Deposit disputes
Deposit disputes come down to what you can show.
When a tenancy ends badly, the deposit conversation turns into one person's word against another's. The renters who come through okay are usually the ones with dated records: move-in condition, photos, receipts, and messages — organized before they were needed.
What to do right now
Three steps that matter in almost every deposit dispute.
These apply whether or not you ever use Optimized Rentals.
Deposit types, amounts, and return timelines differ across Canada. Every province has a residential tenancy board or branch with a formal dispute process — and those processes are designed to be used without a lawyer.
Move-in and move-out photos, your lease, rent receipts, and every relevant message. Keep originals, and keep the dates attached — a photo with a timestamp beats a description from memory.
Request the return in writing with a clear date. If it stays unresolved, file with your provincial board and bring a factual timeline supported by your records.
Where a record helps
Organized beats scattered — especially under stress.
A dispute is the worst time to be hunting through old chats and camera rolls. A tenancy record keeps everything dated and in one place.
Private document vault
Store condition photos, receipts, your lease, and messages privately. Nothing is shared unless you choose to share it.
Dated as you go
Records added during the tenancy carry their dates with them — a clearer timeline than reconstructing events afterward.
Rent payment record
Track what you paid and when, so payment questions in a dispute have answers instead of guesses.
Useful after the dispute too
The same records become evidence-supported rental history for your next application.
Related resources
Keep the rest of your tenancy documented
Deposits are one piece — the same habits protect your whole rental record.
What to document before disputes can start.
Try the condition report — live demoWalk a sample unit on your phone, send it to yourself, and answer as the tenant. No account.
Protect your tenancyDocument condition, rent, and maintenance while they happen.
Repairs not getting done?Put repair requests on the record the right way.
How privacy worksWho can see your documents, and when.
Start now, not after
The best time to build your record was move-in. The second-best time is today.
Every photo, receipt, and message you organize now is one less thing to argue about later.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and timelines vary by province — check your provincial residential tenancy authority for current requirements.