Apartment handover checklist: what needs to be done before acceptance?

This guide helps you prepare the next steps around apartment handover and cleaning in the Zurich region in a structured way. Explore cleaning.

What should be clarified first before the apartment handover?

First clarify the appointment, access and the expectations of the property manager or landlord. Note the rooms, earlier handover records, correspondence and your own photos. This lets you address open points calmly instead of searching for them on the day.

Which rooms and surfaces need particular attention?

Kitchens, bathrooms, windows, appliances and built-in fittings need a close look. Work through one room at a time, from top to bottom, and check cupboards, switches, skirting boards and hard-to-reach corners. A personal checklist prevents small details being missed under time pressure.

How should I prepare the cleaning in practical terms?

Remove personal belongings, food and loose inserts before cleaning begins. Empty cupboards and storage areas completely and organise keys, parking, water and electricity access. This creates a calm basis for the scope agreed for the property.

When is a cleaning company useful for the handover?

A cleaning company is useful when time, condition or the handover process calls for additional certainty. On the move-out cleaning page, you can see how Fedenko records the property details and clarifies the next steps with you. A clear agreement is decisive.

What should be ready on the day of acceptance?

On the acceptance day, have all keys, documents and agreed access arrangements ready. Allow enough time so that questions do not need to be answered in a rush. Record what is discussed and ask for a clear explanation whenever a point is unclear.

How can I stay organised until the appointment?

A short plan with deadlines, rooms and responsibilities keeps the period before the appointment manageable. Start with tasks that cannot be done on the final day and reserve time for one last inspection. This guidance does not replace requirements in a tenancy agreement or record.

Which steps belong on the final checklist?

A complete checklist starts with an empty apartment and ends with a documented key handover. Check kitchen, bathroom, living areas, windows and all ancillary spaces individually. In the kitchen, include cupboards, appliances, fittings and the area behind movable appliances. In the bathroom, check mirrors, joints, drains, cupboards and ventilation. In living areas, check doors, switches, skirting boards, window frames, blinds and built-in fittings. Do not forget the balcony, cellar, attic, letterbox and parking spaces. Record damage separately from cleaning tasks and note unclear points with photos. This keeps the inspection organised.

What is easiest to overlook?

Adhesive residue, full drawers, forgotten filters, loose inserts and marks behind furniture often appear only during the final walk-through. Check these details deliberately before cleaning begins.

How should I plan the final two weeks?

A schedule takes the pressure out of the apartment handover. Two weeks beforehand, organise disposal, appointments, keys and access. One week beforehand, empty cupboards, cellar and attic completely and check open tasks. The day before, address remaining personal items, the final walk-through and documents. On the day itself, have enough time, all keys and the handover protocol ready. This allows questions to be dealt with directly and without rush.

What does the property manager look for at acceptance?

The property manager normally checks whether the apartment is cleared, accessible and handed over in the agreed condition. They examine visible surfaces as well as appliances, windows, wet rooms, built-in fittings and ancillary spaces. Listen carefully, ask for a clear explanation if a remark is unclear, and note the agreed next steps. This guidance replaces neither the tenancy agreement nor the acceptance protocol but helps with structured preparation.

What should I photograph before and during the handover?

Photographs create a clear record of the apartment's condition at the time of handover. Take pictures of every room from at least two angles, and close-ups of any marks, scratches or wear you notice. Include the kitchen appliances, bathroom fittings, window seals, flooring and built-in cupboards. Photograph the electricity meter, water meter and any existing damage that was already documented at move-in. Save these images with the date visible — most phone cameras add a timestamp automatically. If the property manager raises a point during the walk-through, photograph it immediately so both sides have the same reference. These pictures are not a legal instrument, but they help avoid misunderstandings weeks later when memories have faded.

How do I distinguish between defects and cleaning tasks?

Defects and cleaning tasks are handled differently at a Swiss apartment handover. A stain on the kitchen worktop is a cleaning matter; a crack in the worktop is a defect. Limescale on a tap is cleaning; a dripping tap is a maintenance issue. Before the handover, walk through every room and sort your observations into two lists: things that need cleaning and things that are damaged or worn beyond normal use. Cleaning tasks are typically the tenant's responsibility. Defects from normal wear — faded paint after several years, for example — are generally the landlord's concern, though individual cases depend on the tenancy agreement and the condition at move-in. Having both lists ready before the acceptance meeting helps you respond clearly if the property manager raises a point.

What about the cellar, attic and storage areas?

Storage areas are frequently forgotten until the final day. The cellar compartment must be emptied completely: remove shelving you brought in, sweep the floor and check for items behind partitions. The same applies to the attic if your tenancy includes attic storage. Bicycle rooms, pram spaces and any assigned parking spots also need to be cleared and swept. Remove name labels from the letterbox and from any storage compartments. If the building has a communal laundry room, make sure you have returned any tokens, cards or keys associated with it. Addressing these spaces early — ideally two weeks before the handover — avoids a rushed last-minute trip on the day itself.

Do I need to coordinate with the next tenant?

In the Zürich region, the next tenant sometimes wants to view the apartment or take measurements before your handover date. This is arranged through the property manager, not directly between tenants. You are not obliged to grant access before you have officially returned the apartment, but showing goodwill — for example allowing a brief visit at a time that suits you — can make the transition smoother. Do not leave furniture, curtains or appliances behind for the next tenant without written agreement from the property manager, as items left in the apartment may be treated as waste. If both parties want to transfer an item, have the property manager confirm the arrangement in writing so it does not become a dispute at acceptance.

How do I distinguish between defects and cleaning tasks?

A scratch on the parquet, a crack in the wall or a defective seal is a defect — not a cleaning problem. Separate these points cleanly before the handover: defects belong in the acceptance protocol and are discussed with the property manager, while cleaning tasks are part of the handover preparation. Mixing the two risks corrections in the wrong place. Record defects in writing and with photos before cleaning begins.

What should I photograph before the handover?

Photograph the condition of every room after cleaning — walls, floors, appliances, windows, wet rooms and all built-in fittings. Also photograph ancillary spaces such as cellar, attic and balcony. If questions arise after the handover, dated photos help prove the condition at the time of the transfer. Store the images at least until the deposit is released.

What about cellar, attic and ancillary spaces?

Cellar compartment, attic, bicycle room and laundry room are inspected at the handover and must be completely cleared. Remove personal belongings, food, old paint or cleaning products without exception. Check whether your own shelving, brackets or hooks need to be removed, and clean the floor. Do not forget the letterbox, parking space and any garden areas.

How do I coordinate with the next tenant?

If a next tenant has already been confirmed, clarify access and handover timing early. Sometimes the next tenant takes over certain fittings or furniture — record such agreements in writing. Make sure everyone involved knows when the apartment will be handed over cleared and cleaned. Smooth coordination avoids misunderstandings on handover day.