Demand a written itemized statement first
Most state laws require landlords to provide a detailed, written itemization of deductions — not just a vague dollar amount. Before responding, insist on receiving an itemized list of deductions in writing.
Inspect side-by-side room comparisons
Open your SealMove report and go directly to the room under dispute. The app automatically aligns your move-in baseline photo alongside the move-out condition photo — eliminating guesswork about what the room looked like months prior.
Verify both device & server anchor timestamps
Every capture in the report carries two timestamps: the on-device timestamp and the independent server anchor countersignature. If a landlord claims damage occurred at a specific time, the server anchor timestamp proves the exact moment evidence existed.
Send a formal statutory demand letter
If informal resolution fails, send a formal written demand letter citing your state's specific deposit return statute and bad-faith penalty damages (which range from 2x to 3x the deposit amount).
Dispute Decision Tree & Demand Letter Generator
Use our interactive dispute tools to evaluate whether to fight a deduction, calculate statutory bad-faith penalties, and generate a formal demand letter.