What use is an inventory?

This is a very good question. Recent legislation has resulted in check-out fees and charges for services, such as a thorough and professional clean at the end of your tenancy, have now been outlawed unless there are very good reasons to have them. Surprisingly, depsoits have been capped but not been banned altogether. It is still permittable for landlords to deduct monies from the deposit held, at the end of a tenancy, if the tenants have left the property damaged.

To do this, clear evidence is required. The Association for Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) has stated that “assessing what constitutes fair wear and tear to a rental home is among the least understood areas of the lettings process, and one which can create much ambiguity and cause the most disputes when a tenancy ends”. Alleged damage to the property, the need for cleaning and for redecoration are almost always the reasons for a dispute between landlords and tenants, according to the AIIC. This has been confirmed by the Tenancy Deposit Scheme who say that more than 60% of their disputes involve the cost of cleaning.

Why do we need to benchmark at the start?

At the start of every tenancy it is essential to agree a benchmark that records for cleanliness and the condition of the property as well as its fixtures and fittings. It is very important to provide a detailed and accurate inventory. This must be confirmed and signed off by the tenant at the start of the tenancy. The AIIC states that this must take place within seven days of the commencement.

This should be repeated when the tenancy ends.

To make this easy for our clients and all of their tenants, we at Ringley have designed our own app named Quick Inventory. This can be downloaded from the app store. If you would rather go to a reputable organisation to provide an inventory for you, then we have partnered with Evolve who can be instructed to carry it out on your behalf. Please go to www.evolvepartnership.co.uk to find out more. Your inventory is far better if it includes written lists as well as photographic evidenc.. Should the tenancy end with a dispute, then evidence provided by both the landlord and the tenant is needed to resolve the problem.

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