The single biggest factor in winning a deposit dispute is evidence of condition. A landlord’s word loses to your dated photos. Do this on move-out day, after the unit is empty and clean.
The move-out evidence checklist
- Photograph every room — wide shots plus close-ups of floors, walls, corners, counters, appliances (inside and out), bathrooms, closets, blinds, and any pre-existing wear. Don’t skip the “boring” clean areas; you’re proving they’re clean.
- Shoot a slow video walkthrough narrating the date and address (“June 16, 2026, [address], living room, clean, no damage”).
- Capture timestamps. Keep the original files (their metadata holds the date); optionally include a phone showing the date, or a dated newspaper, in one frame.
- Note meter readings and that all keys/remotes/fobs were returned.
- Do a joint walkthrough if offered and get the landlord to sign a move-out condition checklist. In some states you can request a move-out inspection (e.g. California, Maryland) — do it.
- Compare to move-in. Pair these with your move-in photos/checklist to show what was already worn or damaged before you arrived.
Keep it organized
- Back up the photos/video to cloud storage the same day.
- Make a simple one-page summary: address, move-in date, move-out date, and a list of any pre-existing issues with photo references.
Pre-existing damage is the landlord’s, not yours. If something was already broken, stained, or worn at move-in and your move-in photos show it, the landlord can’t charge you for it. This is why move-in and move-out evidence both matter.
With this in hand, your demand and dispute letters carry real weight — attach copies to each.