What needs to be done when moving out

It depends on whether you want to do the bare minimum to recover your security deposit or go the extra yard to preserve a good relationship with your landlord, who could be a useful reference someday. Also, if the landlord has been tough with other departing tenants, you may want to save yourself some aggravation by fixing up little stuff like nail holes.

In general, unless you have signed something extra, you only need to reapir (or pay for) damage beyond routine wear and tear. Painting is almost certainly not your responsibility, and the landlord likely treats repainting vacant apartments as part of the normal marketing cost of re-renting them.

High-end professional cleaning is probably a waste, since the landlord's painters will just mess the place up all over again.

This is a tenant's perspective. Owners may see it differently.

Hiring a cleaner seems a little much unless you're the type that never does any housework & you hire it all out & painting seems WAY over the top ... but talking to the super & other longterm tenants to get a feel for the landlord is probably a real good idea. Oh, & take pictures after you're all out & before you hand in the key!

On high-end rentals, both the move-in and move-out cleans and the painting are contractual.

If they're not, I would mend the nail holes but ask the landlord about painting before just assuming you have to do it -- he/she may be planning to paint or maybe not.

I would also do a four-hour pro clean, because I am somewhat messy. I have been an owner for years but when I was a renter I found that I could always find cleaners cheaper than my landlord could.

ali r.
[downtown broker}

does anyone know legally how long a landlord has to return your security deposit? I believe it's 60 days. Thanks.

Generally, you need to leave it clean (stove, tub, fridge, etc should be very clean).But, the owner/landlord will paint and get it professionally cleaned (usually).