RentRecord

Queensland renter guide

QLD Rental Entry Inspection Checklist: What to Photograph Before You Unpack

Empty rooms show everything. Once the couch is in and the boxes are stacked, marks get hidden and forgotten. This checklist is made to open on your phone and follow around the property.

Last checked 8 October 2026 against RTA information. General information only, not legal advice.

Before you unpack

Do the walk-through on your first day if you can, before anything gets moved in. It's much easier to see a scuffed wall or a stained carpet when nothing is in front of it.

The official record is your Entry Condition Report (Form 1a). You have 7 days from the day you move in or receive the report, whichever is later, to complete and return your side. Our Form 1a guide covers how to fill it in. This checklist is about what to look at, what to test and what to photograph, so you can fill in the form properly.

What to bring:

  • Your phone, charged
  • A coin or small ruler, to show the size of marks in photos
  • Your copy of Form 1a
  • More time than you think. Opening every cupboard and testing every tap adds up.

How to photograph damage

When you find a mark, chip or stain, three photos usually tell the full story:

  1. 1
    WideThe whole room or wall, so it's clear where it is.
  2. 2
    CloserThe area around it, like the door and the wall next to it.
  3. 3
    DetailThe damage itself, with a coin next to it for size.

Not everything needs three photos. For things in good condition, one wide shot of each room is usually enough. The three-photo approach is for anything you're noting as damaged, marked or not working.

Tips:

  • Open the blinds and turn the lights on. Dark photos hide the thing you're trying to show.
  • On shiny surfaces like benchtops and tiles, flash can bounce. Try turning it off or taking the photo from a slight angle.
  • Don't edit or filter the photos. Keep them as they came off the camera.
  • Keep the original files. They store the date and time they were taken. Screenshots and copies sent through messaging apps can lose that.
  • A slow video walk-through of each room is a good extra. The RTA suggests photos or video as part of your record.

Room-by-room checklist

In each room, take a wide photo first. Then work from top to bottom: ceiling, walls, windows, floor, then anything fitted in the room.

Every room

  • Ceiling: water stains, cracks, mould spots
  • Walls: scuffs, holes, hooks, nails, Blu Tack marks, chipped paint
  • Behind the door: a dent or mark where the handle hits the wall, missing door stopper
  • Light switches and powerpoints: cracked covers, marks around them
  • Skirting boards: chips and scuffs
  • Carpet: stains, burns, worn patches, lifting edges
  • Hard floors: scratches, dents, chipped or cracked tiles
  • Windows: cracked glass, latches that don't lock
  • Blinds and curtains: broken slats, broken cords, stains
  • Flyscreens: holes, tears, bent frames, missing screens
  • Smoke alarms: note where they are and how they look. Report any that are missing, damaged or seem faulty to the property manager straight away. The RTA's smoke alarm guidance explains what renters are responsible for.
  • Air conditioner and ceiling fans: note the remote, if there is one

Entry, doors and locks

  • Front and back doors: dents, scratches, damage around the lock
  • Security screen doors: tears in the mesh, lock works
  • Keys: try every key you've been given, and write down how many keys and remotes you got
  • Door frames: chips, especially near the latch
  • Doorbell or intercom, if there is one

Living areas and bedrooms

  • Built-in wardrobes: doors open and slide properly, shelves and rails are secure, mirror doors aren't chipped
  • Carpet where your bed and couch will go. Photograph it now, because it'll be covered for the whole tenancy.
  • Furniture, if the place is furnished: stains, tears, wobbly legs
  • TV and data points

Kitchen

  • Benchtops: scratches, burns, chips, stains, knife marks
  • Cupboards and drawers: open every one. Check hinges, shelves and the inside.
  • Under the sink: water damage, swollen timber, leaks
  • Sink: chips, stains, leaking or dripping taps
  • Oven: inside, racks, door seal, glass
  • Cooktop: scratches on glass, every burner or element
  • Rangehood: light, fan, greasy filter
  • Dishwasher, if provided: racks, inside, door seal
  • Splashback: chipped tiles, stained grout

Bathrooms and toilets

  • Tiles: chips and cracks, especially around the drain and edges
  • Grout and silicone: stains, mould, gaps, peeling
  • Shower screen: cracks, water spots, worn seals
  • Bath: chips, scratches, stains
  • Vanity: swollen cupboard doors (a sign of water damage), chipped basin
  • Mirror: cracks, black edges
  • Toilet: seat is secure, no cracks, no leaks at the base
  • Exhaust fan

Laundry

  • Tub and taps: chips, stains, drips
  • Washing machine taps: drips at the connection
  • Dryer, if provided: lint filter, damage
  • Floor waste: not blocked

Outside, garage and storage (if you have them)

  • Garage door and remotes: opens and closes properly
  • Driveway and paths: oil stains, cracks
  • Garden and lawn: one or two wide photos of the overall state
  • Fences and gates: damage, latches work
  • Bins: how many, any damage
  • Clothesline
  • Shed or storage cage: lock works, anything left behind
  • Balcony: balustrade, tiles, sliding door track
  • Pool, if there is one: fence, gate latch, filter. The RTA says a copy of the current pool safety certificate should come with your tenancy agreement.

Don't forget to test things

Looking isn't enough for anything that's meant to work. Turn it on.

  • Taps and hot water. How long does it take to run hot?
  • Showers: pressure and drainage
  • Toilets: flush every one
  • Every light
  • Powerpoints: plug in your phone charger to check
  • Locks: every door and window lock, with the keys you were given
  • Windows: open and close each one
  • Oven, cooktop and rangehood
  • Air conditioning and fans
  • Dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, if provided
  • Garage door and security system, if there is one
  • Meters: take a photo of the electricity, gas and water meters

Recording something isn't the same as reporting it

Writing "oven light doesn't work" on your Form 1a records it. It doesn't ask anyone to fix it.

If something needs repairing, tell the property manager or owner in writing. Email is fine. The RTA says routine repairs should be reported in writing as soon as possible.

If something seems urgent, follow the emergency contact instructions in your tenancy agreement and the RTA's emergency repairs process. Whether a repair counts as an emergency depends on the situation, so check the RTA's list.

RentRecord is for recording the condition of the property. It doesn't send repair requests.

Not every mark is a problem

Rentals are lived in, and some wear is normal. The point isn't to build a list of complaints. It's to have an accurate record of how the place was when you got it, so nobody has to rely on memory a year from now. Good photos make that record clearer, but they can't promise any outcome if there's a disagreement later.

Keep your evidence organised

A photo is much more useful when you can tell which room it's in, what it shows, and what you wrote about it. A file called IMG_4821.jpg in a camera roll of 3,000 photos won't help much in a year.

  • Keep your photos together, separate from the rest of your camera roll. An album with the address and move-in date works.
  • Take the photos room by room, in the same order as your Form 1a, so they're easy to match up.
  • Back them up somewhere other than your phone, like a computer, USB stick or cloud storage.
  • Keep the original files, not just copies.
  • Keep your inspection photos somewhere private and secure, especially if they show keys, personal belongings or identifying details.
  • Keep a photo of every page of the Form 1a you hand back, and the signed copy the property manager sends you within 14 days.

Make your inspection easier with RentRecord

RentRecord walks you through the property room by room on your phone. You photograph and note anything you find as you go, so every photo stays with the right room and the right note.

  • Free, guided room-by-room inspection
  • Photos and notes kept together
  • No app to install and no account
  • Your photos stay on your device
  • Optional Evidence Pack PDF, A$9.95 one-time
Start your free inspection

RentRecord supports your entry inspection. It doesn't replace the official Form 1a. You still need to complete and return that.

Where to get help