How to take move-out inspection photos

Most deposit arguments come down to one question: was that mark there when the tenant moved in? Photos taken the same way at both ends of the tenancy answer it.

Start at move-in

Move-out photos are only half the evidence. The other half is a matching set taken on the day the keys change hands at the start. Tenants and landlords should both do this, even if an agent produces an inventory, because a written inventory rarely shows how big a mark is or exactly where it sits.

Take the move-out set in the same order and from the same spots, so each room can be compared side by side. Clean before the move-out photos, not after, and do them in daylight with every light switched on. Empty rooms show marks that furniture used to hide, so photograph behind and under where it stood.

Room by room

1. Begin with a wide shot from the door. Stand in the doorway and take one photo of the whole room. Then go to the opposite corner and take another looking back.
2. Cover each wall, the floor and the ceiling. Work clockwise so nothing is skipped. Include skirting boards, light fittings and the backs of doors.
3. Get close to every mark. Photograph scuffs, stains, chips and holes close up, with a coin or a tape measure in shot for scale. Then take one step back so the location is clear.
4. Open things up. In the kitchen, photograph inside the oven, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and cupboards. In bathrooms, show grout, sealant, the extractor fan, taps and the toilet.
5. Test and show. Show lights on, taps running and appliances working, especially anything listed in the tenancy. A short video works well here.
6. Finish outside. Cover the garden, balcony, bins, parking space, windows from outside and the front door.

Meter readings, keys and alarms

• Electricity, gas and water meters: a sharp photo showing the reading and the meter's serial number together.
• Every key, fob and remote laid out on a table, so the count is clear.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, ideally with the test button pressed.
• The boiler or water heater, including any pressure gauge.
• Anything left behind on purpose, such as manuals or spare paint.

Make the evidence dated

Keep the original files, which carry the date and time the phone recorded. Copies sent through messaging apps often lose that data.

On the same day, email the other party a link to the photos or a short summary. A dated message that both sides received is hard to argue with later. If you need visible dates on the pictures themselves, a free tool can stamp them in your browser.

Many places have a deposit protection scheme or rental authority with its own dispute process, and each one has its own rules about evidence. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so check what yours asks for.

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