How to photograph a rental property inspection in BC
The most useful inspection photo shows where an item is, what its condition is, and when the image was taken. Photograph each room at move-in, add close-ups of existing wear or damage, and connect those images to the matching condition notes. Repeat the same views at move-out. This gives the landlord and tenant a clearer record of what changed, without asking either side to reconstruct a walk-through from a camera roll.
The BC Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) recommends that both parties take photos or video during the inspection and save them with the report. Photos supplement the written condition inspection report; they do not replace it. See the RTB move-in inspection guidance.
Make a short photo plan before you enter
Work through the same route every time: entrance, living spaces, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, storage, and any exterior area included in the tenancy. The RTB says a condition report should cover rooms and hallways, plus relevant exterior spaces such as balconies, yards, garages, and parking. Your lease and the actual unit determine which spaces apply.
For each room, capture three types of image:
- An overview from the doorway to place the room in context.
- The item—for example, the entire kitchen counter, window, appliance, or floor area.
- A close-up of a mark or defect, with enough surrounding surface to show its location and scale.
Use consistent lighting where practical. A close-up that shows only a scratch, with no wider view, may be hard to match to the same item months later. Avoid people, personal papers, and other details that do not help document the unit.
Pair each photo with a specific condition note
Write what is visible rather than guessing the cause: “two chips on the lower left cabinet door” is clearer than “tenant damage.” Identify the room, item, condition, and any repair that needs follow-up. If a photo shows a stain, note whether it was present at move-in or first seen at move-out. Let the tenant record a different assessment on the report if the parties disagree; the RTB guidance specifically calls for that opportunity.
The RTB's evidence guidance gives a useful naming example: a photo name should identify the room, issue, and date. Whether you use file names or an inspection app, the same rule makes a later comparison faster.
Capture the baseline while the unit is empty
A move-in inspection is the best chance to record pre-existing marks before furniture or belongings cover them. Photograph both clean, undamaged features and exceptions worth tracking. A gallery of damage alone cannot show the overall condition of the unit. Walk through the written report together, add the relevant photos, and complete the review and signatures.
At move-out, return to the same room and item views. The goal is a fair comparison, including evidence that a feature remained in the same condition. BC's move-out guidance says the inspection is a chance to document and photograph the condition since move-in. Our move-in and move-out comparison guide explains how to review those pairs.
Keep the images with the report
Before you finish, check for blurry photos, missing rooms, and images that are not tied to a note. Keep the completed report and related media somewhere accessible; do not rely on a phone's camera roll alone. If an issue may need a repair, make a separate maintenance note so the condition record and the work to be done are both clear.
Anchor's BC rental inspection workflow lets a manager add condition notes to room items, prepare the RTB-27 report, and send the tenant a review and signature link without requiring an app install. Plus and higher plans support inspection item photos. After the final package is emailed, save it in your own records. The software organizes evidence for the parties to review together.
A quick photo check before signing
- Does every included room have an overview and item views?
- Can a reader locate each close-up from its wider photo and condition note?
- Are pre-existing marks and agreed repairs recorded plainly?
- Has the tenant had a chance to review and add any different assessment?
- Are the report and photos saved together for the later move-out comparison?
For the complete walk-through sequence, use our BC rental inspection checklist. To understand the official form, read the RTB-27 guide.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current RTB inspection rules for your tenancy.