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 INVENTORY LAYOUT
The inventory should be laid out in a logical manner.
The inventory should allow sufficient space in the right hand margin for comments relating to the condition of each item to be made at check out or check in.
It is suggested items listed within an inventory be numbered for easy reference.
The inventory should describe the contents of a property for easy identification. It is suggested it be noted whether or not the relevant items have safety labels. Approximate measurements should be given where felt appropriate.
In addition to a full listing of the contents of the property, the inventory should also include a description of the following: ceilings, walls, woodwork, flooring, doors (individually and both sides) windows (individually) light switches, light fittings, power points, telephone sockets, aerial sockets etc etc…
The inventory should include a full key list if possible, this list being checked and updated at the check-in.
The inventory, when available, should include a list of the appliance user manuals as found in the property.
Cellars, lofts, attics, eaves and similar areas are not in the inventory clerks jurisdiction unless a specific request is made.
Light bulbs will be checked.
Meter readings will be taken
Agents / landlords / tenants should be made aware that it is not possible to properly check items such as cookers, washing machines and dishwashers etc other than to satisfy a connection; a qualified www.corgi-gas-safety.com/ engineer or an www.niceic.org.uk approved electrical contractor should be employed to carry out a full safety inspection,the gas safety check is required by law, the P.A.T (portable appliance testing) of electrical items is recommended though not compulsory.
The inventory should be dated to show when it was compiled, re-typed or amended.
 Gardens are described in layman's terms only. Garden statues, sheds, outbuildings etc will be described as deemed appropriate. · . CHECK-IN
At a Check-in, an Inventory Clerk inspects the property and compares it to the inventory. Any variations seen are noted on the inventory. If there have been significant changes to the property since the inventory was last used it is likely that a new inventory will be required. Landlords are advised to give fair notice to their clerk if this is the case to allow sufficient time for the job. If in doubt, consult your clerk. If we prepared the original Inventory then we are able to offer a substantial reduction to update the Inventory In order to authenticate the inventory it must be signed by both the landlord and tenant or their representative. The 'master inventory' (that agreed at the Check-in) should be kept safe for use at the end of the tenancy or in the event of a dispute. CHECK-OUT At the end of the tenancy a check-out inspection is carried out. Notes are made on the 'master inventory' of any variations since the Check-in. An inventory clerk will then list the significant differences on a check-out report. Cleaning is often a major area of dispute. Landlords and tenants are advised to retain all receipts relating to cleaning and repairs carried out before or during a tenancy. It should be noted that an Inventory Clerk cannot comment usefully on any alterations or additions made after the check-in unless he/she was instructed to revisit the property in order to examine these changes at the time they were made. The check-out report is the basis for most claims made by landlords. A claim is most often viewed more favourably if compiled by an independent and unbiased party such as an Independent Inventory Clerk, particularly in a Court of Law. FAIR WEAR AND TEAR Fair Wear & Tear has been defined in part through the legal process. A tenant cannot be held responsible at the end of a tenancy for changes to a property's condition caused by what the House of Lords has called "reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces (i.e. the passage of time)." A professional inventory clerk uses experience and common sense to assess the many factors present before reaching a judgement as to how much should be allowable for Fair Wear and Tear. Amongst other things they will consider: · The quality of the supplied item (and that varies greatly) · The condition at the start of the tenancy · The condition at the end of the tenancy · Any extenuating circumstances It is important to realise that the Law does not allow for betterment. This means that a landlord can not expect to have old replaced with new at a tenant's expense. A Fair Wear and Tear allowance must be considered. A tenant has a duty of care to return the property at the end of a tenancy in the same condition, Fair Wear and Tear excepted, as that recorded on the Inventory at the start of their tenancy. Decorations have an accepted life expectancy. However, there may be circumstances where excessive wear and tear require a tenant to pay compensation or charges to make good, e.g. numerous nail or picture pin holes, torn wallpaper, gouges in walls/woodwork etc. Charges for cleaning, making good etc are often apportioned to account for Fair Wear and Tear. Example: A tenant renting a property and the inventory from the Check-in inspection notes that the carpet in the lounge had not been freshly cleaned and had a few spot marks. At the end of the tenancy, the Check-out report notes the carpet as soiled. In this scenario the landlord should not be entitled to full compensation for the carpet cleaning costs. A fair solution would be for the tenant to pay a percentage of the cleaning costs.
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