The entry survey is a detailed report of the situation of a property before it is taken into possession by the tenant.

The purpose of this compulsory expertise is to determine, at the end of the rental, during the rental exit (exit survey), the damage attributable to the tenant, more generally called "rental damage".

These procedures are governed by the Belgian Civil Code (Articles 1730 and following), case law and customs in the matter. A rental inventory must be detailed, rigorous and clear.

The inventory must be contradictory and therefore carried out in the presence of the parties or by a person duly mandated by them: the expert.

Most often the expert will act on behalf of both parties, at shared costs, both on entry and exit.