LETS TALK: Why having an inventory/photographic schedule of condition can save you time and money
The focus for many Landlords is on getting a Tenant as soon as possible, not on what happens after they have left! Read our short blog on why slowing the process down and making sure that you are prepared for the end of the tenancy before its has even started is so important.
WHY YOU NEED AN INVENTORY/PHOTOGRAPHIC SCHEDULE OF CONDITION
“It’s in better condition than when I moved in”.....A sentence that I have heard numerous times throughout my career in the lettings business and sometimes this can be the case, sometimes Tenants are quite happy to carry out works and improve the property whilst it is their home but sometimes Tenants are not as careful when it comes to someone else’s property.
So, in the event of your tenant moving out, leaving damage to the property, how do you as a Landlord get compensation for this? The only way is by having a detailed inventory/photographic schedule of condition. Photographic evidence also works well for Tenants as it is easy for their views of the condition of the property when they moved in to become skewed as the months/years go by, so having the evidence to prove to them what it was actually like makes it more factual than accusatory.
I have seen many different versions of inventories, some better than others. Detail is the most important thing, stating something as “fair condition” or “good” just doesn’t cut it as we all have our own versions of what “fair” and “good” looks like. Without a crystal ball you have no idea what part of the property could be damaged or left unclean when your Tenants leave, so having a detailed inventory that covers every aspect of the condition of the property will help to protect you if you need to take matters further. In order to make a claim from your Tenants deposit you or your Letting Agent may be required to submit evidence to the relevant body who is holding the deposit to prove the condition of the property prior to the start of the tenancy.
It is important to remember that not all damage is done maliciously, think of the last time you moved home, in the stress and upheaval of the situation did you have time to clean the house to a professional standard including the oven, hob, windows and carpets? Most of us didn’t even have a chance to hoover after lugging the last of the boxes to the removals van let alone carry out a full spring clean. Well that’s what is asked of our Tenants when they leave a property and there are bound to be some issues. But, with a detailed inventory you can prove that the property was professionally clean etc giving an independent arbitrator no reason to refuse the claim if it gets to that stage. Without evidence, how could any claims be ruled in your favour?
We understand that as a Landlord there are so many expenses at the start of a new tenancy, but this is one you really can’t afford to cut.
Want to chat about it? Call Sal on 01748 834373 or 07521 505114 or email me sal@lovepropertyuk.co.uk
