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When you check out, you must return the flat or villa to its original state, perfectly clean and completely empty. There are a number of points that need to be settled to ensure that the departure inspection goes as smoothly as possible. Our tenants receive a checklist at the time of the preliminary inventory of fixtures.To ensure that the inventory of fixtures is carried out without wasting a lot of time noting the damage and getting into lengthy discussions, we advise you to prepare for your departure.
The owner, the successor tenant and the management company will be grateful to you.
The date for the exit inventory of fixtures
The date for the exit inventory of fixtures can be set during office hours, at the latest on the last day of the lease. If the end of the lease falls on a Saturday or public holiday, the inventory of fixtures must be drawn up on the previous day. If the end of the lease falls on a Sunday, the check-out will take place first thing on the following Monday morning.
Empty premises
The villa or flat, the cellar and all outbuildings must be cleared of all objects and thoroughly cleaned. The tenant is not allowed to leave any furniture on the premises, as all floors must be capable of being checked. This is not possible if, for example, a heavy wardrobe is left on the premises.
Clearance and cleaning
Your house or flat and outbuildings need to be cleared and cleaned from top to bottom. We strongly recommend that you hire a reputable cleaning company that guarantees cleanliness. If you hire a cheap company with no guarantee to provide you with a superficial clean, you will be held responsible and an additional intervention will be necessary at your expense. You should also bear in mind that your successor-tenant would also like to enter a clean house and does not want to be greeted by cleaning companies that finish their work.
Stickers, chewing gum, hooks, etc.
Stickers, chewing gum, hooks and other personal items must be removed and the marks cleaned.
Walls and floors
Buffer holes in walls must be carefully sealed and repaired. Any objects belonging to you should be removed and the floors should be left to be checked. Remove any shadowy spots on the walls if possible. Remove dust. Carpets belonging to you should be removed, those belonging to the owner should be cleaned with shampoo. Parquet floors should be cleaned and waxed if not sealed. Tiles, including joints, must be clean.
Woodwork
Doors, door frames, skirting boards and other woodwork must be left clean. All keys must be returned to the interior doors and any missing keys must be replaced. Grease locks, hinges, door pins, windows, shutters, etc. All cupboards and wardrobes must be thoroughly cleaned, inside and out.
Windows and glazing
Windows and glazing, blinds and shutters must be cleaned. Windows should be cleaned inside and out if access is possible. Grease them if necessary. Broken windows should be replaced. Blind straps, cords and draw straps should be replaced if defective. Tent covers should be cleaned and replaced if torn.
Radiators
Radiators need to be dusted and cleaned at the front and back, and thermostats need to be in place.
Chimneys and flues
Chimneys must be swept and cleaned.
Electrical installations
Sockets and switches must be clean and fixed or screwed down, and if damaged, they must be replaced. Light fittings belonging to the owner must be dusted and cleaned and defective or missing neon lights or bulbs must be replaced. Luminaires belonging to the tenant must be dismantled and the light points must be fitted with sockets and bulbs. Defective or missing fuses must be replaced.
Kitchen
The cooker hood must be degreased and cleaned, and the hood filters changed or cleaned. The oven, including the baking tray and grill, should be degreased and cleaned. If the baking tray or grill cannot be cleaned because it is too dirty, it must be replaced. All appliances must be left in an impeccably clean condition. Kitchen cupboards must be clean inside and out. The freezer must be defrosted, and faulty fridge and freezer accessories must be replaced. The fridge lighting must be working. Turn off the fridge and freezer and leave the doors open after cleaning to avoid any unpleasant odours that could settle inside. The batteries and taps must be descaled. Drains must be unblocked. Replace worn seals. The tap ends must not be missing. Descale the dishwasher, clean the filter and seals and replace any faulty or missing accessories. Don't forget to clean the ventilation.
Bathroom
Bathtubs, showers and shower cubicles should be thoroughly cleaned and descaled, and taps, hoses and shower heads should be descaled. Drains should be unblocked. Missing tap ends and worn gaskets should be replaced. Toilets should be thoroughly cleaned and descaled, deodorising products removed, and toilet seats and lids fitted correctly. Accessories, such as the toothbrush or soap dish, should be cleaned and replaced if broken. The mirror should be cleaned and replaced if broken. The ventilation unit should be removed for cleaning. Use a hoover and a damp cloth.
Cellar
Your cellar must be completely cleared out, cleaned and all keys, including duplicates, returned.
Attic and other outbuildings
The attic and other outbuildings need to be cleaned. Remove cobwebs. Sweep and vacuum the floor.
The laundry room
The washing machine should be cleaned and the door and detergent dispenser left open to prevent mould. The dryer filter should be cleaned. The water tank must be cleaned and the stopper left in place.
Garage or parking space
Don't forget to clear and clean your car park. All keys and remote controls with batteries must be returned.
Terrace and balcony
Clean and remove weeds from between the tiles. If a lamp was installed at your entrance, replace the bulb if necessary.
Exterior entrance
The doorbell and doormat need cleaning, remove the stickers from the letterboxes and clean them. Your nameplates need to be removed.
Garden
The garden must be maintained, the lawn mowed, weeds removed, hedges, shrubs and rose bushes pruned and tended. Rubbish and deposits of any kind must be removed. Play areas installed by the tenant must be dismantled.
Latest invoices to be sent to the property management office
If you have rented a villa, you will need to provide the latest invoices for chimney sweeping, drain and gutter cleaning, heating maintenance, boiler descaling and any other maintenance you are responsible for (e.g. ventilation maintenance for a Minergie villa).
Meter reading
Do not cancel your electricity supply to avoid any power cuts. If you have access to the electricity meter, we will take a meter reading when you check out and send it to Services Industriels de Genève, along with the change of tenant. If the electricity meter is not accessible, you must contact Services Industriels de Genève to arrange for a technician to come and read the meter on the date of the departure inventory. We will also read the gas or oil and water meters if you are renting a house.
Return of keys
All keys, including duplicates, must be returned to the property management company. If the protected keys are missing, the tenant will be required to change the lock for security reasons.
Conclusion
Good preparation for the departure inventory of fixtures means that the tenant and landlord can bring their relationship to a successful conclusion, and the new tenant can move into a house that is in good order. It's a win-win situation. I hope you find this article useful as a sort of checklist to help you hand over your home with peace of mind and without stress.
© Written by Esther Lauber, Property Fiduciary with Federal Diploma of Higher Vocational Education and Training, your real estate manager in Geneva Switzerland, speaking French, English and German
Mostly translated from French to English with DeepL
More information with video that may be of interest to you:
The maintenance of a villa at the expense of the tenant
Rent deposit (rent guarantee) in Geneva and in Switzerland
Avoid mould
