Renting property can be
a tricky business, for both landlords and tenants. A marked wall, broken window or ripped carpet can cost the tenant a hefty
deposit. The landlord may feel money needs to be spent on the property before it can be rented out again. What is the answer?
Using a professional inventory service from check-in to check-out. This protects the tenant’s deposit and the landlord’s
property - saving both parties time, hassle and money.
What is an inventory clerk?
Inventory clerks are professionals who make detailed
notes of the condition and contents of a property before it is rented out by a landlord. The clerk may carry out mid-tenancy
checks on the property, and will return when the tenancy expires to compare the original condition with the end-of-tenancy
condition. The return of the tenant’s full deposit is usually dependent upon the state in which he or she leaves the
property, excluding fair wear and tear.
What is noted on an inventory?
An inventory is a legal document and should be thorough.
This is in the interests of the tenant and the landlord. There are less likely to be problems when the tenant is leaving the
property if everything is noted in a detailed and efficient manner in the first place. The inventory should be agreed by both
the landlord and the tenant when the tenant moves into the property.
The inventory should list everything included in the property.
This includes the doors and locks, ceiling, walls, light fittings, flooring and carpets, blinds and curtains, smoke detectors,
door frames, plug sockets, cupboards, door handles, extractor fans and heating appliances - to name but a few.
As well as these fixtures and fittings, any furniture belonging
to the landlord should be included with descriptions of the condition. It is important that any marks, chips or damage is
included next to each description, so that the landlord is not responsible for any damage done by the tenant and vice versa.
