Use case · Landlords and tenants

Move-in and move-out photos that both sides can verify

Last updated

Take move-in and move-out photos with CaptureSeal and each one carries the date, time, address and GPS coordinates in the image, plus a seal that lets the other side check it wasn’t edited later. Since April 2025, California’s AB 2801 requires landlords to take these photos.

What does California AB 2801 require?

AB 2801 (2024) amended California’s security-deposit law, Civil Code §1950.5. According to the California Apartment Association and SF.gov:

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules have exceptions and can change; read the current statute or ask a lawyer or your local housing authority.

Why verifiable photos help in a deposit dispute

Deposit disputes come down to “what did it look like, and when?” A plain photo answers the first question, but its date can be changed in seconds. A CaptureSeal photo answers both: the stamp shows the time and address, and the seal shows the photo hasn’t changed since it was taken on that phone. Either side, or a mediator, can check it by scanning the QR code. No app or account is needed.

A room-by-room checklist

  1. Start outside. Front door, unit number, mailbox. The stamp’s address ties the set to the property.
  2. Each room, wide then close. Stand in a corner for a wide shot, then photograph walls, floor, ceiling, windows and doors.
  3. Existing damage up close. Scuffs, holes, stains, chips. Put a coin or tape measure in frame for scale.
  4. Kitchen. Inside the oven, fridge, dishwasher and cabinets; the hob and sink.
  5. Bathroom. Grout, tub or shower, toilet, mirror, vanity, exhaust fan.
  6. Fixtures and systems. Smoke alarms, thermostat, water heater, blinds, light fittings.
  7. Meters and keys. Utility meter readings and the keys you hand over.
  8. Short videos. A slow walk-through of each room. Free video is up to 30 seconds per clip.

How to share them

Publish a verify link for each capture from the app, or create a PDF report (part of Pro; the weekly plan covers a one-off move-out) with the photos, times, places and verify links together. Send the original files too. Messaging apps recompress photos, so a forwarded copy won’t match its fingerprint, but its QR code still leads to the signed record.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Does California require move-out photos?

Yes, for most residential tenancies. Under AB 2801, from April 1, 2025, California landlords must photograph a unit after the tenant moves out (before repairs or cleaning) and again after repairs or cleaning, and send those photos with any itemized deposit deductions. For tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025, they must also photograph the unit at move-in. Check the current text of Civil Code §1950.5 or ask a lawyer for your situation.

Can I send the photos as a link?

California landlord-association guidance on AB 2801 says photos can be sent by email or through a link to a website where they can be viewed. CaptureSeal verify links show the signed record (time, place, fingerprints); send the photos themselves alongside, or in an Evidence Report.

Should tenants take photos too?

Yes. Your own dated photos at move-in and move-out are the simplest way to answer a disputed deduction. CaptureSeal lets the landlord, a mediator or a small-claims judge check your photos weren’t edited afterwards.

Is a timestamp app enough on its own?

A visible stamp helps, but anyone can type a date onto a photo. What makes a CaptureSeal photo checkable is the signature behind the stamp: an edited or re-dated copy no longer matches.

Coming soon to iPhone & Android

Take your move-out photos with CaptureSeal

CaptureSeal is coming soon to iPhone and Android. Leave your email and we’ll tell you the day it launches.

I’ll use it on (optional)