Security deposit disputes are one of the most common fights between renters and landlords, and they almost always come down to the same thing: what did the place look like when you left? If the answer is "I don't have photos," you've already lost most of the argument.
Here's the photo checklist to run on moving day — both when you move in and when you move out.
Every room, same routine
For each room, take:
- One wide shot from each corner — four photos that show the whole room, walls, floor, and ceiling.
- Close-ups of every wall — scuffs, nail holes, marks. Landlords charge for wall damage more than anything else.
- Floor close-ups — carpet stains, scratched hardwood, cracked tile. Get down to floor level; standing shots hide floor damage (and floor condition).
- Windows and blinds — cracked panes, bent blinds, damaged screens.
- Fixtures — light switches, outlets, thermostats, ceiling fans. Photograph them working and intact.
The rooms landlords scrutinize most
- Kitchen: inside the oven, stovetop, refrigerator shelves and drawers, under the sink (water damage hides here), countertops.
- Bathrooms: grout and caulk lines, toilet base, under-sink cabinets, mirrors, exhaust fan.
- Exterior/patio/balcony: railings, flooring, any outdoor fixtures you're responsible for.
Don't forget the unglamorous stuff
- Inside closets and cabinets (doors off the tracks get noticed).
- The garage or parking spot, if one came with the unit.
- Keys, remotes, and access cards — photograph them all returned together.
- The final meter readings, if utilities were in your name.
Why move-in photos matter as much as move-out photos
A move-out photo of a scuffed wall proves nothing on its own — the landlord says you did it. The pair — the same wall on move-in day and move-out day — is what settles it. Take the identical shots both days: same corners, same close-ups. Future you will be glad.
Timestamp it so it can't be argued with
Anyone can say "these are from move-out day." A timestamped, tamper-evident record says it for you. With DateStamp, each set of photos becomes a record with a server timestamp and tamper-evident hash, and the before/after pair comparison highlights what actually changed between move-in and move-out. AI flags visible issues directly on the photos, and you review every flag.
$19 for a single record, $29 for the paired before/after. Compared to a withheld deposit, it's not a hard decision.