An independent inventory that is professionally compiled together with a professional check out at the end of the tenancy will help to sort out any disputes that might arise. The tenant will be assured that the company producing the report is unbiased and that any assessments are independent and fair.

 

HomeCall Inventory Clerks have a wealth of experience, they are able to assess damage, maintenance issues and wear and tear, and report back to you any issues that need attention, saving you valuable time and delays in re letting your property.

 

An inventory prepared by HomeCall Inventories becomes a living document of your property, i.e. once you have an inventory prepared by us we will keep updating this document for each new tenancy. This means that you only pay for an inventory once for the first tenancy and for any subsequent tenancies we update the inventory for a “check in fee” which is less than the inventory cost.

 

Photographs in inventories

Photographs will be taken when conducting an inventory and will be embedded in the final document. Their purpose is to demonstrate the condition of a specific item or area rather than to afford an overall view.

 

Landlord produced inventories – The Pit Falls.

It can be extremely difficult for a landlord to remain impartial when drawing up a potentially legal document for their own property, which is another reason why an independent view is so important.

Landlords sometimes decide to compile their own inventories. These can be of good quality but, more often than not, we find basic documents containing little or no detail, sometimes omitting the fabric of the building itself, such as walls, woodwork, flooring, ceiling, heating, lighting etc.

 

Another shortcoming with self-produced inventories is that they tend to be simple lists of items and neglect to register the condition at the start of the tenancy. An experienced inventory clerk knows what needs to be included and how best to describe items in accordance with industry practice.

 

 

 

Items excluded from inventories

At the time of the inventory we do not check or test the following items:

Smoke alarms

Carbon monoxide detectors

Heaters and/or radiators

Heating systems, including boilers and hot water tanks

Windows

Water filtration systems and/or water softeners

 

These items should all be tested by qualified inspectors before the tenancy begins and, where appropriate, certificates stored safely.

 

Fair wear and tear

A common area of misunderstanding is around the concept of fair wear and tear. We have an article on fair wear and tear that explains what it is and what it means for claiming compensation.

We strongly recommend you print it off and keep it with you when the idea of claiming compensation arises.