Getting your deposit back at move-out — what I wish I'd documented

OP here. The advice I got that I'm now religious about: on move-IN day, photograph and video everything with a timestamp — every mark, scuff and appliance — and email it to the landlord so there's a dated record. Your move-out defence is built on move-in day.

Insist on a written, signed inventory/condition report at the start. Where I am, deposits are often held in a protected scheme rather than by the landlord directly — check if yours should be, because that changes your rights enormously.

Get everything in writing, never verbal. 'The landlord said it was fine' is worth nothing at move-out. Every agreed repair, every 'don't worry about that mark' — email it so there's a trail.

Do a proper deep clean and, if the contract implies it, repaint or fix small things yourself before the final inspection. It's far cheaper than the inflated 'professional' charges they'll deduct otherwise.

Be present at the final inspection if you possibly can, and get the outcome signed there and then. A friend let the landlord inspect alone and mysteriously 'new' damage appeared on the report.

Know your dispute route before you need it. In some places there's an official body or the protection scheme itself that adjudicates deposit disagreements cheaply. Knowing it exists changes the landlord's behaviour instantly.

Keep the deposit paperwork and your bank record of paying it. Sounds obvious, but a year later 'what deposit?' is a genuine tactic, and the receipt ends that conversation fast.

Fair wear and tear is not damage — learn that distinction for your jurisdiction. A faded carpet from normal use isn't deductible, and knowing the line lets you push back confidently on unfair charges.