California’s AB-2801
Law Made Easy
Comply with California’s AB-2801 Security Deposit Law — The Smart Way
Starting July 1, 2024, California landlords must provide photo proof of a unit’s condition before collecting a security deposit. DepositProof makes this simple, secure, and legally compliant.
DEFENITION
What is AB-2801?
AB-2801 is a new California law requiring landlords to:
Document a unit’s condition with photos
Before a tenant moves in, it’s essential to capture high-quality photographs of the rental unit to document its current condition. These images serve as a visual record that protects both landlords and tenants by clearly showing the state of walls, floors, appliances, and fixtures. This step ensures transparency, prevents disputes over damage, and creates a reliable baseline for move-out comparisons, all while meeting the requirements of California’s AB-2801 compliance.
Share digital proof before taking a security deposit
Before collecting a security deposit, it’s crucial to provide tenants with clear, time-stamped digital evidence of the unit’s condition. This step not only promotes transparency and trust but also fulfills legal requirements like California’s AB-2801. By sharing photos or videos through secure digital platforms, landlords can avoid future disputes, demonstrate good faith, and ensure both parties are aligned on the property’s initial state.
Retain data for lease compliance
Storing visual and written records of a rental unit’s condition is essential for meeting lease compliance requirements and protecting both landlords and tenants. By securely retaining digital documentation—such as move-in photos, inspection reports, and signed agreements—landlords can ensure they remain compliant with regulations like California’s AB-2801. This archived data serves as a reliable reference in case of disputes, audits, or legal reviews, offering peace of mind and accountability throughout the lease term.
Failing to comply may expose landlords to legal disputes, fines, and refund obligations.
Download DepositProof
Security Deposit Management Tool to Simplify Rentals and Avoid Damage Disputes
IMPORTANCE
Why This Matters
If you’re a landlord, leasing agent, or property manager, AB-2801 affects you.
Manual photo uploads, paper logs, and unclear records won’t cut it anymore.
You need:
Timestamps
Every photo or document should include an automatic timestamp to verify when it was captured. This adds credibility and legal strength to your records by proving that the documentation was taken before move-in and before collecting the deposit.
Tamper-proof image storage
Storing photos in a secure, uneditable format ensures that the condition records can’t be altered after the fact. Tamper-proof storage protects both landlords and tenants by maintaining the integrity of the evidence throughout the lease term.
Easy sharing with tenants
Tenants must receive digital access to the move-in condition records. A seamless sharing system—via link, email, or portal—ensures transparency, builds trust, and helps landlords comply with legal requirements like AB-2801 effortlessly.
SOLUTION
DepositProof: Built for AB-2801
DepositProof empowers tenants and landlords to capture, store, and share move-in and move-out photos securely, ensuring transparency and helping avoid deposit disputes.
Image Library
DepositProof classifies, stores, and organizes your move-in and move-out photographs so they are always at your fingertips.
Transparency
Landlords and tenants see the same information and photographs, reducing conflict in damage deposit management.
Easy Sharing
DepositProof hosts move-in and move-out photos while they are needed for AB2801 compliance, but not afterwards, ensuring privacy is respected.
Secure Database
Unit photographs can contain sensitive information; that’s why we encrypt everything end-to-end, and ensure access is limited to those that need it.