How to get your security deposit back: the move-in photo checklist

Why photos decide deposit disputes

In most U.S. states a landlord can keep part of a security deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and must return the rest, or explain the deductions, within a deadline set by state law. Those deadlines run from about two weeks to about two months, depending on the state.

What a landlord can’t easily do is charge you for damage that was there before you arrived, if you can show it. A dated photo of the chipped countertop from the day you got the keys turns “he said, she said” into a short conversation.

The catch: almost nobody takes those photos well. They grab a few blurry shots of a full room, or film a fast video they can never find again. Here’s how to do it properly in about half an hour.

How to take photos that hold up

1. Shoot the empty home. Before the movers, before the boxes. Furniture hides the floor and the walls, which is exactly where deductions land.
2. Turn on every light and open the blinds. Dark photos hide the scuffs you’re trying to record.
3. Wide first, then close. From the doorway, get the whole room in one frame, so every close-up has context. Then walk the walls, floor and fixtures.
4. Get close to existing damage. One shot from a step back to show where it is, one close enough to see it clearly. A coin or a key in the frame shows the size.
5. Don’t edit or filter. Keep the originals exactly as the camera made them. Edits invite the question of what else was changed.
6. Make the date hard to argue with. Your phone records when each photo was taken. Emailing the set to your landlord or property manager the same day gives you both a dated copy.
7. Stay safe and normal. Look, don’t take things apart. Don’t move heavy appliances or open panels; press a smoke alarm’s test button only if you’re allowed to.

The room-by-room checklist

This is the walk the Hey Bungee Move-in kit uses, drawn from public inspection checklists published by HUD, NYCHA and the EPA. It is 21 shots for a one-bedroom. Add a bedroom or bathroom block for each extra room.

Entry and whole home · 4 shots

• Front door and lockThe door, frame, handle, lock and threshold.
• Keys, fobs and remotesLay out everything you were given. Hide any codes.
• Smoke and CO alarmsThe alarms that are there. Use only the normal test button, if allowed.
• Thermostat and ventsThe thermostat, and the vents and grilles you can see.

Kitchen · 5 shots

• The whole roomFrom the doorway, the whole kitchen in one view.
• Sink and under the sinkThe faucet and basin; open the cabinet below only if it’s safe.
• AppliancesEach included appliance, inside and out. Don’t move heavy ones.
• Cabinets and countersCounters, cabinet fronts, hinges and shelves.
• FloorThe floor, its edges and any wear.

Living room · 4 shots

• The whole roomFrom the doorway, in one view.
• Walls and paintPaint, trim, marks, cracks or stains along each wall.
• FloorCarpet, wood or tile, edges included.
• Doors, windows and locksDoors, windows, screens, handles and locks.

Each bedroom · 4 shots

• The whole roomFrom the doorway, in one view.
• Walls and paintEvery wall, including behind where the bed will go.
• FloorEspecially carpet: stains and wear show up here.
• ClosetShelves, doors, tracks and the floor inside.

Each bathroom · 4 shots

• The whole roomFrom the doorway, in one view.
• Sink and under the sinkFaucet, basin, and the cabinet below if it’s safe to open.
• ToiletThe base, bowl, tank, seat and the floor around it.
• Tub, shower and groutFixtures, grout, sealant and the drain area.

If you have them

• Laundry or utilityThe whole room, then the hookups and the floor.
• Outdoor spaceThe balcony, patio or yard, and its surfaces.
• Parking or garageThe space, and the door, opener or access.
• StorageThe unit and its surfaces.

Move-out day

Clean first, then repeat the walk: the same shots, from the same spots, before you hand back the keys. The goal is pairs: the kitchen counter on day one, the kitchen counter on the last day. Pairs are what make a deduction easy to question.

• Take the move-out photos after cleaning, so they show the state you returned the home in.
• Photograph the keys and fobs you’re returning, laid out together.
• Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. The deposit, or the list of deductions, is often sent there.
• Note the date you returned the keys. Deposit deadlines are usually counted from when you moved out or the lease ended.

If the landlord deducts anyway

Ask for an itemized list of deductions if you didn’t get one. For each item, find the matching pair of photos. Normal wear and tear, like light scuffs or carpet worn by ordinary walking, is generally not a fair deduction; damage is. Reply in writing with the pairs attached and ask for the difference back.

If that doesn’t work, small claims court is built for disputes like this and usually doesn’t require a lawyer. Rules, deadlines and penalties differ by state, so check your state’s security deposit law or a local tenant resource before you file.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Hey Bungee shows the typical deposit deadline for your state and links the statute, so you can read the rule yourself.

Questions

How many photos should I take when I move in?

About twenty for a one-bedroom: one wide shot per room plus close-ups of the walls, floors, fixtures and appliances. Then add a close-up of every existing scratch, stain or crack you find.

Is a video better than photos?

A slow walkthrough video is a good extra. Photos are easier to compare side by side at move-out, and easier to attach to an email or a dispute.

Are my phone’s timestamps enough to prove the date?

They help. Emailing the photos to your landlord on move-in day creates a dated record you both have. Keep the originals unedited.

What if the home is already furnished?

Photograph each piece of furniture too, especially upholstery and tabletops, and add it to the room where it sits.