depositguide

Before you leave

What photos and proof do I need before I move out?

The short answer: photograph everything, twice: once at move-in and once at move-out. Every room from multiple angles, close-ups of any existing damage, inside the oven and fridge, under sinks, the carpet up close, and the walls. Shoot video too — a slow walkthrough with the date stated out loud. Save your move-in condition checklist if you signed one, keep every message with the landlord, and photograph your forwarding-address notice. Tenants with timestamped photos win deposit disputes; tenants without them argue from memory against a landlord with an itemized list.

The move-in set (do this on day one, or as soon as you can)

  • Every room, wide shots from two corners. Overlap the angles so nothing is cropped out.
  • Close-ups of every existing flaw — scuffs, nail holes, carpet stains, chips, cracks. If it’s already there, prove it.
  • Appliances inside and out: oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave.
  • Fill out the move-in checklist if the landlord provides one — in detail, not “okay.” Keep a copy or photograph it.
  • Make sure timestamps are on. Phone photos carry date metadata; screenshots of it help. A newspaper in frame is old-school but works.

The move-out set (the day you leave, after cleaning)

  • Repeat the whole move-in set — same rooms, same angles. The before/after comparison is the evidence.
  • Video walkthrough. One continuous slow video, stating the date and address out loud, opening closets and appliances. Harder to fake, easy for a judge to watch.
  • The clean unit. Photograph after you’ve cleaned — this is your answer to any cleaning charge. Fighting cleaning charges →
  • Meters and keys. Final utility readings and a photo of the keys you returned, with the date.

Paperwork to keep

  • The signed lease (deposit amount, cleaning clauses, notice terms).
  • Your forwarding address notice — and proof you sent it. In many states the landlord’s return clock doesn’t start without it. How the deadline works →
  • Every message with the landlord, especially about repairs or condition.
  • Receipts for any cleaning or repairs you paid for.
Do a walkthrough if you can get one Some states give tenants the right to request a pre-move-out inspection. If your landlord offers a final walkthrough, take it — and bring your phone. A landlord who points at “damage” on camera has a much harder time inventing new damage later.

If you’re reading this after you already moved out

All is not lost. Pull together what you have: any photos from during the tenancy, messages with the landlord, your lease, the forwarding-address notice. And remember — the landlord still owes you the itemized list on time, and a missing list is usually a violation regardless of your photos. What a missing itemized list means →

Related guides

Informational only — not legal advice.

Security-deposit rules are state law, and they differ a lot from one state to the next. Check your state’s tenant-rights resources or talk to a local tenant-rights organization or attorney before acting. Nothing on this site creates an attorney-client relationship.