A handover is inspected at the edges: cupboard interiors, behind appliances, window tracks, AC grilles, grout and seals — not the middle of the room.
Whether it is a developer handover or an end of tenancy, the inspection follows the same short list. Knowing the list is most of the work, because nobody checks the centre of a floor.
Get the photographs at the same time. A completed checklist with images of the closed-up spaces settles most disputes before they start.
What to check
- Every cupboard, drawer and wardrobe interior, including the toe-kicks
- Behind and beneath the fridge, oven, washing machine and dishwasher
- Window tracks, hinges, screens, and every balcony drainage channel
- AC grilles, return filters and the visible duct behind them
- Grout, silicone seals, extraction fans and shower screens
- Skirting, door frames, switch plates, light fittings and paint marks
Asked about this
It depends on the tenancy or the sale agreement. What matters practically is having the documentation either way.
Some landlords and developers require it. It is separate work from the clean and should be quoted separately.
As soon as the date is set. The last week of any month is the busiest window in every community.
Related reading
Villa Handover Checklist for Dubai, community by community
Each page covers the building stock there, the local condition that changes the method, and how a crew gets in.