Move-In & Move-Out Photos California Now Requires
The rental inspection app for long-term landlords
California enacted AB 2801, amending Civil Code § 1950.5 — landlords must now photograph rental units at move-in and move-out to support security-deposit deductions.
ProofMi locks every photo at the moment of capture. Tenants co-sign the inspection on their own device. Both parties have a timestamped, tamper-proof record — and a shareable link ready to attach to your itemized deduction statement.
California Changed the Rules
AB 2801 amends Civil Code § 1950.5 to require photo documentation at both move-in and move-out. The photos must accompany any itemized deduction statement. Without them, your deductions may not hold up.
Move-out photos
April 1, 2025
Required before and after any repairs or cleanings you deduct for — applies to all residential tenancies.
Move-in photos
July 1, 2025
Required at the inception of any tenancy that begins on or after this date.
Photograph at move-in
For tenancies beginning July 1, 2025 or later: photograph the unit immediately before or at the inception of the tenancy. Locked at capture — no edits, no backdating.
Tenant co-signs
Tenant receives the inspection link and reviews and co-signs on their own device. Both parties are on record before the keys change hands.
Photograph at move-out
Before any repairs or cleanings, photograph the unit. Then again after. Attach the link to your itemized deduction statement — the statute names a shareable link as a valid delivery method.
Effective dates per AB 2801, Ch. 280, Statutes of 2024 (approved September 19, 2024), amending Civil Code § 1950.5(g)–(h). This is information about the law, not legal advice. Check with your attorney about your specific obligations.
What Landlords Are Up Against
“I have photos but they got thrown out”
Phone photos can be dated, edited, or taken from the internet. Without a verified third-party record, tenants can challenge your evidence.
“They disputed every deduction”
Security deposit disputes are the most common landlord-tenant conflict. The party with better documentation wins.
“I lost $3,000 I was owed”
Without a co-signed move-in inspection, tenants can claim pre-existing damage. ProofMi puts both parties on the record before day one.
How ProofMi Works for Landlords
Three steps. One tamper-proof record. Zero disputes.
Capture at move-in
Open ProofMi, select the rental, and photograph every room. Each photo is locked at capture with timestamp and GPS — live camera only, no uploads allowed.
Tenant co-signs
Share the inspection link. Your tenant reviews all photos and co-signs on their own device. Both parties are on record before keys are exchanged.
Repeat at move-out
Do a move-out inspection the same way — before and after repairs. Attach the shareable link to your itemized deduction statement. That link is an explicitly named delivery method under Civil Code § 1950.5(h).
Why Not Just Use Your Phone Camera?
Phone photos — risky
- ✕Date/time can be changed in EXIF
- ✕No proof you took them at the property
- ✕Tenant can claim photos are old or AI-generated
- ✕No co-signature from the tenant
- ✕Hard to deliver in a structured, verifiable way
ProofMi — documentation that holds up
- Locked at the moment of capture — unalterable
- GPS coordinates embedded and verified
- Live capture only — no uploaded or AI photos
- Tenant co-signs on their own device
- Shareable link — a delivery method named in Civil Code § 1950.5(h)
Built for the Landlord Workflow
Protect security deposits
Every deduction backed by tamper-proof photo evidence. No more he-said-she-said.
Tenant co-sign on their device
Tenants receive a link and sign off on their own phone. No app download required for tenants.
Permanent inspection record
Move-in and move-out inspections stored together. One link for the full lifecycle of the tenancy.
Photo documentation tool
AB 2801 (Civil Code § 1950.5) names “a link where the tenant may view the photographs online” as a valid delivery method. That’s what Proofmi gives you.
Five minutes per inspection
Faster than any paper form. Walk the unit, tap each room, share the link. Done.
Immutable storage
Photos cannot be edited after capture. What you documented is exactly what courts and arbitrators see.
Start Your First Move-In Inspection
Free to start. Add your rental property, photograph every room, and share the co-sign link before your tenant moves in — takes under five minutes.