Apartment Handover Checklist in Jakarta to Protect Your Deposit
Apartment handover checklist: why it protects your deposit
Many tenants treat the handover of the unit as a formality, but this is where the fate of your deposit is decided. Damage that is not recorded when you move in can be treated as your damage when you move out.
Use the checklist below when you receive the keys to a rented apartment in Jakarta.
Before handover day
A little preparation makes the inspection much smoother.
- Ask the owner for an inventory list of the furniture and appliances.
- Make sure the lease agreement is signed and your payment is recorded.
- Ask the building management about the schedule for resident registration and which documents are needed.
What to check inside the unit
Go through the apartment room by room and test everything rather than just looking at it.
- Run all the air conditioners for a few minutes and check that they cool and do not drip.
- Open the hot and cold taps in the kitchen and bathroom, and check the water pressure and any leaks.
- Flush the toilet and check the drains in the shower and sinks.
- Switch on the stove, fridge, washing machine and microwave, if provided.
- Check all the lights and power sockets.
- Open and close the windows, the balcony door and their locks.
- Check the walls, floors and furniture for stains, cracks or scratches.
Document everything
Take photos or videos of every room, including small damage as close up as possible. Keep the files with their dates.
Write your findings in the handover report (berita acara serah terima) and ask the owner or their representative to sign it as well.
Keys and access
Before you leave, confirm that you have everything you need to get in and out.
- Count the keys to the unit and the mailbox.
- Receive the lift and parking access cards, then test them on the spot.
- Record the electricity and water meter readings on handover day.
When the lease ends
Do the same thing when you move out: photograph the condition of the unit, return all keys and cards, and record the final meter readings. With complete records from both move-in and move-out, getting your deposit back is much easier.
How we can help
Agents at Best Property Jakarta accompany the handover of units rented through us, help check the condition of the unit, and prepare the handover report together with the owner. Contact us before your move-in day to arrange it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the handover matter for my deposit?
Damage that is not recorded when you move in can be treated as your damage when you move out.
What should I document at handover?
Photograph or video every room, including small damage up close, and keep the files with their dates. Write your findings in the handover report and ask the owner or their representative to sign it.
Which appliances should I test?
Test the air conditioners, taps, toilet, drains, stove, fridge, washing machine and microwave if provided, plus lights, sockets, windows and locks.
What should I do on the day I move out?
Photograph the unit, return all keys and cards, and record the final meter readings.
