The owner books, we document, you stay out of the deposit dispute.
We know of no California rule that stops you from taking the move-in photos yourself. The question is how they will read a year later, in front of a tenant or a small claims judge, and whose name is on them.
For tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025, California expects photos at the start of the tenancy, and the landlord carries the burden of proving each deduction. The owner gets that record before the tenant moves in, element by element.
As the owner’s agent, you owe a fiduciary duty of loyalty to the owner, so photos you take read as the owner’s side. A third party paid the same whatever the report says gives both sides the same facts.
Deposit disputes start after move-out, often more than a year after you closed the lease. With a neutral record, the questions go to the report, not to you.
No photo session to fit between showings. We coordinate the visit with the owner or the tenant and deliver the report within 24 hours.
Flagging the deposit risk before it exists is the kind of advice an owner remembers when the unit turns over again, or goes up for sale.
We give you a personal code to share at signing. Your clients enter it at checkout and save 10% on their report, every time.
When the lease is signed, tell the owner about the move-in report, or forward them our move-in report page. One sentence is enough.
The owner books the move-in visit and pays us directly, with the exact price shown before checkout. With your personal code, they get 10% off, and we know the recommendation came from you.
We visit before the tenant moves in and deliver a dated report within 24 hours. With the owner’s OK, we send you a copy for your file.
“For new tenancies, California expects move-in photos to back any deduction from the deposit. I recommend an independent move-in report: one visit before the tenant moves in, and a record that is much harder for a tenant to dismiss as one-sided. With my code, you get 10% off.”
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“After searching and searching, I can confidently say that there is no other service like Scoutmyplace in all of Los Angeles. The report I received was extremely thorough and detailed, documenting the condition of the property in a way that gives me much greater confidence as a landlord.”
General information about California law, not legal advice.