Why the need for an Inventory?
For the Landlord
Recent legislation especially "Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme" is biased
strongly in favour of the tenants and landlords are going to need solid
"Unbiased" proof on their part in any dispute with a tenant.
In fact Lawrence Greenberg, Chief Executive of the Dispute Service Ltd (who runs one
of the new Government approved Tenancy Deposit Schemes) was quoted saying:
"whilst inventories are not a legal requirement, without one, and a good one at that,
you may as well not bother even taking a deposit!"
For The Tenant
An inventory can help avoid a dispute over your deposit when you move out because
it proves what state the property was in when you moved in. If anything in the property
is already damaged, the inventory proves that you didn't do it.
Matt Cornish from Shelter said: "Evidence is crucial, Tenants should always
make sure that when they move in anywhere they have an agreed inventory.
That list should also clearly identify any furniture, carpets, walls, doors etc.
with damage at the start of the tenancy."
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