What Happens If There Is No Inventory at the Start of a Tenancy

In residential lettings, an independent professional inventory report forms the formal record of a property's condition and contents at the commencement of the tenancy. It establishes the baseline condition against which the condition of the property is assessed at the end of the tenancy.

Where no inventory report exists, that baseline is absent. Without a documented record of the condition of the property at the commencement of the tenancy, there is no reliable evidential reference from which any change in condition can be assessed.

Since 1994 Oakwood Inventories has inspected residential rental properties across London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, producing independent professional inventory reports that document the precise condition of properties at the commencement of a tenancy.

Establishing the Starting Condition

An inventory report documents, in written and photographic form, the condition of the property and the items provided within it when the tenant takes possession.

Each room is inspected and recorded so that the precise condition of the property, together with the fixtures, fittings and contents provided, is clearly established at the commencement of the tenancy.

The report also records the standard of cleanliness observed throughout the property at the commencement of the tenancy, including whether the property is observed as having been cleaned to a professional or domestic standard.

Where an inventory report has not been prepared, there is no independent evidence confirming the condition of the property when the tenancy began.

Practical Consequences of No Inventory

In practice, the absence of an inventory report significantly restricts the ability to evidence any change in the condition of the property during the tenancy.

Questions may arise regarding matters such as:

• marks or damage to decoration

• deterioration of flooring or carpets

• missing fixtures, fittings or contents

• the condition of appliances

• whether the property has been cleaned to a professional or domestic standard

In the absence of a documented starting record, a tenant may reasonably state that an issue was already present at the commencement of the tenancy.

Deposit Disputes and Evidence

Tenancy deposits relating to residential tenancies in England must be protected within a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme in accordance with the Housing Act 2004.

Where a dispute arises, the burden of proof rests with the party seeking to make a deduction from the deposit. This requires clear evidence of the condition of the property at the commencement of the tenancy together with evidence of any change in that condition.

Without an inventory report, that evidential basis is absent. In practical terms, establishing a valid claim becomes significantly more difficult.

For this reason, a detailed independent professional inventory report is essential evidence when assessing the condition of the property at the end of a tenancy.

Professional Inventory Services from Oakwood Inventories

Oakwood Inventories has been producing independent professional inventory reports across London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire since 1994.

Over more than three decades the business has inspected a wide range of residential rental properties. That experience has reinforced one simple principle: the quality of an inventory report depends entirely on the level of detail recorded at the commencement of the tenancy.

At Oakwood Inventories the approach has always remained the same detail, detail, detail.

Professional Standards

Oakwood Inventories is a member of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) and operates within the Property Redress Scheme (PRS), ensuring that our services are delivered in accordance with recognised professional standards and independent reporting principles.

Further Information

Landlords, letting agents and property managers requiring an independent professional inventory service are welcome to contact Oakwood Inventories for further information.

Website: https://www.oakwood-inventories.com

Email: info@oakwood-inventories.com