Unspoken reason to get an inventory

There are lots of reasons why agents or landlords get an inventory provided for them. Those in the industry are well versed on the benefits of 3rd parties conducting inventories and checkouts for them. These include:

• A fair, non-bias report showing the condition of a property at the beginning and end of a tenancy.

• To assist with flagging up potential maintenance issues so the agent or landlord can arrange the repair before the tenant needs to report it.

• Helps cut down on deposit disputes at the end of a tenancy.

• Important documents to provide as evidence should a dispute arise.

But in my time as an inventory clerk I have observed another, unspoken reason to get a 3rd party inventory done. I believe most landlords should see this as possibly the most important reason to get an inventory.

At a checkin last week I met the tenants to walk them round the property and to show them defects noted in the inventory report. The tenants started asking me about fair wear and tear and expectations of them during the tenancy.

They were aware that a detailed inventory had been carried out at the beginning of the tenancy so any further wear and tear or damage would be noted at the checkout. The tenant’s deposit is typically 4-6 weeks rent, not the sort of money most people give up easily.

Knowing that the deposit rests on the condition of the property at the checkout the tenants know that they need to look after the property correctly. I realised that there is a good chance that these tenants would look after the property really well. I like to think that the tenants would look after the property regardless but they now know the expectations of them during the tenancy and also that a 3rd party will give a checkout report at the end of the tenancy and their deposit depends on the condition they return the property in.

Knowing the condition of the property has been correctly and independently recorded at the beginning of the property means the tenants who want their deposits back want to return the property in good condition at the end of the tenancy.

I remember reading a social media post by a landlord once that a checkout wasn’t worth it unless the amount of damage recorded came to more than the cost of the checkout report. I understand where he was coming from but I hope most landlords would appreciate their property being returned in the same condition as they gave it to the tenant in, plus some wear and tear.

If the checkin and checkout reports help the tenants to return the property in very good condition then the instructing of the inventory clerk was surely to everyone’s benefit.

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We cover Surrey, London and the surrounding area.