Photographing your flat at move-in: the checklist
What to photograph on move-in day, room by room, so you have a complete record to protect your Kaution (deposit).
Photograph every room from two directions and every mark close up. Do it on move-in day in daylight, before the furniture arrives.
What should you photograph when you move in?
Go room by room. The one-off effort on move-in day pays off, because everything later is compared with this starting condition.
- 1
In every room
Photograph the walls and ceiling, floor and skirting, doors, windows, radiators, sockets and light switches.
- 2
In the kitchen
Photograph the hob, worktop, sink and cupboard fronts, and the inside of the oven and fridge.
- 3
In the bathroom
Photograph the tiles, toilet, basin, shower or bath and the silicone joints.
- 4
The spots people forget
Do not forget the window handles, roller shutters, behind the radiators, the balcony, the cellar and the letterbox.
- 5
Every mark close up
Photograph every mark close up, with a coin in the picture for scale.
- 6
Meters and keys
Photograph all meter readings and the keys you are handed.
Why this matters
Under § 538 BGB, you are not liable for changes caused by contractual use, meaning use the lease allows. In practice, though, it comes down to who can show what the flat looked like on move-in day.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
When should I take the photos?
Take the photos on move-in day, before any furniture goes in. The later you take them, the harder it is to show that a mark was there before you.
Are photos alone enough, or do I need an Übergabeprotokoll too?
You need both photos and a signed Übergabeprotokoll (handover record). Mention the photos in the Übergabeprotokoll, and give both sides the same pictures.
Are close-ups of the damage enough?
No, close-ups are not enough. They show the mark, but not that the rest was fine. So also photograph every room from two directions.
Also in this topic: Flat viewings: what tenants have to allowHanding back a flat without the landlord: model letterWohnungsübergabe at move-out: tenant checklist before you signWohnungsübergabe: what to bring to your flat handover (2026 checklist)All guides: Handover & viewings
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