Move-In Photo Proof
Landlord and tenant take dated photos together, room by room, and both sign off. At move-out, compare and settle the deposit fairly. No app to install.
Pro feature Shared photo upload for landlord and tenant, included with Pro and Pro Host. Start a shared inspection
Three simple steps
Walk through together
Before the tenant moves belongings in, go room by room with the shot list below. Take a wide shot and close-ups of anything worn or damaged.
Both sign off
Write the date on the list, then both sign. Each of you keeps a copy of the same photos and the same signed list.
Compare at move-out
Photograph the same spots again. Put the two sets side by side and agree what is normal wear and what is not.
Room-by-room photo shot list
Fill in the address and date, tick each photo as you take it, or print it for the walk-through. Nothing is saved or uploaded; it stays in your browser.
Move-In Photo Shot List
Property:
Date:
Take a wide shot and close-ups of every item. Both landlord and tenant keep a copy of the photos.
Outside and entry
Living room
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Hallways, stairs, laundry
Safety and meters
General information, not legal advice. Add or skip rooms to fit your rental.
Making your photos easy to trust
Show the date
Most phones save the date and time in the photo file’s details, but sending a photo through some apps can remove them, so don’t rely on that alone. Also write the date on your signed list, and consider a sheet of paper with the address and date in your first photo.
Wide, then close
Take one wide photo of each room, then close-ups of anything scuffed, stained, cracked or broken. A coin or ruler next to small damage shows its size.
Test it, then photograph it
Run the faucets, flip the switches and open the windows, then photograph the result. Note anything that doesn’t work on the signed list.
Both keep the originals
We suggest each of you saves a full copy of the original photos, for example by emailing the set to each other the same day. Avoid editing, cropping or filtering them, and name files by room.
What your state says about deposits
Deposit return deadlines and move-in rules differ by state. Three examples from our verified state guides (last verified Oct 22, 2026):
Florida
If the landlord isn’t keeping any of the deposit, return it within 15 days after the rental agreement ends. To make a claim, send the tenant written notice within 30 days; miss that and the landlord can’t deduct from the deposit, though they may still sue for damages after returning it.
California
Within 21 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must give an itemized statement and return the rest. The landlord must photograph the unit at the start of tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025, and again at move-out, and must provide those photos when deducting for repairs or cleaning.
Arizona
At move-in, the landlord must give the tenant a signed copy of the lease, a move-in form for listing any existing damage, and written notice that the tenant may be present at the move-out inspection. Within 14 days (not counting weekends and legal holidays) after the tenancy ends, the landlord has possession back and the tenant asks, the landlord must provide an itemized list of deductions and any amount owed.
Or browse the landlord law guides for every state, or try the Can I do this? checker. General information, not legal advice.
Make it official
Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist
A condition checklist you both sign, with matching move-in and move-out columns. Pair it with your photos.
View checklist → $15 · one-timeSecurity Deposit Kit
A deductions tracker with a deadline calculator, an itemized return letter, and a rules sheet for your state.
View kit →Move-in photo questions
Do I have to take move-in photos?
It depends on your state. Some states have specific move-in photo or condition-form rules, as the California and Arizona examples above show. Check your state page for yours. When in doubt, take dated photos anyway because they cost nothing.
Will photos win a deposit dispute?
We can’t promise that. Photos can help show a unit’s condition, and a signed condition checklist alongside them adds clarity, but how much they help depends on the situation. Both sides should keep the same set. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Why should both the landlord and the tenant take photos?
When both people walk through together and keep the same photos, there is usually less to argue about later. If something is missed, we suggest agreeing to add it in writing within a few days.
Is the photo upload ready?
Yes. Landlords with a Pro or Pro Host plan sign in, create a private link and QR code for a rental, and the tenant adds photos from their phone with no account or plan. Our server stamps each photo with the date and time it arrives, and when both sides sign off the inspection locks. The printable shot list works today with just your phone’s camera.
What does it cost?
The printable shot list on this page is free and needs no sign-up. The shared photo upload is a Pro feature: it comes with Pro ($49/yr) and Pro Host ($99/yr), and your tenant never needs an account or a plan. The Move-In / Move-Out Inspection Checklist spreadsheet is a separate $9 one-time purchase.
What if the tenant has already moved in?
Take dated photos now, ideally together, and write down that they show the condition at that date. They may not show the condition at the start of the tenancy, but they still give you a dated record.