The answer is both simple but yet contentious. The reason is that most
inventory suppliers, whether in-house or independent believe they all
have the best method. At the end of the day there is no statutory system and most inventory
providers are left to figure out what’s best. However in our view it’s
not about what’s best but about what works. We at inventoryclerk.com look for what works which means supporting a
potential adjudicator in making a valid decision regarding any claim,
and that means evidence which is both detailed yet simple to follow
and understand. Remember, the reason for an inventory is to support a tenant’s deposit
and to ensure there’s record of a landlord’s property. And the reason
for a checkout is to support a landlord’s claim or confirm the right
of a tenant to receive their deposit. Both have to relate to each other in a way that allows one to easily
differentiate between how a property was at start of tenancy and how
it is at end. A little like a recipe, the checkout (the end product)
can only be as good as the inventory (the ingredients). A poor quality
inventory will allow for lesser quality checkout. So back to the question. Well an inventory in our view needs to be detailed; it must contain
every element or component of the property and its contents - right
down to a power socket and the screws within it as well as identifying
its colour, location and condition. Yes… that detailed. Furniture for example must be described as to what it is – maybe its
make, its colour, the material and finally its condition, without such
a description a checkout cannot easily be used to determine
differences between start and end of tenancy. It is differences which
determine the validity of a claim. Inventories must be well-laid out, in plain English, preferably item
numbered and photos included, and finally the inventory must be agreed
by the tenant as being a fair representation of the property and its
contents. Make an adjudicator's job easy; give them more rather than less.
inventory suppliers, whether in-house or independent believe they all
have the best method. At the end of the day there is no statutory system and most inventory
providers are left to figure out what’s best. However in our view it’s
not about what’s best but about what works. We at inventoryclerk.com look for what works which means supporting a
potential adjudicator in making a valid decision regarding any claim,
and that means evidence which is both detailed yet simple to follow
and understand. Remember, the reason for an inventory is to support a tenant’s deposit
and to ensure there’s record of a landlord’s property. And the reason
for a checkout is to support a landlord’s claim or confirm the right
of a tenant to receive their deposit. Both have to relate to each other in a way that allows one to easily
differentiate between how a property was at start of tenancy and how
it is at end. A little like a recipe, the checkout (the end product)
can only be as good as the inventory (the ingredients). A poor quality
inventory will allow for lesser quality checkout. So back to the question. Well an inventory in our view needs to be detailed; it must contain
every element or component of the property and its contents - right
down to a power socket and the screws within it as well as identifying
its colour, location and condition. Yes… that detailed. Furniture for example must be described as to what it is – maybe its
make, its colour, the material and finally its condition, without such
a description a checkout cannot easily be used to determine
differences between start and end of tenancy. It is differences which
determine the validity of a claim. Inventories must be well-laid out, in plain English, preferably item
numbered and photos included, and finally the inventory must be agreed
by the tenant as being a fair representation of the property and its
contents. Make an adjudicator's job easy; give them more rather than less.