Sample packet

Built by DepositThis from a made-up move-out: simple drawn photos, a fictional tenant (Sam Rivera) and a fictional landlord. Your packet uses your real photos and documents. We organize your files. We're not a law firm, and this isn't legal advice.

What the files show

8 move-in photos, dated Mar 1, 2025 (8 with a camera date).
9 move-out photos, dated Sep 15, 2026 (9 with a camera date).
6 matched move-in/move-out pairs covering: Entry, Kitchen, Other.
A walk-through video (9.0 seconds) with a file date of 2026-09-15.
The landlord's deduction letter is dated “October 9, 2026” and lists 3 deductions totaling $1,350.00.
Messages with the landlord (4 dated items read).
Lease showing a deposit of $2,400.00, start March 1, 2025.
You entered a move-out date of Sep 15, 2026.
The deduction letter's date is 24 days after that move-out date.

Timeline

Mar 1, 20258 move-in photos takenMove-in photos · camera date (EXIF)
Sep 1, 2026Confirming tenant move-out on Sep 15 and to leave keys in the lockbox.Messages · written as “Sep 1, 2026”; read from an image, please check
Sep 15, 2026Move-out date (as you entered it)You
Sep 15, 20269 move-out photos takenMove-out photos · camera date (EXIF)
Sep 15, 2026Photo of a screen showing the date “Tuesday, September 15”Move-out photos · year not shown
Sep 15, 2026Walk-through video recorded (9.0 s)Video · video file date
Sep 15, 2026Forwarding address given to the landlord (as you entered it)You
Sep 15, 2026Tenant confirms keys are in the lockbox and provides forwarding address: 88 Example Rd, Apt 2, Oakland CA 94600.Messages · written as “Sep 15, 2026”; read from an image, please check
Sep 16, 2026Landlord confirms receipt of keys and states the place looks good.Messages · written as “Sep 16, 2026”; read from an image, please check
Oct 1, 2026Tenant inquires about the deposit return.Messages · written as “Oct 1, 2026”; read from an image, please check
Oct 6, 202621 days after the move-out date you entered (21 days to return the deposit or send an itemized statement (Civ. Code §1950.5))State rule · app-computed
Oct 9, 2026Itemized deduction letter dated “October 9, 2026”Deduction letter

This is general information, not legal advice. See the rules and sources for the full summary and citations.

Photo pairs (first 3 of 6)

Letter draft

Yellow [FILL IN] marks are things the files didn't contain. The paragraph about California's rule is our checked summary of the official source, inserted word for word.

Sam Rivera [FILL IN: your forwarding address, email and phone] Oct 18, 2026 Bayview Example Properties LLC 100 Sample Street, Suite 5, San Francisco, CA 94100 Subject: Security Deposit Dispute Dear Bayview Example Properties LLC, I am Sam Rivera. I rented the property at 742 Demo Ave, Unit 3, San Francisco, CA 94110. I moved in on March 1, 2025 and moved out on September 15, 2026. My forwarding address is 88 Example Rd, Apt 2, Oakland CA 94600. I received the itemized deduction letter from Bayview Example Properties LLC dated October 9, 2026. The letter listed these deductions: Carpet replacement, bedroom $650.00; Interior painting, living room $400.00; Professional cleaning $300.00. I dispute the carpet replacement deduction because the carpet was already worn when I moved in. I dispute the interior painting deduction because the paint was the original paint. (see Exhibit B, Pairs 4 and 5) Your itemized statement is dated Oct 9, 2026, which is 24 days after I moved out on Sep 15, 2026. Under California Civil Code section 1950.5, a landlord must, no later than 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, return the security deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions together with any remaining balance. Deductions are limited to amounts reasonably necessary, such as unpaid rent, repairing damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and cleaning to return the unit to the level of cleanliness it had at move-in. For deductions over $125 the statement must include copies of invoices or receipts, and the law also requires the landlord to take photographs of the unit after move-out, before repairs or cleaning that will be deducted. If a deposit is kept in bad faith, a court may award up to twice the amount of the deposit in damages in addition to actual damages. Please return the full $1,350.00 withheld from my deposit by November 1, 2026. You can send the payment to my forwarding address or by [FILL IN: payment method]. I would prefer to resolve this directly with you. Sincerely, Sam Rivera Enclosures: Exhibit A: Timeline; Exhibit B: Move-in vs move-out photo pairs; Exhibit C: Other move-out photos; Exhibit D: Landlord's deduction letter; Exhibit E: Messages with the landlord; Exhibit F: Lease; Exhibit G: Walk-through video stills

This is general information, not legal advice. See the rules and sources for the full summary and citations.

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