Christmas is fast approaching, and Santa Claus will be checking his list twice to see who’s naughty or nice. Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, it is also worth checking your inventory a couple of times to avoid any disputes over the deposit. The inventory is one of the most important pieces of evidence that an adjudicator will look at in dispute cases, so there are a few important things to keep in mind to prevent any disputes this festive season.
Landlords – What makes a good inventory?
When it comes to a well-produced inventory, the key is detail. There is no such thing as being too specific. The inventory should describe every item and fixture in the property. An adjudicator will never visit a property in the event of a deposit dispute, so they rely on the evidence they have been provided with to determine whether or not any money should be awarded to the landlord. A well-detailed inventory gives them an idea of how the property looked at both the start and end of the tenancy.
As far as detail goes, as much information as possible should be included. Take a sofa in the living room for example. If the check-in report simply states “living room sofa”, this doesn’t provide the adjudicator with key details such as its quality and condition, the colour, the material it is made of. All of this may be important to know if there is a dispute over a stain on the sofa. The check-in report is how the adjudicator knows that the stain was not present at check-in.
Along with how every item looks, it is suggested to also include how each room smells, for example “free from odours”. If there is a bad smell present at the end of the tenancy, the adjudicator will be able to verify that it wasn’t there before. Cleanliness of each room should also be recorded. When detailing the cleanliness of rooms, tenancy deposit scheme SafeDeposits Scotland prefers objective terms such as “clean to a domestic standard” rather than “sparkle clean”, as standards for cleanliness will vary between individuals.
Taking inventory should be the last thing done before the tenant moves in, and again soon after the tenancy has ended. Whilst it is not essential for the tenant to be present, they should always be invited along so that they can verify everything listed on the report is correct.
Tenants – Check the inventory before you leave
Tenants can keep themselves right and ensure the tenancy is returned in as close a state as possible to that described on the check-in report by using the inventory as a reference before they leave.
The inventory can be a useful tool at this stage when it comes to cleaning the property, going through each room and ensuring that they are cleaned to the standard listed on the check-in report.
If the landlord has provided furnishing or items, then the tenant can also use the inventory as a guide that will help them when packing up to leave, making sure they don’t accidentally pack away any plates or silverware that were left at the start by the landlord.
Along with guidance at the end of the tenancy, it is also useful for the tenant to occasionally have a look at the inventory during their tenancy, so they can report any changes that the landlord needs to know about as soon as possible, such as any damaged or lost items.
The tenant should do their best to come along to the property when the inventory is being taken, however if they find out that anything has been missed they will be given some time to report anything to the landlord that they think should be listed.
