Moving in and out
What if my apartment isn't ready on move-in day?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Document the problem with photos and a same-day email, then ask the landlord for a firm ready date and what they will do meanwhile, such as reducing rent for the days you can't live there or covering a short hotel stay. In many states, if the landlord can't hand over the unit at all, you may be able to cancel and get your money back.
Common versions of this: the previous tenant hasn't left, the unit is dirty or full of trash, promised repairs aren't done, or a utility isn't working.
- Photograph the condition and send a dated email the same day.
- Ask for a completion date and a rent credit for each day you can't move in.
- Keep receipts for hotels, storage and extra moving costs, and ask in writing whether the landlord will cover them.
- Don't sign a move-in condition report that doesn't match what you see.
If it is only cleaning or small repairs, you might take the keys and list everything on the condition report, with the landlord's written promise to fix it by a date. If the unit isn't safe or livable, don't move in until it is.
When your move-in depends on someone else moving out, book movers with a flexible cancellation policy and line up a backup, such as a friend's couch or a short-term rental.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.