When renting a property, having a detailed and precise inventory is essential, especially as a poorly recorded or written report may leave the landlord with no foundation for a claim in the event of a dispute with tenants during or at the end of a tenancy.
The need for a detailed inventory has always been high on the list of priorities when renting but since deposit protection was introduced in April 2007 it’s never been higher. Not having an inventory, or having one which is not detailed enough, could cost a landlord thousands of pounds.
Most professional landlords and agents are aware of this, but many tenants have a more passive attitude towards the inventory, as they do not always appreciate how the document can protect them too.
It’s an obvious point to make but when the tenant hands over their deposit at the start of the tenancy, it remains their money. Therefore, if a landlord wishes to deduct from it, the onus is very much on them to prove why, so recorded detail as evidence is key in the process. A professionally prepared inventory even for a small one bedroom property will run to 20 pages or more, and whilst photographs are very important, preferably digitally-dated, they do not replace the written detail.
The inventory is an important document and one that may need to be relied upon as evidence in the event of a dispute and used in adjudication with tenancy deposit scheme provider to allow for any queries and complaints to be dealt with independently for both parties concerned. The inventory needs to be prepared by an independent party if it is to stand up to scrutiny. It’s never a good idea for the agent to draw up the inventory, and certainly not the landlord or the tenant themselves. We recommend using a professional inventory clerk who is a member of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) or the Association of Professional Inventory Providers (APIP).
Clear property damage and poor cleanliness or anything that is different from the property’s original state is far easier to identify if there is an inventory management report and schedule of condition in place, enabling the landlord to use the tenant’s deposit to compensate.
