10 Things Landlords Check During Move-Out Inspections in Florida

How Florida Security Deposit Law Works

Under Florida law, your landlord must return your deposit within 15 days if they make no claims, or send written notice within 30 days if they intend to make deductions. Cleaning is one of the most common deductions — and the most preventable. The key legal standard is that you must return the property in the same condition as when you moved in, accounting for normal wear and tear.

The 10 Things Inspectors Always Check

1. Oven and stovetop — the #1 most commonly cited item in Florida move-out deductions. Grease and baked-on food inside ovens is never considered normal wear and tear. The oven must be completely clean inside and out.
2. Refrigerator inside — shelves, drawers, door gaskets, and the coil area. Landlords check for spills, mold, and odors.
3. Bathroom grout and caulk — pink or black mildew staining is a common deduction. Grout should be close to its original color.
4. Window blinds and tracks — dust buildup in tracks and on blind slats is consistently noted. Window tracks are a hiding spot for grime.
5. Baseboards — inspectors run a finger or white cloth along baseboards. Accumulated dust and grime is a standard deduction item.
6. Cabinet interiors — all kitchen and bathroom cabinet interiors should be wiped clean of crumbs, spills, and residue.
7. Light fixtures and ceiling fans — dust buildup on fan blades and inside light fixtures is commonly cited.
8. Walls near high-traffic areas — scuffs and marks around light switches, doorframes, and corridors. A Magic Eraser handles most of this.
9. Bathroom exhaust fans — inspectors check for dust buildup in exhaust fan covers, which is a hygiene and fire hazard.
10. Carpet condition — if carpets were professionally cleaned when you moved in, you're expected to provide a receipt for professional cleaning upon move-out in most Florida leases.

The Professional Move-Out Clean: What It Covers

A professional move-out cleaning from Ohana Cleaning is specifically designed to meet the inspection standard — not just look clean, but pass landlord scrutiny. We clean inside every appliance, scrub all grout, clean every cabinet interior, wipe all baseboards, clean light fixtures and fan blades, and deliver a spotless property from floor to ceiling.

Many of our Orlando clients who use our move-out service receive their full deposit back and use the receipt as proof of professional cleaning — which satisfies the lease requirement for carpet cleaning at the same time.

A Week-by-Week Move-Out Cleaning Timeline

2 weeks before: Deep clean the oven, fridge, and any appliances. Order any touch-up paint that matches your walls. Start patching small nail holes.

1 week before: Clean all cabinets inside and out, scrub bathrooms thoroughly including grout, clean windows and tracks, wipe all baseboards.

2 days before: Have Ohana Cleaning come for the professional move-out clean. Get the invoice as documentation.

Move-out day: Do a final walkthrough — check every room, closet, and outdoor area. Take timestamped photos of every room before handing over keys.