Fillable checklist

Apartment Inspection Checklist: Unit Walk Before Lease (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable apartment unit walk for a prospective tenant or buyer: entry, kitchen, baths, rooms, HVAC, noise, and access. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Inspections Fillable form · 9 sections · 58 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against InterNACHI SOP, ASHI SOP, and HUD 24 CFR 5.703 · Last verified Sep 16, 2026

Snugage fillable checklist

Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a prospective-tenant or buyer visual walk of one apartment unit before a lease or purchase: entry and locks, kitchen, baths, rooms, HVAC and windows, noise and odors, and building access or laundry if you can see them. It is not a periodic rental habitability walk and not a move-in condition rating. It is not a licensed home inspection of the whole building. Mark N/A on items the unit or building does not have.

  • 9 sections
  • 58 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property and walk

This is a visual template for one unit, not a licensed home inspection of the building, not a HUD NSPIRE or HQS inspection, and not legal advice. InterNACHI and ASHI residential SOPs apply to buildings with four or fewer dwelling units and do not require inspecting common elements in multi-unit housing. HUD 24 CFR 5.703 applies to HUD housing. Private apartments follow the lease and state law. Do not score a private unit with HUD-only pass or fail numbers.

11 fields
Property and walk

InterNACHI 3.4 and ASHI heating sections ask you to describe the energy source and heating method. Write the thermostat location in Notes if it is not obvious.

Noise at 10:00 is not the same as noise at 22:00. Record the clock time you walked.

Inspection station

Entry and security

Start at the unit door. HUD-52580-A treats doors and windows that open to a hall, balcony, fire escape, or grade as lockable openings. InterNACHI is not required to inspect security systems or intercoms. Mark N/A on a viewer or intercom the unit does not have.

8 items
Entry and security

Unit entry door closes, latches, and is not split or unbound

NSPIRE Door-Entry and Door-General: the door should close and latch. A door that will not close is a defect, not a finish note.

Unit entry door closes, latches, and is not split or unbound: OK, Defect, or N/A

Working lock on the unit door

HUD-52580-A 1.4: lockable means a working lock. A missing or broken lock on the only unit door is a defect.

Working lock on the unit door: OK, Defect, or N/A

Windows and doors to a hall, balcony, fire escape, or grade lock

HUD-52580-A: accessible-to-outside openings should be lockable. InterNACHI 3.10 inspects a representative number of windows by opening and closing them. Mark N/A if the unit has no such opening.

Windows and doors to a hall, balcony, fire escape, or grade lock: OK, Defect, or N/A

Viewer, sidelight, or window so you can see who is at the door

Not an InterNACHI or HUD required item. Mark N/A if the building uses a locked vestibule and you are comfortable with that. Note a solid door with no view in Notes.

Viewer, sidelight, or window so you can see who is at the door: OK, Defect, or N/A

Fire-labeled door, if present: closer and latch work

NSPIRE Door-Fire Labeled. Mark N/A if this unit door has no fire label. Do not invent a closer rule for an unlabeled wood door.

Fire-labeled door, if present: closer and latch work: OK, Defect, or N/A

Smoke alarm on this level of the unit

HUD 24 CFR 5.703(d)(3): at least one working smoke detector on each level of a HUD unit. CPSC: every level, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom. InterNACHI 3.7 reports absence of smoke detectors and is not required to test them. Press the test button only if you are allowed to.

Smoke alarm on this level of the unit: OK, Defect, or N/A

Intercom, fob, or keyed building entry from this unit works, if present

InterNACHI 2.2: inspectors are not required to inspect intercoms or security systems. This line is a tenant or buyer convenience check. Mark N/A if there is no call panel in the unit.

Intercom, fob, or keyed building entry from this unit works, if present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Mailbox or package drop identified

HUD NSPIRE Address and Signage is an Outside item. Here you only record whether you were shown a box or locker for this unit. Mark N/A if mail is not part of the showing.

Mailbox or package drop identified: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Kitchen

HUD 24 CFR 5.703(d)(4) says a HUD unit needs a kitchen area with a sink, cooking appliance, refrigerator, food-preparation area, and food-storage area. That list is habitability support for HUD housing, not a private-lease finish grade. Run water. Do not score Good or Fair.

9 items
Kitchen

Kitchen or kitchen area present

HUD-52580-A 2.1: a kitchen may be a separate room or an area in a studio. Mark Defect if there is no place to cook or wash dishes.

Kitchen or kitchen area present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Kitchen sink has hot and cold running water

HUD 5.703(d)(1) and HUD-52580-A 2.12: hot and cold at the kitchen sink. InterNACHI 3.6: run the water at fixtures. If service is shut off for a vacant unit, write that in Notes and do not invent a fail.

Kitchen sink has hot and cold running water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Kitchen sink drains without backup

InterNACHI 3.6: sinks for functional drainage. A standing bowl or sewage backup is a defect. A slow drain can be a note if it still empties.

Kitchen sink drains without backup: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cooking appliance responds to normal controls

ASHI 10.1.F operates installed ranges, ovens, and cooktops with normal controls. HUD-52580-A 2.10 looks for a working oven and burners, or an agreed microwave substitute. InterNACHI is not required to inspect household appliances. Mark N/A if the lease says you bring the range and none is installed.

Cooking appliance responds to normal controls: OK, Defect, or N/A

Refrigerator present and running if the unit supplies one

HUD 5.703(d)(4) includes a refrigerator in a HUD unit. HUD-52580-A 2.11: it should keep food from spoiling. Mark N/A if you must supply the fridge and the space is empty. Do not invent a temperature Pass/Fail.

Refrigerator present and running if the unit supplies one: OK, Defect, or N/A

Counter or cabinet space to prepare and store food

HUD 5.703(d)(4) and HUD-52580-A 2.13. A table and a portable cabinet can count. Mark Defect only if there is no usable prep or storage space.

Counter or cabinet space to prepare and store food: OK, Defect, or N/A

Permanent light fixture in the kitchen works

HUD 5.703(d)(11): a permanently mounted light in the kitchen. HUD-52580-A 2.2: at least one outlet and one permanent light. A plug-in lamp does not count as the permanent light.

Permanent light fixture in the kitchen works: OK, Defect, or N/A

Receptacle near the sink: cover on, GFCI if you can test it

HUD 5.703(d)(8): outlets within 6 feet of a water source must be GFCI protected in HUD housing. That 6-foot rule is not a private-lease Pass/Fail. InterNACHI 3.7 tests observed GFCIs where possible and reports missing covers, no power, or reverse polarity. Do not open a breaker panel.

Receptacle near the sink: cover on, GFCI if you can test it: OK, Defect, or N/A

No active leak or gas smell at the sink, dishwasher, or range

InterNACHI 3.6 reports active plumbing leaks. NSPIRE Leak-Water and Leak-Gas or Oil. A gas smell is a defect. Mark N/A on the dishwasher if none is installed.

No active leak or gas smell at the sink, dishwasher, or range: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Baths

Walk every bath in the unit. If two baths differ, name the bath in Notes. HUD 5.703(d)(2) says a HUD unit needs its own bath with a sink, a bathtub or shower, and an interior flush toilet, usable in privacy. Mark N/A on a tub line only if the sanitary facility is a working shower with no tub.

8 items
Baths

Bath or sanitary facility in the unit, usable in privacy

HUD 5.703(d)(2) and HUD-52580-A 3.10: the toilet must be in the unit and private. A shared hall bath for this unit is a defect on a self-contained apartment walk.

Bath or sanitary facility in the unit, usable in privacy: OK, Defect, or N/A

Toilet flushes and is not loose at the floor

InterNACHI 3.6: flush every toilet and report damage, a loose floor connection, a leak, or tank parts that do not operate. HUD-52580-A 3.10: not working includes clogged, no water, or no trap.

Toilet flushes and is not loose at the floor: OK, Defect, or N/A

Bath sink: hot and cold water, and it drains

HUD 5.703(d)(1) and HUD-52580-A 3.11: a fixed wash basin with hot and cold water. InterNACHI: run the faucet and watch drainage. The kitchen sink cannot stand in for this line.

Bath sink: hot and cold water, and it drains: OK, Defect, or N/A

Tub or shower: hot and cold water, and it drains

HUD 5.703(d)(2) and HUD-52580-A 3.12: a working tub or shower. InterNACHI is not required to flood-test the pan. Mark N/A if the unit's only sanitary facility is a working shower and you already marked the shower here.

Tub or shower: hot and cold water, and it drains: OK, Defect, or N/A

Permanent light in each bath

HUD 5.703(d)(11) and HUD-52580-A 3.2: at least one permanently installed light. A missing fixture is a defect. A burned-out bulb can be a note if the fixture is present.

Permanent light in each bath: OK, Defect, or N/A

Working exhaust or an operable window in each bath

HUD-52580-A 3.13: operable window or a working vent. InterNACHI 3.9 and ASHI insulation/ventilation inspect mechanical exhaust in bathrooms. Neither SOP requires you to judge whether the fan is large enough.

Working exhaust or an operable window in each bath: OK, Defect, or N/A

Receptacle near water: cover on, GFCI if you can test it

HUD 5.703 uses the same 6-foot GFCI rule in the unit. InterNACHI tests GFCIs where possible. Mark N/A if the bath has no receptacle. Do not score a private bath with the HUD 6-foot number unless this is a HUD inspection.

Receptacle near water: cover on, GFCI if you can test it: OK, Defect, or N/A

No active leak at fixtures or the tub or shower surround

InterNACHI reports observed leaks and is not required to test shower pans for hidden leakage. Soft floors, stained ceilings below, or water at the base are defects you can see.

No active leak at fixtures or the tub or shower surround: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Rooms

Cover the living room and each bedroom. This is a function and weathertightness walk, not a Good or Fair finish grade. Mark a bedroom-only line N/A on a studio. InterNACHI 3.10 and ASHI 10 inspect floors, walls, ceilings, and a representative number of doors and windows.

9 items
Rooms

Living room or studio living area present

HUD 5.703(d)(4) and HUD-52580-A 1.1: a living room is required; a studio counts the living area as present.

Living room or studio living area present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Floors, walls, and ceilings: no large holes or collapse signs

InterNACHI 3.10 and ASHI 10.1 inspect floors, walls, and ceilings. HUD-52580-A fails unsound or hazardous surfaces (severe buckle, large holes, falling material). Hairline finish cracks and worn finish belong in Notes, not as Defect, unless they are a trip or collapse hazard.

Floors, walls, and ceilings: no large holes or collapse signs: OK, Defect, or N/A

Representative windows open, close, and latch

InterNACHI 3.10: open and close a representative number. ASHI glossary: one window per room is a representative number. HUD-52580-A 4.5: a sleeping room should have at least one window, and panes should not be missing or broken out.

Representative windows open, close, and latch: OK, Defect, or N/A

Each sleeping room has a window or other exit you can use

HUD-52580-A 8.2 discusses an alternate fire exit (openable window on a low floor, stair, or fire escape) that is not blocked. Local egress size varies. Do not invent a sill-height Pass/Fail. Mark Defect if a bedroom has no window and no other exit path.

Each sleeping room has a window or other exit you can use: OK, Defect, or N/A

Habitable rooms have working outlets or a permanent light

HUD 5.703(d)(7) and HUD-52580-A 1.2: two working outlets, or one outlet and a permanent light, in habitable rooms. A duplex counts as one outlet. A plug-in lamp does not count as a permanent fixture. That pairing is HUD housing text, not a private finish grade.

Habitable rooms have working outlets or a permanent light: OK, Defect, or N/A

Smoke alarm inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas

CPSC: every level, outside sleeping areas, and inside each bedroom. HUD 5.703(d)(3) adds, for HUD units, within 21 feet of a bedroom door along the path of travel, and on the living-area side of a door that separates the hall from the living room. Do not use the 21-foot figure as a private-lease fail. InterNACHI reports missing detectors and is not required to test them.

Smoke alarm inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas: OK, Defect, or N/A

CO alarm on this level and outside sleeping areas, if fuel appliances apply

CPSC: CO alarms on each level and outside sleeping areas, not in attics or basements unless someone sleeps there. HUD 5.703 requires CO detection in HUD housing except listed exemptions. Mark N/A only if the building has no fuel-burning appliances and no attached garage, and local rules do not still require a CO alarm.

CO alarm on this level and outside sleeping areas, if fuel appliances apply: OK, Defect, or N/A

Interior doors operate; frames are not racked

InterNACHI 3.10: open and close a representative number of doors. A door that will not latch, or a frame that is out of square in several rooms, belongs in Notes as a movement or hardware defect.

Interior doors operate; frames are not racked: OK, Defect, or N/A

In-unit stairs, if any: treads sound and a handrail you can grab

InterNACHI 3.10 and ASHI 10 inspect stairs, landings, guards, and handrails, and report improper baluster spacing. HUD-52580-A 8.6: loose or missing steps fail; a handrail is expected on an extended run (generally four or more steps). That four-step cue is HQS text, not a private Pass/Fail. Mark N/A if the unit is on one level with no interior stair.

In-unit stairs, if any: treads sound and a handrail you can grab: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

HVAC and windows

Operate heat and cooling with normal controls only. InterNACHI 3.5: do not run cooling if outdoor air is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit or if running it may damage the equipment. ASHI is not required to operate equipment when weather may cause damage. Do not open sealed mechanical rooms or judge BTU size.

9 items
HVAC and windows

Permanently installed heat source (not an unvented fuel space heater)

HUD 5.703(d)(9): in designated climates a HUD unit needs permanently installed heat, and no unit may contain an unvented gas, oil, or kerosene space heater. HUD-52580-A 7.1 and 7.2: a portable electric heater or a kitchen range is not the primary heat where regular heating is needed. InterNACHI 3.4 inspects the heating system with normal controls.

Permanently installed heat source (not an unvented fuel space heater): OK, Defect, or N/A

Heat responds to the thermostat or normal control

InterNACHI 3.4 reports a heating system that did not operate, or one that was inaccessible. Do not light a pilot. If heat is off for the season or the plant is a locked boiler room, write that in Notes.

Heat responds to the thermostat or normal control: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cooling, if installed, responds to normal controls

InterNACHI 3.5: inspect cooling with normal controls and do not operate it below 65 degrees Fahrenheit outdoors. InterNACHI is not required to inspect portable or through-wall units. ASHI 9.2 is not required to inspect window units. Mark N/A if the unit has no cooling and you accept windows for summer.

Cooling, if installed, responds to normal controls: OK, Defect, or N/A

Thermostat location, energy source, and heat method noted

InterNACHI 3.4: describe thermostat location, energy source, and heating method. ASHI heating: describe energy source and the heating system. Put the words in Notes (for example: hall thermostat, electric baseboard).

Thermostat location, energy source, and heat method noted: OK, Defect, or N/A

Windows: no missing or broken panes; locks work

HUD-52580-A 1.5: severe deterioration means the window cannot keep out wind and rain, or it is a cutting hazard. InterNACHI 3.2 inspects a representative number of windows. Broken-out glass is a defect.

Windows: no missing or broken panes; locks work: OK, Defect, or N/A

No obviously fogged insulated glass

InterNACHI 3.10: report a window that is obviously fogged or shows a broken seal. ASHI 10.2 is not required to inspect hermetic seals. Mark Defect only for fog or moisture you can see between panes.

No obviously fogged insulated glass: OK, Defect, or N/A

Closed windows keep out obvious rain or wind

HUD-52580-A: a window that will not close, or that does not form a reasonably tight seal, is a security and weather item. Daylight at the sash or a wet sill after rain is a defect. Do not invent an air-leakage number.

Closed windows keep out obvious rain or wind: OK, Defect, or N/A

Kitchen, bath, or in-unit laundry exhaust runs if present

InterNACHI 3.9 and ASHI ventilation inspect mechanical exhaust in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry. ASHI is not required to determine whether the fan is adequate. Mark N/A if those rooms use windows only and have no fan.

Kitchen, bath, or in-unit laundry exhaust runs if present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Balcony or fire-escape landing: guard present if the drop looks high

HUD 5.703(d)(10) and (c)(2): a HUD unit or outside area needs a guardrail when an elevated walking surface has a drop of 30 inches or more measured vertically. HUD-52580-A 6.2 uses about 30 inches for porch and balcony rails. Those are HUD figures. Do not invent a tape-measure fail on a private walk unless you measured. Mark N/A if there is no balcony or landing.

Balcony or fire-escape landing: guard present if the drop looks high: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Noise, odors, and pests

InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to determine acoustical properties or air quality. This station is your live observation at the time recorded in Property. Do not invent a decibel Pass/Fail. HUD 5.703(e) lists mold, infestation, and garbage as health and safety concerns in HUD housing.

7 items
Noise, odors, and pests

No strong musty odor or visible mold-like growth

HUD 5.703(e) lists mold. NSPIRE has a Mold-Like Substance standard in the Unit. InterNACHI is not required to determine the presence of mold. Write where you smelled or saw it. Do not claim a lab species.

No strong musty odor or visible mold-like growth: OK, Defect, or N/A

No droppings, live insects, or chewed food you can see

HUD-52580-A 8.3: rats or severe infestation by mice or vermin. NSPIRE Infestation is a Unit standard. InterNACHI is not required to determine the presence of pests. Record evidence, not a count-based HUD severity table, unless this is a HUD NSPIRE inspection.

No droppings, live insects, or chewed food you can see: OK, Defect, or N/A

Hall or neighbor noise you can live with at this hour

InterNACHI 2.2 and ASHI 13.2: inspectors are not required to determine acoustical properties. This is a tenant or buyer judgment. Note the time from Property. A single truck is not a defect by itself.

Hall or neighbor noise you can live with at this hour: OK, Defect, or N/A

No sewer odor or constant running water you cannot stop

HUD-52580-A 8.9 lists sewer gas among interior air-quality items. InterNACHI 3.6 reports toilets and leaks that let gases or water escape. A trap that gurgles or a bath that smells like sewage is a defect.

No sewer odor or constant running water you cannot stop: OK, Defect, or N/A

No cigarette, cannabis, or chemical odor that would stop you

Not an SOP Pass/Fail. HUD-52580-A 8.9 asks whether the unit is free from abnormally high pollution. Write what you smelled. A showing spray can hide smoke; sniff closets and the bath fan.

No cigarette, cannabis, or chemical odor that would stop you: OK, Defect, or N/A

No piled refuse at the unit door

HUD 5.703(e) lists garbage and debris. HUD-52580-A 8.4: a heavy accumulation that might harbor rodents. A single bag waiting for pickup can be a note.

No piled refuse at the unit door: OK, Defect, or N/A

No standing water or soaked carpet

NSPIRE Leak-Water and Floor standards. InterNACHI 3.3 reports active water penetration when you can see it. A wet pad under carpet is a defect even if the leak has stopped.

No standing water or soaked carpet: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Building access and laundry

Walk only the path from the street to this unit, plus laundry or parking you were shown. InterNACHI 2.2.III.8 and ASHI 13.2.E.6 do not require inspecting common elements in multi-unit housing. InterNACHI's condominium clause: comments on common areas are courtesy. Mark lines N/A if you did not use that space.

8 items
Building access and laundry

You can reach this unit without walking through another dwelling

HUD-52580-A 8.1: access through another unit fails. A lock-off that shares a private foyer with a different lease is a defect on this walk.

You can reach this unit without walking through another dwelling: OK, Defect, or N/A

Path from the building door to this unit is usable and lit

HUD NSPIRE splits Inside halls from the Unit. HUD-52580-A 8.6 includes inadequate lighting on interior stairs and common halls. Note missing bulbs. This is not a photometric survey.

Path from the building door to this unit is usable and lit: OK, Defect, or N/A

Shared stairs you used: treads sound, handrail present

InterNACHI 3.10 reports improper spacing between balusters and rails. HUD-52580-A 8.6: loose, broken, or missing steps fail; a handrail is expected on an extended run. Mark N/A if you used only an elevator and saw no stair.

Shared stairs you used: treads sound, handrail present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Elevator you used, if any: door and cab operate

HUD-52580-A 8.8: where local practice requires a certificate, look for a current inspection tag. InterNACHI is not required to inspect elevators. Mark N/A if the building has no elevator or you did not ride it.

Elevator you used, if any: door and cab operate: OK, Defect, or N/A

Laundry you were shown: machines present, dryer vent not crushed

CPSC: do not run a dryer without a lint filter; the exhaust pipe should not be restricted and the outdoor flap should open. InterNACHI 3.9 and ASHI inspect laundry exhaust when it is part of the unit. Mark N/A if laundry is not offered or was locked.

Laundry you were shown: machines present, dryer vent not crushed: OK, Defect, or N/A

Smoke alarm visible on a shared level you walked, if you can see one

HUD 5.703(b)(1): Inside areas of HUD housing need a working smoke detector on each level of the property. CPSC also wants an alarm on every level. You are not opening a fire-alarm panel. Mark N/A if you could not see a detector and this is not a HUD walk.

Smoke alarm visible on a shared level you walked, if you can see one: OK, Defect, or N/A

Alternate exit from the building (stair, fire escape, or ground-floor door) not blocked

HUD-52580-A 8.2: an acceptable fire exit that is not blocked. Storage on a fire escape or a nailed stair door is a defect. Local exit rules vary. This is not a fire-marshal inspection.

Alternate exit from the building (stair, fire escape, or ground-floor door) not blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Parking or storage you were offered is the space you were shown

HUD NSPIRE Parking Lot is an Outside standard. Here you only confirm the stall or cage you were promised. Mark N/A if parking is not part of the deal.

Parking or storage you were offered is the space you were shown: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a HUD NSPIRE or HQS form, and not a lease or purchase contract.

6 fields
Findings and sign-off

Draw your signature, or upload an image to replace it.

Draw your signature, or upload an image to replace it.

Done with this walkaround?

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References

  1. Home inspection scope: unit systems, four-or-fewer dwelling limit, and common-area exclusion - InterNACHI Standards of Practice
  2. Condominium and apartment walk is the unit only; common areas are courtesy comments - InterNACHI Scope of Condominium Inspection Clause
  3. Interior, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and four-or-fewer dwelling limit - ASHI Standard of Practice (current page)
  4. ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections, 2026 approved text (interior, HVAC, ventilation)
  5. National standards for the condition of HUD housing: unit water, bath, kitchen, smoke, heat, GFCI, guards - 24 CFR 5.703
  6. NSPIRE inspectable areas: Unit interior versus Inside common areas versus Outside - HUD REAC
  7. NSPIRE inspectable standards list (doors, windows, HVAC, leaks, smoke, mold, infestation) - HUD REAC
  8. Housing Choice Voucher inspection form: living room, kitchen, bath, heat, access, infestation - HUD-52580-A
  9. Smoke alarms on every level, outside sleeping, and inside bedrooms; CO alarms on each level and outside sleeping - CPSC CO Alarms
  10. Test smoke and CO alarms monthly; replace batteries yearly unless sealed 10-year - CPSC News Release 23-143

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