Handover Protocol is a document for accepting and handing over a rented apartment. You create it when you move into a rented apartment and when you move out. It records the condition of the apartment and the meter readings. This document protects your deposit.
What the Protocol Should Include
- Meter Readings — for electricity, gas, and water on the day you move in.
- Condition of the Apartment and Furniture — any existing damage or defects.
- List of Keys and Equipment Handed Over.
Create the protocol with the owner. Add photos and sign both copies. You create the same protocol when you move out. You use it to check the condition and meter readings, and the owner uses it to calculate the return of your deposit. Without this protocol when you move out, it will be difficult to prove that the damage was there before you moved in, and the owner might keep part of your deposit. The more detail you include about the condition and the more photos with dates you add, the fewer reasons for arguments there will be when you move out. Keep your signed copy with the photos until the end of your rental period.
