Information for Landlords

The tenant deposit scheme has made it vital for landlords to instruct independent professionals to prepare inventory and condition documentation. This advice stems from numerous adjudications by the dispute services, where landlords' otherwise valid claims were denied due to insufficient independent verification.

Benefits of an independent Inventory & Schedule of Conditions

1. The inventory represents a single upfront cost - subsequent tenancies require only updates rather than complete recompilation.
2. Inventory expenses qualify as a tax-deductible business cost.
3. Typically, check-in and check-out fees are split between landlord and tenant, with each party covering one service.
4. The Inventory & Schedule of Conditions is effectively an insurance policy, detailing all furniture, fixtures, fittings and Landlord items within the property that has been rented.
5. When a check-out report identifies damage or cleaning concerns, landlords can substantiate claims with professionally compiled documentation.

The risks of no inventory, or a landlord-compiled one

1. Without baseline documentation, pursuing a damage claim becomes nearly impossible.
2. Adjudicators typically view landlord-prepared inventories with scepticism, questioning their objectivity regardless of how fair they actually are.
3. Inventory preparation consumes considerable time - the landlord's own labour often exceeds the cost of professional compilation.
4. Non-professionals frequently overlook significant details, mischaracterise items and inaccurately record conditions - issues that substantially weaken dispute outcomes.