Move-In Ready Apartments Checklist: 7 Steps
Table of Contents
Step 1: Review Your Lease and Ontario Tenant Rights Before Moving In
Step 2: Complete an Apartment Move-In Inspection Checklist
Step 3: Document Move-In Condition and Take Photos
Step 4: Verify What to Check Before Renting an Apartment
Step 5: Gather Furnished Apartment Essentials Checklist
Step 6: Set Up Utilities, Internet, and Services
Step 7: Use an Apartment Move-In Checklist Template on Move-In Day
Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 10, 2026
Step 1: Review Your Lease and Ontario Tenant Rights Before Moving In
Before signing or paying, read your lease carefully and use a move-in ready apartments checklist to verify everything is in order.
Key lease items to review:
Rent amount and payment due date
Lease start and end dates
What utilities are included
Pet rules (no-pet clauses in leases are generally void in Ontario, though condo rules may apply)
Maintenance responsibilities
Notice periods for breaking the lease
Ontario law limits deposits: a landlord can collect a last month's rent deposit of up to one month's rent and a refundable key deposit, and nothing else. Most units are also limited to the yearly rent increase guideline (2.1% for 2026), but units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt, so ask which applies.
Check the notice rules. In Ontario, a tenant must give at least 60 days' written notice, and a fixed-term lease can't end early unless the landlord agrees or approves an assignment. See the Landlord and Tenant Board's guide for details and exceptions.
Step 2: Complete an Apartment Move-In Inspection Checklist
"Inspect the apartment" is useless without a room-by-room sequence and a documentation method that holds up months later. This room-by-room walkthrough helps you build a clear written record.
Inspect before moving a single box in, ideally with the landlord present. Budget 45-60 minutes for a one-bedroom, longer for a two-bedroom or a unit with a balcony or locker.
Entry, doors, and locks:
Test the deadbolt and handle lock separately; both should engage smoothly.
Confirm how many keys and fobs you receive and whether the fob works for the front door, garage, gym, and amenity rooms.
Check the door closer, peephole, and chain or secondary latch, plus gaps or drafts around the frame.
Walls, ceilings, and baseboards:
Note every mark, dent, scuff, and patch, and photograph each with something for scale.
Look for water stains, bubbling paint, or discoloration near ceilings, above windows, and around the bathroom; these signal past leaks.
Check for cracks wider than a hairline, soft drywall spots, and how many picture hooks are already in the walls.
Floors:
Walk the unit in socks and feel for soft or squeaky spots.
Note carpet stains, tears, pet odor, and lifting seams.
On hardwood or laminate, look for scratches, warping, and gaps; on tile, check for cracks, missing grout, and loose pieces near the tub or shower.
Kitchen:
Open every cabinet and drawer; note sticking doors, loose hinges, and catching slides.
Run the fridge, then test the door seal with a piece of paper, if it slides out easily, the gasket is worn.
Turn on every burner, oven, and broiler, and confirm the hood fan pulls air.
Run the dishwasher briefly and check for standing water.
Check under the sink for past leaks, warped cabinet bottoms, and shut-off valve condition.
Confirm whether a microwave is included and whether it is built-in or freestanding.
Bathroom:
Run the shower and tub for several minutes; watch for slow drainage and check the ceiling below if accessible.
Flush the toilet twice and listen for continuous refilling, which signals a running flapper.
Hold a tissue near the exhaust fan grille to confirm it pulls air.
Check caulking around the tub, shower, and sink for mold, gaps, or peeling, and look for water damage on ceilings and walls.
Windows and balcony:
Open and close every window; they should latch securely without force.
Check for cracked panes, broken seals (fog between the glass), and damaged screens.
Confirm the balcony door locks and the railing is secure, and note whether blinds or curtains are included and operable.
Utilities, safety, and systems:
Test every light switch and outlet with a small phone charger.
Locate the electrical panel and confirm which breakers control which rooms.
Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Ontario's Fire Code requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas, and carbon monoxide alarms in many homes, including those with a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. If an alarm is missing or doesn't work, tell your landlord right away.
Turn on the heat source (baseboard, forced air, heat pump); in a Toronto winter, a non-functioning heat source is an emergency.
If there is air conditioning, confirm whether it is central, window, or portable, and whether it is included.
Storage and inclusions:
Measure closets, the pantry, and any locker, and confirm the locker's location.
Photograph every piece of furniture, appliance, and fixture staying with the unit. This is your record of what was there at move-in.
How to document it properly:
Take wide shots of each room from the doorway, then close-ups of every issue.
Timestamp photos by keeping location and time settings on, or by photographing a dated piece of paper in the first shot.
Record electricity, gas, and water meter readings on move-in day if accessible and not shared.
Write a short room-by-room condition report, list every issue, and email it to your landlord the same day; keep the sent email and any reply.
If the landlord won't sign a condition report, send your own by email and, for a stronger record, by a method that produces delivery confirmation.
Pro Tip Skipping the inspection is a common, avoidable mistake. Months later, nobody remembers exactly what was already there. Document everything now, and you'll have a clear record if there's ever a question about damage.
Watch Out A verbal "we'll fix that" is not a record. Put every issue in writing the same day, with photos, and ask for a written confirmation of what will be repaired and by when.
Step 3: Document Move-In Condition and Take Photos
Create a detailed written record of the apartment's condition on move-in day. Combined with photos, it is your proof if disputes arise later.
Use this structure for your move-in condition report:
Date and time of inspection
Apartment address and unit number
Your name and lease start date
Room-by-room description of condition
List of included furniture and appliances
Utilities that are working
Any damage or issues you found
Take at least 10-15 photos: each room from multiple angles, close-ups of damage, appliances, window views, bathroom fixtures, and kitchen condition.
Email this documentation to your landlord and keep a copy.
FoxySuites units are move-in ready, and we encourage every tenant to document the unit's condition on move-in day.
Step 4: Verify What to Check Before Renting an Apartment
Beyond the physical inspection, verify practical features that affect daily life. These determine whether the apartment works for how you live.
Internet and connectivity:
Test Wi-Fi strength in every room
Ask about upload and download speeds
Confirm the provider and plan, and whether you can upgrade
Noise levels:
Visit during evening and weekend hours
Listen for traffic, neighbors, and construction
Test sound travel between units and whether windows block outside noise
Natural light:
Visit at different times of day
Note which rooms get morning versus afternoon sun
Check if blinds or curtains are included
Climate control:
Test heating and cooling systems and the thermostat
Ask about winter and summer utility costs
Check for drafts around windows and doors
Storage:
Measure closets and count cabinets and shelves
Assess whether your furniture will fit
Check for pantry or linen closet space
Commute:
Time the journey to work or school using transit apps
Walk the neighborhood at different hours
Identify nearby grocery stores and amenities
Watch Out A beautiful apartment in a bad location becomes a frustration. Test your commute during rush hour, not on a quiet afternoon. A 45-minute commute each way adds 7.5 hours to your week.
Step 5: Gather Furnished Apartment Essentials Checklist
If your apartment is unfurnished or partially furnished, you'll need essentials before move-in day to sleep, cook, and live comfortably on day one.
Bedroom essentials:
Bed frame and mattress
Pillows (at least 2)
Sheets and pillowcases
Blankets or duvet
Mattress protector
Hangers for closet
Bathroom essentials:
Shower curtain and liner (if needed)
Bath mat and towels (at least 3 sets)
Toilet brush and plunger
Bathroom mirror (if not included) and shower caddy
Kitchen essentials:
Plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery
Cooking pots and pans, cutting board, and knife
Can opener
Dish towels, sponges, trash can, and bags
Living room essentials:
Couch or seating
Coffee table or side tables
Lamps or lighting
Curtains or blinds
Area rug
Cleaning and laundry:
Vacuum or broom, mop, and bucket
All-purpose cleaner
Laundry basket, detergent, and fabric softener
Iron and ironing board
Move-in-ready furnished apartments like those at FoxySuites eliminate this burden. Our units arrive fully equipped with kitchenware, linens, toiletries, and furniture, so you unpack your personal items and start living immediately.
Step 6: Set Up Utilities, Internet, and Services
Electricity. Contact the local distribution utility with the service address, move-in date, and ID. (At FoxySuites, utilities and internet are included in the rent, so you can skip this step.)
Natural gas. If a gas stove, dryer, or furnace is separately metered, you need a gas account.
Internet. Order at least two weeks before move-in, since installation appointments in dense buildings book out.
Change of address and records. File mail forwarding with Canada Post before your move.
A realistic setup sequence:
Week 4 before move-in: confirm in writing which utilities are included and which are yours.
Week 3: open electricity and gas accounts and book internet installation.
Week 2: arrange tenant insurance and request the certificate for the landlord.
Week 1: file mail forwarding and update your address records.
Move-in day: photograph meter readings and test every service before the landlord leaves.
Key Takeaway Set up utilities at least one week before move-in, and confirm in writing what is included. Waiting until move-in day means you might arrive to an empty, dark apartment with no internet, and no way to prove what the meter read when you arrived.
Step 7: Use an Apartment Move-In Checklist Template on Move-In Day
On move-in day, use a move-in ready apartments checklist to verify everything is ready. This final walkthrough catches problems while the landlord is present to address them.
Before you move furniture in:
Confirm all utilities are active and working
Test lights in every room
Check water pressure and temperature
Verify heating or cooling operates
Confirm internet works and test all appliances
Room-by-room verification:
Bedroom:
Light switches and outlets work
Closet rod is secure
Windows open and close, and locks work properly
Kitchen:
Stove and oven heat properly
Refrigerator maintains temperature
Sink drains without backing up
Dishwasher (if included) runs
Cabinets open and close smoothly
Bathroom:
Toilet flushes and doesn't run
Shower and tub drain properly
Sink faucet and exhaust fan work
Mirrors are secure
Living areas:
All lights function
Outlets work
Doors lock and close properly
Windows secure and weatherproof
Flooring is clean and undamaged
Document findings:
Note and photograph any issues
Report them to your landlord immediately
Request written confirmation of repairs and a timeline for fixes
Final steps:
Photograph the empty apartment once more
Keep all receipts and documentation
Set up mail forwarding and introduce yourself to neighbors
At FoxySuites, units are set up to be move-in ready before you arrive.
Moving into a new apartment feels overwhelming when you're juggling inspections, utilities, and a mountain of tasks. The right preparation transforms move-in day from stressful to straightforward.
FoxySuites offers fully furnished, move-in-ready units in central Toronto designed specifically for people like you. Our units come fully furnished and accessorized, so you can focus on settling in. Learn more about sustainable housing options in Ontario.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I document on an apartment move-in inspection checklist?
Document the condition of all major features: walls (marks, paint), flooring (scratches, stains), appliances (functionality, cleanliness), windows (cracks, operation), doors (locks, alignment), and plumbing (water pressure, leaks). Take dated photos of each area and note any damage. Keep copies for your records and provide one to your landlord within the timeframe specified in your lease agreement. This creates a clear baseline record of the unit's condition.
What should be included in a move-in-ready apartment?
A move-in-ready apartment should include functional appliances (refrigerator, stove, oven), basic kitchen equipment (cookware, utensils, dishes), bedroom essentials (bed frame, mattress, pillows, linens), bathroom items (towels, shower curtain, toilet paper), and living room furniture. Some move-in-ready units also provide Wi-Fi setup, cleaned surfaces, and utility accounts pre-arranged. Verify the exact inventory with your landlord or property manager before signing your lease.
How do I check that utilities are included in my rent?
Review your lease carefully for a utilities section listing what is covered (hydro, water, gas, internet, cable). Ask your landlord or property manager for a written summary of included services and which ones you pay separately. Request contact information for utility providers and ask about average monthly costs for services you cover. Confirm whether utilities are metered individually or shared, as this affects your bills.
What should I do on the first day in a new apartment?
On move-in day, complete your apartment move-in inspection checklist before unpacking, document any pre-existing damage with photos, test all utilities (water, heating, appliances), confirm how many keys and fobs you have (tenants can't change the locks without the landlord's consent), set up Wi-Fi and internet, locate your electrical panel and water shut-off valve, and introduce yourself to building management. Confirm emergency contact procedures with your landlord. This ensures you catch issues early and establish clear communication.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, financial or professional advice. It was written with the help of AI tools and reviewed by our team, but it may contain errors, and laws, prices and company policies change. Information about other companies is based on what was publicly available at the time of writing; contact them directly for their current terms. Before making decisions, check official sources such as the Landlord and Tenant Board or speak with a qualified professional. FoxySuites rental terms, pricing and availability are set out in your lease agreement and may change.
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