Already worn? Put it on record, dated.
Paint and carpet are among the most common deductions, and the argument is always the same: “it was new when you moved in”. The day you get the keys is the only day you can show it was not. Photograph what is already worn and ask when it was last redone.
Seal your move-in photos, freePrintable checklist
What to photograph, surface by surface
For each one, a photo of the whole wall or floor and a close-up of the wear, with a short note.
- CarpetThe worn path from the door, the edges along the walls, old stains, flattened spots under where furniture stood. One photo low, almost at floor level, shows the wear best.
- PaintTouch-ups in a slightly different shade, yellowed patches, marks left by furniture, chipped skirting boards and corners.
- Floors and doorsScratches on wood or laminate, dents, scuffs on door frames, loose handles.
- Kitchen and bathroomWorn worktops, burn marks, dull or chipped enamel, mould-stained sealant, dripping taps.
- AppliancesThe label with the brand and model, and the year if it shows one. It says more about age than the look.
- Windows and blindsFaded curtains or blinds, broken slats, stiff handles, condensation marks on the frames.
Damp stain above the window
The question nobody keeps the answer to
Edit it, then send it with your record link. If they answer, the answer stays with your photos; if they do not, the record shows it was asked.
Hello, I recorded the condition of the flat on the day I moved in, with photos, here: [record link]. Could you confirm it, and tell me when the walls were last painted and when the carpet was last replaced? Thank you.
How DepositSeal does it
- Photograph each room.In the browser, with a short note per photo: “Hall carpet, worn path 1 m from the door”. The full photos stay on your phone.
- We seal the time.Our server writes its own clock time and the fingerprint of every photo, and signs it so it cannot be edited later.Sealed · 3 photos22 October 2026, 10:42Fingerprint: ce01432efcd46059abe9547fde85d172099b7bb3319ebf1c6e4623c9d0c80033
- Your landlord gets a link.They answer “I confirm” or leave observations. If they never answer, the record shows that it was sent.The landlord confirmed the condition22 October 2026, 18:05
What it proves, and what it does not
It shows that these exact photos existed at the time shown, that they were sent to your landlord and what they answered. Anyone can check a photo is the original: change a single pixel and the fingerprint no longer matches.
It does not prove what a photo shows or where it was taken. It is supporting evidence, not legal advice. It shows how things looked on a dated day, and what your landlord answered. It does not prove how old the carpet or the paint is, and it does not replace receipts or the rules where you live.
If the deduction comes anyway
Keep your original photos. Send the record link and put your day-one photo next to their move-out photo of the same spot. If you need something to hand in, the record has a PDF with every photo in large size, US$3, one payment.
Pests: what you saw that day
Look at mattress seams, skirting boards and behind the headboard, and photograph what you find. If you see something later, tell your landlord the same day with photos: the date of that message matters. A photo shows what you saw that day; it cannot show that something was not there.
This page is general information, not legal advice.