When we think about letting, either as a landlord or as a tenant, one of the people we tend to forget in the process is that of the inventory administrator or clerk. It is easy to put their role to one side as the ultimate aim for both parties is to either be a; in the property engaging in “quiet enjoyment” of it or b; reaping the rent money from it if you are the landlord. Why is this clerk’s role so important to the process? You can be sure that when you do use one they will have undergone extensive training with the Letting Agents Cheltenham that they work for such as http://www.meandyouestateagents.co.uk/ and will be well versed in what needs to happen to ensure the let goes through properly and without a hitch.
The essential role of the property clerk is twofold. They are working for both the landlord and the tenant by being completely impartial and providing a truthful and honest report about the property. Recent legislation has meant that it is now harder for a landlord to simply keep the tenants deposit for even a slight infraction. This is because the Inventory clerk will have made a thorough report on what the state of the property is, plus what is included with it, such as white goods, if any.
When the tenancy comes to an end, after the usual factors of wear and tear are considered, this report will form the basis of whether the deposit can be returned in full or minus costs.
Why tenants should value the inventory
For many renters, the deposit is money that moves with them from one home to the next. With buying a house out of reach for many, a lot of people expect to rent for much of their adult lives. The deposit, often a month or a few weeks of rent paid in advance, becomes a pot that follows them, sometimes needing topping up and sometimes not. Keeping it intact matters.
That is where the inventory clerk comes in. The clerk is impartial, and their job is to report clearly on the condition of the property, so the tenant’s aim is to show that it is essentially the same as when they moved in.
Tenants are entitled to quiet enjoyment, which means the landlord cannot keep calling round to check up on them. Fair wear and tear is acceptable, but any mess beyond that is the tenant’s to put right. The home is not entirely theirs, and treating it with respect is the surest way to get the deposit back.