Inventory Check
INVENTORY AND CHECK INS
Introduction
After passing tenant checks and paying a deposit, a good landlord and letting agent will provide you with a check-in inventory in addition to the tenancy agreement. Often created by an independent company, an inventory is a document that outlines in detail the condition of the property before you move in. Knowing the standard of the property at the start of your tenancy helps to set clear expectations of the maintenance required in order to return the property in the same standard at the end of the tenancy. Inventories also help safeguard tenants against unfair deductions from their deposit when moving out of a property. As such, a request for a reasonable fee by the landlord or letting agent for this service is well worth your money.
A good inventory will include
• Full names and addresses of the landlord and tenants
• The date when the inventory was conducted
• A thorough list of the interior and exterior décor/fixtures and fittings along with
the condition of these items (e.g. ‘small scratches to surface’ or ‘brand new, never used’)
• Meter readings/serial numbers/key lists
• Embedded photographs (if these are not embedded in the document they should
be signed and referenced to the corresponding part of the inventory)
• Signatures from the landlord and tenant/s including date/s agreeing to the inventory
• Pages should be initialled
The check-in process:
All tenants named on the AST should be present at the check-in wherever possible. If the inspection was done prior to your moving-in day, then you need be given reasonable time to do a walk-through of the property and check it for accuracy. Check that the notes are comprehensive, unbiased and of a professional standard, especially when written by the landlord. If you notice something has been omitted, such as a faulty blind or cracked window frame, you must amend the inventory by writing it down on the document and initialling. When you are satisfied the inventory is accurate and complete, sign, date and return it with the tenancy agreement to your landlord or letting agent.