How to Get Your Tenancy Deposit Back (Move-In Photos That Win Disputes)
Most deposit disputes come down to one question: what was the property like on the day you moved in? The tenant with clear, dated evidence usually comes out on top. Here's how to build that evidence in about 15 minutes.
1. Check your deposit is protected
If you rent on an assured shorthold tenancy in England or Wales, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. They must also give you the scheme details (the "prescribed information"). Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own approved schemes. You can check online with each scheme using your details.
2. Photograph every room on move-in day
Go room by room and photograph the same things every time:
- Walls, ceiling and floor – one wide photo of each, then close-ups of marks, holes and stains
- Doors, windows and sills – including locks and handles
- Kitchen – oven and hob (inside too), fridge, worktops, sink and cupboards
- Bathroom – bath or shower, grout and sealant, toilet and any damp or mould
- Furniture and carpets – stains, burns and wear
- Meters, keys and alarms – meter readings, the number of keys, and the smoke alarms working
Add a short note for anything that isn't perfect, such as "5 cm scratch left of door handle". Notes help an adjudicator find the issue quickly.
3. Prove the date
A photo is only as strong as its date. Your phone's date can be changed, so make your evidence independent:
- Send the report to your landlord or agent on the same day and keep their reply. Ask them to tell you within 7 days if they disagree with anything.
- Register your photos. Move-In Shield records a digital fingerprint of each photo with our server's clock. Anyone can later check that the photos existed on that date and haven't been edited.
4. Know what fair wear and tear means
Landlords can't charge you for fair wear and tear, the normal decline from everyday use. Faded paint, light scuffs and a carpet worn in walkways are typical examples. Things like a burn, a large stain or a broken fitting count as damage. Deductions also shouldn't leave the landlord better off than at the start (no "new for old").
5. Repeat it on move-out day
Retake every photo from the same spot as at move-in, so before and after can be compared properly. Then ask in writing for your deposit back.
6. If you can't agree, use the free dispute service
Every approved deposit scheme offers a free dispute service. An independent adjudicator looks at the evidence from both sides and decides. Clear before-and-after photos with dates are often what decides a case. For help, contact Shelter or Citizens Advice.
Do it in 15 minutes with Move-In Shield
Move-In Shield walks you through every room on your phone. It takes photos inside the app, stamps them with the date and time, and registers their fingerprints. You get a professional PDF to send to your landlord. On move-out day, it shows your old photo over the camera so you can line up each new photo, then builds a before-and-after Deposit Evidence Pack. It's free to try, and you pay £4.99 only for the final report.
*General information, not legal advice.*
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always check the official GOV.UK guidance before you act.