End-of-lease checklist: how to get your deposit back in Israel
Most deposit disputes are about the same few things: holes in the walls, paint, grout and broken fixtures. This step-by-step checklist covers what the law says in general, what to fix, what to leave, and how to hand over the apartment cleanly.
Updated October 2026- Free in-home assessment
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Short answer
To get your deposit back in Israel: read your lease, photograph everything, fix damage beyond normal wear and tear (holes, broken fixtures, damaged paint), clean, and do a written walkthrough with the landlord. Under the Fair Rental Law, the landlord generally has to return the deposit within 60 days of the handover once your debts are settled, and cannot charge you for normal wear and tear. Typical repairs: wall patch ₪250–₪500, empty 2-room repaint ₪1,800–₪2,500, faucet swap ₪150–₪350.
Send 3 photos, get a price range on WhatsApp
A wide shot of the room, a close-up of the problem and one more angle. We usually reply within a few hours with a first range; the final price is confirmed after a free visit.
What the law says, in short
Israel’s Fair Rental Law (an amendment to the Rental and Borrowing Law, in force since 2017) sets out the basics for residential leases. In general terms:
- The landlord must return the deposit, or what is left of it, within 60 days after you return the apartment and settle any debts.
- The deposit can cover unpaid rent and bills and damage you caused beyond normal wear and tear.
- Normal wear and tear from reasonable use is the landlord’s cost.
- Your lease can add obligations, such as repainting at the end. Read it.
This is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, talk to a lawyer or a tenants’ organisation.
Step-by-step move-out checklist
Read your lease
Look for clauses on painting, holes, and the condition you must return the apartment in.
Find your move-in photos
Compare them with the apartment now. If you have none, the landlord’s move-in protocol helps.
Walk the apartment and list damage
Holes from shelves and TV mounts, scuffs and stains on walls, cracked or dark grout, dripping or broken faucets, damaged floors.
Decide what to fix
Fix damage beyond normal wear and tear and anything your lease requires. Leave normal ageing alone.
Book repairs early
An empty apartment repaint usually takes 1–2 days. Book as soon as you know your move-out date.
Clean thoroughly
Kitchen, bathroom, floors, windows. Repairs first, cleaning last.
Settle the bills
Arnona, water, electricity, gas and va’ad bayit: take final meter readings and transfer accounts.
Do a written walkthrough
Walk through with the landlord, sign a handover note, photograph everything and return all keys.
Typical move-out repair prices
Holes & cracks
End-of-lease repaint
Grout & faucets
All prices are estimates including VAT. The final price is confirmed after a free in-home assessment.
Usually your cost (beyond normal wear)
- Large holes, anchors and TV-mount damage
- Walls painted a colour without permission
- Broken fixtures you damaged
- Stains and burns
Usually normal wear and tear
- Paint that has faded with age
- Light marks from normal use
- Ageing of fixtures and grout over years
- Small nail holes, depending on the lease
How it works
Send us a message
WhatsApp us what you need — one trade or several. We reply in English within a few hours.
Free assessment & quote
We visit, look at the job, and give you an itemized quote per trade — materials and labor, no surprises.
We do the work
Each trade is scheduled and completed cleanly, with dust and debris cleaned up before we leave.
Walkthrough
We walk the job with you. Anything not right, we fix it.
Get a price in 2 minutes
Tap your answers and we’ll open WhatsApp with the message ready. Just press send.
To get an exact quote faster, send us:
- 2–3 photos of the area (one wide, one close-up)
- Approximate size in m², or the number of rooms
- City and neighbourhood
- Floor, and whether there’s a lift
- When you’d like the work done
Common questions
How long does a landlord in Israel have to return the deposit?
Under the Fair Rental Law, generally within 60 days of the later of the handover and the settlement of the tenant’s debts. Check your lease and get advice if there is a dispute.Free quote on WhatsApp →
Do I have to repaint when I move out in Israel?
Only if your lease says so or you damaged the paint beyond normal wear and tear. Many Israeli leases include a painting clause, so read yours. An empty 2-room repaint is ₪1,800–₪2,500 with us, VAT included.Free quote on WhatsApp →
Can the landlord charge me for small nail holes?
Small holes from hanging pictures are often treated as normal use, but your lease and the size of the damage matter. Larger holes and anchor damage are usually the tenant’s cost. A patch is ₪250–₪500 with us.Free quote on WhatsApp →
How fast can you do move-out repairs?
An empty apartment repaint usually takes 1–2 days. Tell us your move-out date when you message us.Free quote on WhatsApp →
Is this legal advice?
No. It is general information. For a dispute, talk to a lawyer or a tenants’ organisation.Free quote on WhatsApp →
Related services & guides
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