Property inventory reports
An inventory report is the dated record of a property's condition and contents at the start of a tenancy. We write them for landlords and letting agents across Chester, the Wirral and Cheshire, and send each report the same day as the visit.
What an inventory report covers
We work through the property room by room. For each room we describe the walls, ceiling, floor, doors, windows, fixtures and fittings, note their condition and cleanliness, and list the furniture and contents in furnished lets.
- Written descriptions of each room and its contents
- Photographs of every room, with close-ups of existing marks, stains or damage
- Gas, electricity and water meter readings
- Keys handed over, listed by type and number
- Outside areas such as gardens, sheds and parking spaces
For shared houses, each bedroom and its contents are recorded separately, along with the kitchen, bathroom and other shared rooms.
What we photograph
Each room is photographed as a whole, and then we take close-ups of anything likely to be looked at again at the end of the tenancy: carpet stains, chips in worktops, scuffs on walls, marks on mattresses, and the inside of the oven and fridge.
The written description and the photograph sit together in the report, so someone reading it later can see exactly which mark is meant and where it is. We also photograph each meter with its reading.
When the inventory is done
The inventory is carried out before the tenant moves in, once the property has been cleaned and any work finished, so it shows the condition the tenant is taking on. In a furnished let, we list the furniture and appliances room by room so each item can be checked again at check-out. It is then confirmed with the tenant at the check-in.
When a property goes straight from one tenant to the next, we can complete the check-out and the new inventory on the same visit.
What you receive and when
The finished report is sent digitally the same day as the inspection, ready to share with the tenant. We work 7 days a week, 08:00 to 20:00, across Chester, the Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Cheshire. The quote depends on the size of the property, whether it is furnished, and the service you need.
How the inventory is used at check-out
At the end of the tenancy, the check-out report compares the property with the inventory, room by room. If a deposit protected with TDS, DPS or mydeposits is disputed, the adjudicator weighs up the evidence from both sides, and the inventory is the main record of the starting condition. Part way through a longer let, a mid-term inspection can add to that record. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the landlord or agent pays for the inventory rather than the tenant.
Questions about inventory reports
What is included in a property inventory report?
A room-by-room description of the property's condition, fixtures, fittings and contents, with photographs, meter readings and notes on any existing damage or wear. Reports are sent the same day.
Should the inventory be done before the tenant moves in?
Yes. It should record the property as the tenant receives it, so it is best done after cleaning and any repairs, shortly before the check-in.
Can the tenant be charged for the inventory?
No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and letting agents in England cannot charge tenants for an inventory, so the landlord or agent pays for it.
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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.