Protect your security deposit
Snestico's Deposit Protection Kit walks renters through a move-in inspection on their phone: every room, every wall, floor, window, appliance and smoke detector gets a condition, a note and close-up photos, each stamped with the time it was uploaded.
Send the finished report to your landlord with one link and they can acknowledge receiving it without an account. At move-out you check the same items side by side with your move-in photos, and a tracker counts down to the return deadline in your state's security deposit law, with reminders and a demand letter if the money doesn't arrive.
Record the home's condition room by room with timestamped photos, get your landlord to acknowledge the report, compare at move-out, and know the day your state says the deposit is due back.
Checklist, photos and tracker free Works on your phone
How it works
Step 1
Walk through on move-in day
Room by room, tap a condition for the walls, floors, windows, appliances and the rest, add a note and photograph every scratch. Each photo is timestamped when it reaches Snestico.
Step 2
Send your landlord the report
One link opens a read-only report. When your landlord clicks "I acknowledge receiving this report", their name and the time are recorded with it. No account needed on their side.
Step 3
Compare at move-out
Check the same rooms and items again, with your move-in notes and photos next to each one, so any new damage claim can be checked item by item.
Step 4
Track the return deadline
From your move-out date and your state's law we work out when the deposit is due back, remind you before and on the day, and let you mark it received.
Free for everyone
- Room-by-room move-in and move-out checklists
- Photos for every item, kept private
- Side-by-side move-in and move-out comparison
- Return deadline countdown and reminders
- Your state's deposit rules
Also included, free for now
- A printable, PDF-ready inspection report
- A link your landlord uses to acknowledge it
- A demand letter if the deposit is late or the deductions look unfair
Everything is free while payments are being set up. Later these come with the Move Pass.
Your state's deposit rules
The most a landlord can ask for, the deadline to return it, interest, itemized deductions and the penalty for keeping it in bad faith.
Moving in soon?
Do the walk-through before you unpack: it takes about twenty minutes and is the best evidence you'll have if the deposit is ever disputed.
Haven't signed yet? The Lease Checker reads your lease for red flags and your state's deposit rules, and can start your record from it.
General information about state laws, not legal advice.
Common questions
Why does a move-in inspection matter?
Most deposit disputes are about damage that was already there. A dated, room-by-room record with photos, which your landlord acknowledged receiving, makes it much harder to charge you for it at move-out.
How long does my landlord have to return my deposit?
It depends on the state: often 14 to 30 days after you move out, and up to 60 in a few states, sometimes with a longer deadline when there are deductions. Pick your state on this page to see its rule. Where we are not sure of a figure, we say so instead of guessing.
Does my landlord need an account to see the report?
No. You send them a private link. They can read it, print it and acknowledge receiving it with their name. Acknowledging confirms they received it, not that they agree with every item.
What if my deposit is late or the deductions look wrong?
The kit writes a polite, firm demand letter with your state's deadline and penalty when we are sure of them, and points to your inspection report. You can copy it, print it or have Snestico email it to your landlord. If that doesn't work, small claims court is usually the next step.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is general information about state security deposit laws, which change and vary by city. Check the current law for your state, or ask a local tenant rights group or lawyer, before relying on it.
Who can see my records and photos?
Only you. Photos are kept in private storage and shown through links that expire. Your landlord sees a report only if you send them its link, and you can turn the link off or delete the record and its photos at any time.