Move-In Checklist for UK Tenants: What to Photograph on Day One
The first day in a new home decides whether you get your deposit back. Spend 15 minutes recording the condition before you unpack.
Before you start
- Check you've received the deposit scheme details (your landlord must protect the deposit within 30 days in England and Wales).
- Ask for the landlord's inventory, if there is one, and compare it with what you see.
- Use good light and take photos before your furniture goes in.
Room by room
Every room: walls, ceiling, floor or carpet, doors and frames, windows and sills, lights and switches, sockets, radiators, curtains or blinds.
Kitchen: oven and hob (open the oven), fridge and freezer (inside), worktops, sink and taps, cupboards, extractor hood, washing machine, wall tiles.
Bathroom: bath or shower, sealant and grout, toilet, basin, extractor fan, mirror, any damp or mould.
Bedrooms: wardrobes, bed and mattress, any furniture.
Outside: garden, fences, bins, shed.
Essentials: gas, electricity and water meter readings, the number of keys, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (press test).
Take the right photos
- One wide photo of each item.
- Close-ups of every mark, scratch, stain or crack.
- A short note for each issue, such as "5 cm scratch left of door handle".
Prove the date
A photo is only as strong as its date. Send your report to your landlord or agent the same day and keep their reply. Ask them to tell you within 7 days if they disagree.
Move-In Shield walks you through this checklist on your phone, stamps every photo with the date and time, and gives you a PDF that anyone can verify. Your landlord can even confirm online that they agree. It's free to try.
Questions
*General information, not legal advice.*
What if the landlord didn't give me an inventory?
Make your own on day one and send it to them. Without any inventory, it's much harder for a landlord to justify deductions, but your own dated record protects you even more.
Should I photograph things that are clean and fine?
Yes. Proof that something was in good condition is as useful as proof of damage, especially for cleaning disputes.
How long should I keep the photos?
Until your deposit has been returned and any dispute is closed. Keep a backup somewhere other than your phone.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always check the official GOV.UK guidance before you act.