What is an inventory?

An inventory is a written and photographic record of a property’s condition at the start of a tenancy and also includes details about cleanliness, meter readings and confirming that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in the correct locations and fully working order.

Why do I need an inventory?

To truly understand the value of an inventory, you must understand the deposit arbitration process.

If a tenant refutes your claim against their deposit, the case is referred to the deposit scheme’s arbitration service (or court should you wish) who will ask you to provide evidence of the condition of the property at the start and end of the tenancy.

The inventory is a critical piece of evidence, presented to the adjudicator as a true representation of the condition of the property on the tenancy start date.

The arbitrators consider wear and tear, life expectancy and betterment, and will conclude as to whether an award is due to you, and if so, how much for.

If you cannot evidence the condition of the property at the start of the tenancy, an arbitrator is extremely unlikely to find in your favour.

To ensure your inventory is sufficiently robust and defensible it is always recommended that you use an independent inventory service.