Check-out reports
A check-out report records the condition of a property at the end of a tenancy and compares it with the original inventory. We carry them out for landlords and letting agents across Chester, the Wirral and Cheshire, and send each report the same day.
What a check-out report covers
We take the original inventory to the property and go through it room by room. For each item we record whether the condition is unchanged, shows fair wear and tear, or shows damage, missing items or cleaning needed.
- A side-by-side comparison with the original inventory
- Photographs of any change in condition
- Notes on cleaning in each room
- An assessment of fair wear and tear
- Final meter readings
- Keys returned
Fair wear and tear
Some deterioration is expected in any home that has been lived in. A hallway carpet flattened by years of use is a different matter from a burn in the middle of a bedroom carpet. We describe what we find plainly and say whether it looks like normal use or damage, so the landlord or agent has a clear basis for any deposit recommendation.
Deposit adjudicators consider how long the tenancy lasted, how many people lived there, and the age and condition of each item at the start. That last point is why a check-out depends on a good inventory report.
When the check-out is done
The check-out is best done once the tenant has moved out and returned the keys, before any cleaning or repairs start, so the report shows the property as it was left. Final meter readings let the landlord or agent close the outgoing tenant's utility accounts. We work 7 days a week, 08:00 to 20:00. If the property is in good condition and a new tenant is moving straight in, we can complete the check-out and the new inventory on the same visit.
What you receive and when
The check-out report is sent digitally the same day as the inspection, so any deposit deductions can be raised with the tenant straight away.
To book, send the address, the number of bedrooms, the date the tenant leaves and a copy of the original inventory. The quote depends on the size of the property. We cover Chester, the Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Cheshire.
How check-out reports are used in deposit disputes
Deposits in England are protected with one of three government-approved schemes: TDS, DPS or mydeposits. If the landlord and tenant cannot agree on deductions, the scheme's adjudicator decides on the evidence. The landlord or agent needs to show what changed, and a check-out report that follows the inventory room by room, with photographs of each change, is the clearest way to show it. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, tenants cannot be charged a check-out fee.
Questions about check-out reports
What does a check-out report include?
A room-by-room comparison with the original inventory, photographs of any changes, notes on cleaning, an assessment of fair wear and tear, final meter readings and a record of the keys returned.
Can you do the check-out and the new inventory together?
Yes. If the property is in good condition and a new tenant is moving in, we can complete the check-out and the new inventory on the same visit.
Can the tenant be charged for the check-out?
No. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans check-out fees for tenants in England, so the landlord or agent pays for the report.
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Get a quote
Call or email with the address, the number of bedrooms and the date you need. We quote on the size of the property and the service.