One of the biggest headaches you face as a landlord is damage to your property by a tenant through willful or negligent behaviours.
How do you protect yourself against these situations?
We asked Attic Inventory for the answer…
“The challenge in the event of property damage is proving the state of the property prior and post-tenant occupation.
To do this you need a professional inventory compilation which includes a detailed description of the property and all the property assets with supporting photographs highlighting their condition.
Should you find yourself in a court of law with a difficult tenant and you do not have this body of evidence, the fair result you are seeking is less predictable – as the argument is now the tenants’ word against yours.
To further prove your case you need a mutually agreed and signed Check-In Report based upon the inventory compilation documentation.
This body of proof confirms the tenant accepted the condition of all property inventory and agreed to maintain it.
Armed with this documentation you should be able to quickly resolve any costly tenant disputes and protect your property investment without having to resort to the tenancy dispute service.
In summary, property documented inventory evidence protects you against:
- Negligence
- Accidental Damage
- Willful Damage
- Time
A detailed property inventory should contain:
- Property fixtures & fittings
- The contents of the property
- Outbuildings & Garden
- The fabric of the property
- General cleanliness
Professional vs Cheap
When choosing a property inventory company there are 2 categories, cheap and professional.
You’ll notice one company may charge £150 for a 3-bedroom house and another may charge £210 – don’t always be tempted to go with the cheaper option.
Ask for a sample property inventory report with supporting images so you can determine who has the best value.
In the event you need your inventory compilation in a court of law, you want the best evidence, not the cheapest.
