What to read first on a move-out invoice
The first thing to read on a move-out bill is not the total. It is whether place, quantity, unit price, and share of the cost sit in separate fields. If those fields are empty, you cannot tell what the work was, before you ask whether it is high.
This is not a conclusion about whether you must pay. It is a way to write questions for the landlord or the manager.
Split a line that says “package”
When a line says only “restoration package” or “cleaning package,” write it out as four fields.
| Field | What should be clear |
|---|---|
| Place | Which room, and which surface |
| Quantity | Square meters, a count, or a package. If it is a package, what is inside |
| Unit price | Whether materials and labor are separate |
| Share | The full amount or part of it, and whether a reason is written |
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shows a sample settlement sheet with unit price, unit, quantity, amount, and share in separate columns. It is a form to fill in for each property, not a national price list. As a general reference, open the guidelines on restoration to original condition.
Put the amount held next to the total
A total alone does not show whether the money comes out of the deposit or is claimed on top of it. On a statement, copy three lines: the deposit held, the total deducted, and what is returned or still claimed. How to read the deposit itself is in How to read a security deposit statement.
Lay the estimate on the invoice
If an invoice follows an estimate, look at added items and changed quantities separately. The same name with more square meters is a different question. A line that is only on the invoice is something to ask about: when was that work done.
Ask about the missing field
A question that says “please lower this, it is high” is harder to answer than “please give the place, quantity, unit price, and share for this line.” Also ask whether the share comes from an example in the guidelines or from a clause in the lease.
When the item is as specific as wallpaper, also use What to check on a wallpaper replacement charge.