A move-out cleaning checklist for Virginia renters comes down to this: clean every room top to bottom, empty cabinets and closets included, fix small damage like nail holes, then photograph everything. Ask in writing to attend the move-out inspection. Your landlord then has 45 days from the end of your tenancy or your move-out, whichever is later, to return your deposit with an itemized list of any deductions (as of September 2026).
Work top to bottom in each room, from ceiling fans and high shelves down to the floor, so dust falls onto surfaces you haven't cleaned yet. Start in the room farthest from the front door and work your way out. If you'd rather hand it off, book move-out cleaning for the day the movers finish.
Under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, a landlord can deduct unpaid rent, the cost of damage beyond "reasonable wear and tear", and other charges your lease allows. Every deduction goes on an itemized written list (Va. Code § 55.1-1226, as of September 2026).
The Act says "reasonable wear and tear" but doesn't define it, so Virginia law gives no list of what counts. In common practice:
That's how it's commonly treated, not a rule in Virginia law, and your landlord may see a particular mark differently. Your photos and your move-in report are the record you'll point to.
As of September 2026, the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets these rules:
| Rule | What the Act says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum deposit | Two months' rent | § 55.1-1226, subsection A |
| Returning the deposit | An itemized list of any deductions, with any refund, within 45 days of the end of the tenancy or the day you move out, whichever is later | § 55.1-1226 |
| Move-out inspection | Within 72 hours of you handing back possession | § 55.1-1226, subsection G |
| Your right to attend | The landlord must tell you that you have the right to be there. To attend, ask in writing | § 55.1-1226, subsection G |
Start with the official text. Section 55.1-1226 of the Code of Virginia sets out what your landlord must send you and by when, and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development publishes a landlord and tenant handbook that explains the Act. For advice on your own situation, talk to a lawyer or a legal aid organization.
Your photos are your side of the story, so take them after the cleaning and before you hand back the keys:
Keep the photos and messages together until your deposit is settled.
Most of these take an hour or two. Check your lease first: some landlords would rather make repairs themselves.
Bigger holes, such as those left by a TV mount or a doorknob, are a job for drywall and wall repair. Book it early enough to be finished before the cleaning.
Order matters. Clear things out first, clean last:
An empty home is the easiest one to clean, and the last chance to get it right before the inspection. Book move-out cleaning with an independent local Pro for the day your movers finish, and leave time for your photos before you hand back the keys.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, read § 55.1-1226 or talk to a lawyer.
Last updated September 2026.
In Virginia, your landlord must give you a written report of existing damage within 5 days after you move in, and you have 5 days to object to it in writing (Va. Code § 55.1-1214, as of September 2026). Keep your copy and any objection you sent: at move-out, it shows what was there before you.
If repairs by an outside contractor cost more than the deposit, Virginia gives the landlord 15 more days, beyond the usual 45, to send the itemized list (Va. Code § 55.1-1226, as of September 2026).
Read the lease and any addenda to it: that's where a cleaning requirement, or a rule about carpets or painting, would be written. If it's unclear, ask your landlord in writing before you book, and keep the reply.
As soon as you know your moving date. Book the cleaning for after the movers have emptied the home and before your walk-through, and leave time between the two to take your photos.