EXIT INVENTORY/SURVEY As soon as all your personal belongings have been removed and the property thoroughly cleaned, the inventory of goods and final survey of the premises will be done by the designated chartered expert(s). Please make sure that the owner s possessions are put back in their original place. The expert(s) will detail normal wear and tear and any damage that may have occurred during your occupancy. The report from the entry inventory will serve as the basis for comparison. It is important that you attend this survey personally to ensure that your views get a full hearing. It will be too late to disagree after the survey is made and the expert(s) issues his legally binding report. The report will be submitted in one of the Belgian national languages; never in English. You must inform your consultant of the date your property will be available for the exit survey. Your consultant will then arrange for an expert(s) to be present and will inform your landlord. a) Wear and Tear Under Belgian law, wallpaper, paint work and carpets are amortised over a number of years. You may be expected to pay a share of the costs of redecorating. b) Damages This means everything over and above the normal wear and tear. In order to avoid being charged damages, it is important to do the following: - give the rented premises a truly professional cleaning, especially inside cupboards, woodwork, windows and window frames, radiators, kitchen appliances such as filters for dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, oven, extractor hood, mineral deposits in toilets, sinks and other water outlets, fireplace, scuff marks - garage: remove any greasy spots from cars and rust marks - carpets: shampoo rugs and/or fitted carpets - curtains: curtains should be cleaned - repairs: replace cracked or broken windows, repair dripping faucets and toilets - make sure the garden, walkways, terraces are in good condition; the lawn should be cut and weeded, bushes trimmed and leaves removed - have the gutters cleaned - remove installation of television satellites and antennas and restore property to original condition or obtain written consent from the landlord to leave the installation with no penalty charged for this item at the exit survey. c) Keys / Remote controls for garage
Exit Survey 2 All keys and remote controls must be returned to the expert. To assist you, attached is a copy of the inventory of keys made at the time of the entry inventory. d) Maintenance/Cleaning It is the tenant s obligation to have the following maintained/cleaned before the exit survey: - the boiler and furnace - the fireplace chimney - the septic tank - water softener installation - alarm system - swimming pool, pond The expert(s) will ask for copies of invoices, certificates or work orders as proof that the above has been done. Please note that the above certificates are only valid for 3 months. If you had your boiler, chimney, septic tank, water softener, alarm system etc. serviced more than 3 months before the date of the exit survey, it must be done again, otherwise you will be charged for these at the exit survey. e) Fuel Oil If the fuel tank was full when you entered the rented premises, then you should have the tank filled before leaving. The tables below indicate who is generally responsible for the maintenance, repairs or damage to rented properties. The information is reproduced courtesy of Office national des Locataires (National Tenant s Addociation) in Brussels and was published in a recent edition of the Newcomer magazine. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES Tenant Landlord Replacement of broken of malfunctioning switches, plugs even when due to normal wear and tear Small repairs to electrical appliances Replacement of blown fuses Repairs short circuits Replacement of old or worn electrical installation EXTERIOR Tenant Landlord Placement of TV antenna, satellite dish or cable connection (with landlord s permission only) and repairs if taken at the end of the lease Balcony: light maintenance work including rails (tenant must notify landlord if major repairs needed) Balcony: major repairs and maintenance Maintenance of garden * Replacement of dead/fallen trees or hedges Light maintenance of accessible drainpipes and flat roofs
Exit Survey 3 Major maintenance, repairs of drainpipes, gutters CEILINGS, WALL COVERINGS, WOODWORK Tenant Landlord Cleaning of ceilings* Refilling holes (due to nails, pictures rails etc.) Repainting after normal wear and tear (every 9 years) Regular maintenance of painted surfaces Cleaning of paint work at the end of lease Damage caused to exterior paint work Exterior paint work New wallpaper/covering (every 9 years) Maintenance of wall covering and skirting boards Wood work: all damage caused by tenant Unblocking window frame condensation drainage system Repainting inside windows/doors (every 9 years). Exterior doors/windows as often as necessary to avoid deterioration Obligation to avoid blocked gutters or drains where possible (keeping clear of dead leaves etc.) Maintenance of drains Maintenance and repairs of cistern Maintenance of outside facades Cleaning of footpaths Maintenance and repair of footpaths *Garden maintenance includes pruning hedges and trees, cutting and watering grass, maintenance of flower beds and plants, cleaning and clearing pathways. MISCELLANEOUS Tenant Landlord Damages moving in/out Letter box: maintenance and repair Maintenance of cellars Replacement of locks due to loss of keys Replacement of lost keys at end of lease *Ceilings need to be washed down but not repainted by the tenant at the end of the lease, unless the paint work has been damaged excessively through abnormal wear and tear. GAS Tenant Landlord Maintenance of burners/taps Maintenance of gas pipes GARBAGE CHUTE Tenant Landlord Maintenance of chute inside apartment Responsibility for damage or blockage due to large objects thrown down the chute DOORS, WINDOWS, ACCESSORIES Tenant Landlord Oiling locks/hinges Maintenance of door handles
Exit Survey 4 Scratches, chips Replacement of defective elements due to normal wear and tear of faulty placement Maintenance of doorbells, replacement of electric accessories Replacement broken doorbell (due to normal wear and tear) Cleaning/maintenance of windows, window frames Broken windows, unless caused by accident or weather conditions beyond control of tenant Maintenance of chimney/fireplace Refilling holes curtain rails/blinds Regular use and oiling of shutters to keep mechanisms in good working order Shutters: replacement of sashes, tapes and cords Maintenance of blinds and replacement of tapes and cords FLOOR COVERING Tenant Landlord Regular maintenance Linoleum: normal wear and tear Stiletto heel marks Replacement of a small number of broken tiles/paving stones Indelible stains/loose tiles Scratches, dents, tears Damage due to bad quality or badly placed covering Replacement of complete floor covering (carpets/tiles/lino) HEATING Tenant Landlord Repairs to chimney parts, except flue Sweeping of chimney (at least once a year) and at end of lease Maintenance of boiler, radiators, expansion tank and accessories Protection of heating installation against frost and rust Regular purging of radiators Annual service of heating installation All major servicing Replacement of boiler due to wear and tear LIFTS Tenant Landlord Maintenance of lift if several apartments Maintenance of lift for single apartment BATHROOM Tenant Landlord Maintenance bath, shower, WC Blocked drainpipes Water or rust marks Scratches, chips, dents in bath, shower, WC etc. Water heater maintenance of visible elements Water heater repair or replacement of main elements Leaks, except when due to defect or deterioration Repair or replacement of WC flush handle or chain Replacement of WC float ball Maintenance of taps and filters Protection of pipes against frost Maintenance of water softener Replacement of joints/washers Replacement of old or defective pipes, taps, etc. De-scaling of hot water pipes
Exit Survey 5 * Annual water heater maintenance is essential, in order to check correct ventilation and avoid any risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.