Signed move-in and move-out photo reports that settle rental deposit arguments
TL;DR Moveproof gives brokers, property managers and co-living operators a guided walkthrough that records a rented home's condition on the first and last day, and gets both sides to acknowledge it. Repair requests in between go on the same record. The agent pays per report, and the deposit settles on evidence.
Rental deposits in India are big and the exit is messy. The Model Tenancy Act caps residential deposits at two months' rent, but only in states that adopt it, and it allows "lawful deductions" on handover without saying how damage is proved[1]. Its own example of who fixes what (structural work for the owner, drains, geysers and kitchen fittings for the tenant) shows how easily two people can read the same crack differently[1].
At move-out the tenant remembers a stained wall that was always there and the owner remembers a new one. Neither has dated proof.
We found no public survey of deposit disputes in India, which tells you something by itself. The demand shows up elsewhere though - one PG-software firm sells cover so tenants can skip the deposit altogether[2].
Moveproof is a mobile walkthrough, not a smart-home kit. At move-in the broker or manager follows a room-by-room checklist on a phone, covering walls, floors, fittings, appliances, meter readings and keys. Each photo and short video is time-stamped and located. The app sends the report to the tenant and owner on a chat app, and each of them acknowledges it or adds notes within 48 hours.
During the tenancy the tenant raises repair requests through the same link, so a geyser that died in month three is on record as reported and not neglected. At move-out the app repeats the checklist and puts each room's photos side by side with the move-in set. Then it drafts a deduction sheet with reasons, which both sides can accept or contest.
The seed proposed smart-home devices and community features. We reframed it, because owners rarely fit devices in a flat let for 11 months and society apps already run the community stuff. The costly breakdown between landlord and tenant is the deposit at exit, so that's where Moveproof starts.
Brokers and property managers pay per report, and they can pass it on as a line in their fee. Our working price is ₹500–1,500 per walkthrough, untested. Co-living and PG operators pay a monthly fee per property because they turn rooms over often. One PG-software firm alone reports 2.3 lakh+ tenants on its platform[2], which shows you the volume small operators already juggle.
The Model Tenancy Act, approved on 2 June 2021, gives adopting states a Rent Authority that hears disputes and expects agreements on record[1]. A dated condition report fits right into that. Abroad, England requires deposits to sit in an approved scheme within 30 days, with disputes decided on evidence[3], so the habit can clearly become standard practice.
There's no public figure for deposit disputes or for spending on condition reports in India. The adjacent numbers - one society app reports 30K+ communities and 6M+ homes[4], and one PG-software firm 3 lakh+ rooms[2].
Neither is your market. They just show how many homes already run on phones, so count rental turnovers per broker in one city before you size anything.
Society management apps handle complaints and helpdesks for societies but shows no move-in or move-out workflow[4]. PG software covers PG operations and zero-deposit cover, not condition evidence[2]. In the UK the Deposit Protection Service holds deposits free and runs adjudication[5], and inventory reports are routine there.
The gap in India is a cheap, shared report that both sides sign.
| Difficulty | Moderate (32/100) |
| Starting capital | ₹30–60 L |
| Time to launch | 3–5 months |
Building the app is the easy part. The hard part is behaviour, because brokers have to spend 30 extra minutes at handover and owners have to accept a record that can go against them. Distribution through brokers and co-living operators decides everything, so sales skill matters a lot more than code here.
No licence is needed to sell condition reports. Tenancy law and evidence rules decide how useful the record is, though.
Building this outside India? The categories above usually have a local equivalent, so check with your own regulator.
Don't let AI decide who pays for damage or what counts as normal wear. That's for the owner, tenant and, if it comes to it, the Rent Authority.
Want to work out the AI layer for Moveproof? Talk to Yash →
Here's what can go south -
I like this as a cheap, focused build for someone who already knows rental brokers. If you're hoping consumers will download an app on their own then avoid it. Prove one thing first - that reports change outcomes. Track 30 move-outs and check whether disputes close faster than the operator's usual.
Plan for roughly ₹30–60 L, mostly on the app, broker onboarding and sales. Launch takes 3–5 months.
No licence for condition reports. You'll need consent from both sides under the DPDP Act and a lawyer's view on electronic evidence rules.
Yes, deposit disputes happen everywhere. Some countries, like England, already have deposit schemes, so check what local rules and incumbents already cover.
The free Moveproof validation kit has the line-by-line capital breakdown, the effort scoring, the tenancy and data-protection checklist, a 14-day validation sprint with pass/fail targets, a 90-day launch plan, 10 interview questions for brokers and tenants, and 5 assumptions to test. Download the kit →
Thinking about building Moveproof or something close to it? The make-or-break work is getting brokers to add a walkthrough nobody pays them for today. If you need a hand with that, you know where to find me. Talk to Yash →
For illustration only. Names are fictional and ideas hypothetical; sourced facts are real but may be out of date. Nothing here is legal, financial or professional advice, and Yash Khatri is not personally liable for any use of it. Read the full disclaimer.