When vacating a rented property, most tenants focus on packing belongings and cleaning the premises. After removing their possessions, they hand over the keys to the landlord, assuming their obligations are fulfilled. However, it can be extremely useful to spend a few minutes before leaving taking photos and videos of the entire house.
After the property has been vacated, disputes often arise between the owner and the tenant regarding the condition of the apartment. Disagreements may occur concerning stains on the walls, pre-existing defects, or damage caused during the move-out. Photo and video materials taken at the time of departure can serve as documentary evidence.
It is not enough to take just one or two pictures before leaving the residence. You should try to take clear photos and videos of every room. It is necessary to document the walls, floor, ceiling, doors, and windows. If there are signs of wear or stains in any area, a separate close-up shot should be taken. This will simplify later proof that the damage existed initially and was not caused during the tenancy.
It is also important to photograph the electricity and water meter readings upon departure. The photo must clearly show the current readings. If possible, the date and time should be recorded along with the picture. This document will help in case of questions regarding electricity or water bills.
Many rented apartments initially have fans, light bulbs, air conditioners, water heaters, cabinets, curtains, or kitchen utensils. When vacating the property, these items should be photographed and filmed. Special attention should be paid to items whose information was provided to the landlord when signing the lease agreement. If any item was faulty initially, it is best to record this on video.
After cleaning and removing belongings, it is advisable to take a general video of the entire house. In this video, you can walk through each room. Then the keys are handed over to the landlord. If disputes may arise in the future regarding the date and time of key handover, you should save a recording of that moment. For example, after handing over the keys, you can ask the landlord to confirm that the apartment has been vacated.
For tenants of rented accommodation, the return of the security deposit is one of the most important issues. Disputes about the return of this amount may arise after moving out. Having photo and video materials reflecting both the initial state and the state upon departure will facilitate comparison. This will help determine what constitutes normal wear and tear versus new damage.
Simply taking pictures is not enough; they should not be deleted immediately. Photos and videos should be saved as a backup on your phone, computer, or a secure cloud storage. It is also necessary to keep the lease agreement, rent payment receipts, records of the security deposit, and messages related to vacating the property. All these elements form a complete set of documents.
Creating photo and video materials when moving out of a rental property does not require much time. However, if a dispute arises later regarding the condition of the property, meter readings, belongings, or deposit, this small archive will be very useful. Therefore, before handing over the keys, you should carefully document the entire house, paying special attention to clear shots of meter readings, walls, floors, doors, windows, and items in the house. This small precaution will help avoid many future problems.