How to prove your apartment’s condition at move-out

Move-out is the most tense moment of any rental agreement. It’s when your landlord evaluates the property’s condition and decides whether to return your full deposit or make deductions. Without proper documentation, that negotiation tilts entirely in the landlord’s favor.

The information asymmetry problem

In most situations, the landlord has the power to unilaterally decide what constitutes “damage” and how much to deduct. They control the move-out inspection, they hold the deposit money, and they choose the contractors for repairs.

Your only weapon in that negotiation is evidence. And evidence that works needs three characteristics:

1. Verifiable date: prove when the photo was taken
2. Verifiable location: prove where the photo was taken
3. Immutability: prove the photo wasn’t edited afterward

Two-step strategy

Step 1: Move-in documentation

If you haven’t done a move-in inspection yet, the good news is it’s never too late to start documenting. Even if you’ve lived there for months, recording the current state creates a baseline for the future.

If you’re starting a new lease now, do the inspection before moving anything in. CertiPlace generates a complete report in 5 minutes with blockchain-sealed photos, GPS, and a presence selfie.

Step 2: Move-out documentation (before returning the keys)

Ideally on the same day or the day before handing over the keys, do a new complete inspection:

1. Clean the apartment — a clean property makes a better impression during inspection
2. Remove all your belongings — photograph with the apartment completely empty
3. Photograph every room from the same angles as your move-in inspection (if possible)
4. Document any repairs you made
5. Generate a new report with date, time, GPS, and blockchain seal

Comparing move-in and move-out

With two reports — move-in and move-out — you have a complete visual record of the property’s evolution during your tenancy. This lets you demonstrate:

• Defects that already existed before you moved in
• Normal wear and tear from use (not your responsibility)
• That the property was returned in equal or better condition

Common landlord charges (and when they’re unfair)

Repainting

The most common and most disputed charge. If your lease says “return with fresh paint” and you signed it, the charge may be legitimate. But if the walls only show normal fading and minor marks, the charge is unfair.

Floors

Minor scuffs in high-traffic areas are normal wear. Floors with burns, paint stains, or structural damage are the tenant’s responsibility.

“Professional cleaning”

Very common and usually unfair. If you returned the apartment clean, the landlord can’t charge for professional cleaning.

At the move-out inspection

• Be present — never let the inspection happen without you
• Bring your documentation — move-in and move-out reports on your phone
• Challenge every item the inspector flags as damage
• Don’t sign anything without reading — especially terms like “I accept the deductions”
• Get everything in writing — any deduction needs documented justification

If the landlord insists on unfair deductions

With a CertiPlace report, you have verifiable evidence with a blockchain-sealed timestamp. Any judge can independently verify that your photos were taken on that date and at that location. The landlord would have to prove your blockchain-verified evidence is false — which is technically unfeasible.

Strategy summary

1. Document at move-in with verifiable photos
2. Document at move-out with verifiable photos
3. Compare both reports and present them at the inspection
4. Challenge deductions without justification
5. If needed, bring your evidence to court