Inventory & Check-In Reports
The record that decides a deposit dispute
A dated, photographic record of the property and its condition at the start of the tenancy, signed by both sides. It is what settles a deposit dispute at the end.
What you get
- Room-by-room schedule of condition with timestamped photographs
- Meter readings and key handover recorded
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested and the test recorded
- Report signed by the tenant at check-in
- Stored in your dashboard for the life of the tenancy
Adjudicators decide deposit disputes on evidence. Without a signed inventory from the start of the tenancy, a landlord claiming for damage usually loses, because there is nothing to show what the property was like before.
Our clerk photographs every room, records meter readings and the condition of fixtures, and produces a report both parties sign on move-in day. It is served to your tenant automatically as part of the tenancy documents.
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally have to have an inventory?
No, there is no statutory duty to produce one. But if you want to make a deduction from a protected deposit and the tenant disputes it, the adjudicator decides on evidence — and without a schedule of condition you usually have none.
Does the tenant have to sign it?
They should. A signed report is far stronger evidence than an unsigned one. If a tenant disagrees with an entry, that disagreement is recorded rather than argued about later.
What is fair wear and tear?
The deterioration you would expect from normal use over the length of the tenancy, given the age and quality of the item. You cannot charge for it.
Do I need a check-out report as well?
It is the other half of the evidence. A check-out compared against the same check-in schedule is what makes a deduction stand up.
Are alarm tests included?
Yes. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tested and the test is recorded, which in England is required on the first day of the tenancy.