Justice may be contacted by the landlord or tenant. The costs requested by the Commissioner of Justice are shared by half between the tenant and the owner.

The sums requested by the Commissioner of Justice (formerly bailiff and judicial auctioneer) vary according to the surface area of the dwelling.

Tableau - Cost of a rental finding (disputed inventory prepared by the Commissioner of Justice)

Housing surface

Price List (VAT included)

Up to 50 m²

Fees for acts: €131.50

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

More than 50 m² and up to 150 m²

Fees for acts: €153.20

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

More than 150 m²

Fees for acts: €229.81

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

Half of the total cost is shared between the landlord (lessor) and the tenant.

The Commissioner of Justice notifies the owner and the tenant of the appointment at least 7 days in advance by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. Even in the absence of the tenant or landlord, the Commissioner of Justice prepares a report whose findings are binding on the parties (tenant or landlord), without possible challenge.

  • If the tenant is not present at the appointment set by the Commissioner of Justice, the landlord must refer the protection of the court on which the dwelling depends to the litigation judge. The judge will determine the tenant's refusal and appoint a commissioner of justice to obtain the keys.
  • If the lessor is not present at the appointment set by the Commissioner of Justice, the tenant can return the keys to the lessor by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. In the absence of an exit inventory, the tenant is considered to have restored the dwelling to good condition.
Who shall I contact

The exit inventory must accurately describe the accommodation and the equipment it contains. It also notes its state of conservation. It shall contain at least the following information:

  • Type of inventory: inventory of exit locations
  • Date of preparation of the inventory
  • Location of the accommodation
  • Name or name of the parties (lessee, lessor) and domicile or registered office of the lessor
  • If applicable, name or name and permanent address or registered place of business of the persons authorized to carry out the inventory
  • Individual meter readings for water or energy consumption
  • Keys or any other means of access to premises for private or common use
  • For each room and part of the dwelling, precise description of the condition of the floor, wall and ceiling coverings, equipment and elements of the dwelling. It can be supplemented with observations or reservations and illustrated with images.
  • Signature of the parties (tenant, lessor) or persons mandated to carry out the inventory
  • Address of the new home or place of accommodation of the tenant
  • Date of completion of the inventory of places of entry
  • Possibly changes in the condition of each room and part of the dwelling observed since the establishment of the state of the places of entry.

FYI  

during the inventory of places of exit, the differences observed with respect to the inventory of places of entry which are due to the dilapidated the housing or the dilapidation of the equipment may not cause any restraint on the security deposit. In order to distinguish between obsolescence and deterioration, the tenant and the lessor may have agreed, at the time of signing the lease, to the application of a dilapidated grid.

The form of the document must allow comparison of the condition of the dwelling observed when entering and leaving the premises. The exit entry point records may be carried out:

  • on a single document, comprising for each room of the housing a column "at the entrance of the tenant" and a column "at the tenant's exit"
  • or on separate documents having a similar presentation.

The inventory, drawn up in writing on paper or in electronic form, shall be delivered by hand or by dematerialized means to each of the parties (lessor, tenant or their representative) at the time of signature.

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By refusal of the owner (formal notice not effective)

When the lessor refuses to make an entry inventory, the lessee must send him a formal notice to do it.

If the landlord persists in his refusal, he will have to prove at the end of the lease that he gave the accommodation in good condition to show the damage caused by the tenant.

By refusal of the tenant

The tenant is considered to have received the accommodation in good condition from rental repairs. He will have to return it in good condition for rental repairs, unless he can prove the initial poor condition of the dwelling. Evidence can be provided, for example, by means of photographs taken by a commissioner of justice - formerly a bailiff and judicial auctioneer - (paid approach).

For other repairs (work to be carried out by the lessor or dilapidated of the premises), it is up to the owner to demonstrate that they are attributable to the tenant.

By negligence of the owner and the tenant

The tenant is considered to have received the accommodation in good condition from rental repairs. He will have to return it in good condition for rental repairs, unless he can prove the initial poor condition of the dwelling. Evidence may be provided, for example, by means of photographs taken by a Commissioner of Justice (fee-paying).

For other repairs (work to be carried out by the lessor or dilapidated of the premises), it is up to the owner to demonstrate that they are attributable to the tenant.

Any dispute concerning the state of the premises may be brought by the owner or the tenant before a departmental conciliation commission or a conciliator of justice. Conciliation is optional and free of charge.

If the conciliation is not successful or if you do not wish to initiate it, you can refer the protection of the court on which the housing depends to the litigation judge.

Who shall I contact

Furnished

The rules depend on when the lease was signed.

Realization

State of play conducted amicably

The landlord and the tenant (or a third party authorized by them, such as a real estate agent) must observe the state of the premises together in good lighting conditions and at the time of the liberation of the premises or very shortly thereafter.

The dwelling must contain the furniture or equipment mentioned in lease.

The exit location report cannot be charged to the tenant.

State of play (rental statement)

If the inventory cannot be carried out amicably, it must be carried out by Commissioner of Justiceat the request of the owner or tenant.

The Commissioner of Justice must notify the landlord and the tenant of the appointment at least 7 days in advance by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The maintenance costs are then shared by half between the tenant and the lessor.

The sums requested by the Commissioner of Justice (formerly bailiff and judicial auctioneer) vary according to the surface area of the dwelling.

Tableau - Cost of a rental finding (disputed inventory prepared by the Commissioner of Justice)

Housing surface

Price List (VAT included)

Up to 50 m²

Fees for acts: €131.50

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

More than 50 m² and up to 150 m²

Fees for acts: €153.20

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

More than 150 m²

Fees for acts: €229.81

+ Convening letters: €17.88

+ Travel: €9.20

Half of the total cost is shared between the landlord (lessor) and the tenant.

If the tenant is not present at the appointment set by the Commissioner of Justice, the lessor must refer the case to the protection litigation judge the court on which the dwelling depends. The judge will determine the tenant's refusal and appoint a commissioner of justice to obtain the handing over of the keys and the completion of the inventory.

Shape

The form of the document must allow comparison of the condition of the dwelling observed when entering and leaving the premises. Entry and exit records may be made:

  • on a single document, comprising for each room of the housing a column "at the entrance of the tenant" and a column "at the tenant's exit"
  • or on separate documents having a similar presentation.

The inventory shall be prepared in paper or electronic form. It is delivered in person or by dematerialized means to each of the parties (lessor, lessee) or to their representative at the time of its signature.

Content

The exit inventory must accurately describe the accommodation and the equipment it contains. It also notes its state of conservation. It shall contain at least the following information:

  • Type of inventory: inventory of exit locations
  • Date of preparation of the inventory
  • Location of the accommodation
  • Name or name of the parties (lessee, lessor) and domicile or registered office of the lessor
  • If applicable, name or name and permanent address or registered place of business of the persons authorized to carry out the inventory
  • Individual meter readings for water or energy consumption
  • Keys or any other means of access to premises for private or common use
  • For each room and part of the dwelling, precise description of the condition of the floor, wall and ceiling coverings, equipment and elements of the dwelling. It can be supplemented with observations or reservations and illustrated with images.
  • Signature of the parties (tenant, lessor) or persons mandated to carry out the inventory
  • Address of the new home or place of accommodation of the tenant
  • Date of completion of the inventory of places of entry
  • Possibly changes in the condition of each room and part of the dwelling observed since the establishment of the state of the places of entry.

FYI  

during the inventory of places of exit, the changes observed with respect to the inventory of places of entry which are due to the dilapidated housing or equipment shall not justify a withholding from the security deposit. In order to distinguish between obsolescence and deterioration, the tenant and the lessor may agree to apply a dilapidated grid.

Lack of inventory of the places of entry

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By refusal of the owner (formal notice not effective)

When the lessor refuses to make an entry inventory, the lessee must send him a formal notice to do it.

If the landlord persists in his refusal, he will have to prove at the end of the lease that he gave the accommodation in good condition to show the damage caused by the tenant.

By refusal of the tenant

The tenant is considered to have received the accommodation in good condition from rental repairs. He will have to return it in good condition for rental repairs, unless he can prove the initial poor condition of the dwelling. Evidence can be provided, for example, by means of photographs taken by a commissioner of justice - formerly a bailiff and judicial auctioneer - (paid approach).

For other repairs (work to be carried out by the lessor or dilapidated of the premises), it is up to the owner to demonstrate that they are attributable to the tenant.

By negligence of the owner and the tenant

The tenant is considered to have received the accommodation in good condition from rental repairs. He will have to return it in good condition for rental repairs, unless he can prove the initial poor condition of the dwelling. Evidence may be provided, for example, by means of photographs taken by a Commissioner of Justice (fee-paying).

For other repairs (work to be carried out by the lessor or dilapidated of the premises), it is up to the owner to demonstrate that they are attributable to the tenant.

Appeals in case of dispute

Any dispute concerning the state of the premises may be brought by the owner or the tenant before a departmental conciliation commission or a conciliator of justice. Conciliation is optional and free of charge.

If the conciliation is not successful or if you do not wish to initiate it, you can refer the case to the protection litigation judge the court on which the dwelling depends.

The inventory is not mandatory.

If the lease provides for an entry and exit inventory, its implementation is not regulated by law. These documents make it possible to determine the liability of the parties in the event of a dispute concerning the condition of the rented accommodation and its equipment. But these documents are not regulated by law.

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