When you report a water stain or leak, the photos you attach are the request. Here is exactly what to capture as you submit it — and the few notes that make the record clear enough for whoever handles the repair to act on.

Open the request with photos, not just a description

  • When you notice a stain or leak, start the maintenance request and attach photos to it — the photos are the report.
  • Capture it as soon as you can; water marks dry, spread, and change color over time.
  • Take a wide shot first that shows the whole wall, ceiling, or cabinet, then move in for close-ups.
  • If water is actively dripping or pooling, add a short video or burst before you wipe anything up.
  • Do not clean, paint over, or move furniture until you have photographed the original condition.

What to photograph, and from where

  • A wide establishing shot showing the room and surface — ceiling corner, wall below a window, or under-sink cabinet.
  • A straight-on mid shot of the full stain so its shape and edges are clear.
  • One or two close-ups of the darkest area, bubbling paint, soft drywall, or any spotting.
  • The suspected source if you can see it: a pipe joint, window frame, roofline, or appliance connection.
  • A shot with a common object beside the stain — a coin, a ruler, or your hand — for scale.
  • The same angle each time, so any follow-up photos line up with the ones in this request.

Notes to include with the request

  • The room and exact location, for example "hallway ceiling, corner nearest the bathroom".
  • The date you first noticed it and the date of every photo you add.
  • Rough size, and whether it has grown since you last looked.
  • Whether the area feels wet, damp, or dry to the touch, and any smell.
  • Recent triggers — heavy rain, an upstairs appliance running, or a shower used nearby.
  • Anything you did, such as placing a bucket or shutting a valve, and when.

Keep the request as a record you can follow up on

  • Keep all photos and notes for the issue together, grouped by room.
  • Order them by date so the request reads as a timeline, not a pile.
  • Add a short, plain-language summary of what you found and what you are asking for.
  • Re-photograph from the same spot after rain or after a repair to show whether it is resolved.
  • Share one organized condition report with whoever handles repairs, instead of scattered texts.
  • door.lease can keep the photos, timestamps, room context, and notes for a leak in one place and turn them into a shareable maintenance record — documentation support, not a legal claim.
Use this guide as documentation support, not legal advice. Local rules, lease terms, platform policies, and professional guidance may affect how a record should be used.