When something is broken at move-out, the argument is rarely about whether it's broken. It's about whose fault it is. A worn carpet and a carpet with a burn hole look different in person, but weeks later, with no record of what the unit looked like at the start, they become one person's word against another's. Settling who pays doesn't take a better argument. It takes a better record: the condition at move-in, the condition now, and photos tied to both. This guide covers how to document tenant versus landlord responsibility so the evidence answers the question before it becomes a dispute. This is general information, not legal advice, and the rules depend on your lease and local law. If you want condition records you can compare, book a demo.
Repair Responsibility
Who Pays for This? Let the Photos Answer.
Photo evidence tied to the original condition record settles wear and tear versus damage without an argument.
Two Kinds of Worn, Two Different Answers
Normal Wear and Tear
Usually the landlord's cost
Faded paint after several years
Carpet worn along walking paths
Minor nail holes from pictures
Loosened hinges from regular use
Tenant Damage
May be the tenant's cost
Large holes in walls or doors
Burns or deep stains in carpet
Broken fixtures from misuse
Unreported damage left to worsen
Examples are illustrative. What counts as wear or damage, and who pays, depends on your lease and local rules.
The Question Is Always "Compared to What?"
A photo of damage today proves it exists. It doesn't prove when it happened. What settles responsibility is the comparison: the same spot, photographed at move-in, set beside the same spot at move-out. If the move-in record shows a clean wall and the move-out shows a hole, the evidence is already in the file.
What the Record Needs to Contain
A dated move-in condition record
Room by room, with photos, saved to the unit before the tenant takes occupancy.
Matching move-out photos
The same areas photographed at the end of the tenancy, so the two sets can be compared directly.
The repair order linked to both
The service order for the fix attached to the original finding, so the cost traces back to its cause.
Compare Move-In to Move-Out in Seconds
HomeInspecto keeps condition records and repair orders linked, so responsibility is documented, not debated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a photo record decide who has to pay?
No. It documents the condition and timing. Who is responsible still depends on your lease and local law, but good evidence makes that conversation much simpler.
Can a tenant see the move-in condition record?
Records can be shared with the tenant, which also lets them confirm the starting condition and report anything you missed.
What if there is no move-in record for an existing tenant?
You can begin documenting now, with a dated condition record for the current tenancy. It won't cover the past, but it protects you going forward.
Can I link a repair cost back to the original finding?
Yes, the service order and its cost stay attached to the finding that caused it, so you can see exactly what a given issue led to.
Settle It With a Record, Not an Argument
Move-in and move-out photos, side by side, with the repair linked to both.
