One of the biggest problems that letting agents have is creating inventory reports and carrying out periodic inspections. When taking on a new landlord as a client, it is necessary to produce an inventory. It is also essential to create one when a new tenant is due to check in, and obviously another is needed when the tenant checks out. Periodic inspection should also be carried out.

Until recently the inventory reports were created from a series of notes taken by a clerk on a visit to the premises, together with some photos of any items that may not be in good condition, showing any damage. 

However, today, landlords and their agents can now use an app from Reports2Go which makes the whole process of carrying out inventory work much easier and a lot quicker. The app is free to download from the Apple App Store or from Google Play and install on a mobile phone or tablet.

A clerk carrying out an inspection can choose the order in which the rooms are inspected and can type in comments as he or she goes, taking photographs at the same time. So there may be a scratch on the second bedroom door under the door handle which can be noted and a photograph taken of it so that there is no dispute. If this is an inspection at check out, the photo can then be compared with one of the door at check in.

The number of TDS disputes in recent years has increased considerably, as tenants and landlords realise that the arbitration process is free of charge and some of them are simply trying their luck with it. When you have physical evidence of damage such as that provided by the Reports2Go app, then there is far less likely to be a dispute.

Of course, mid-term inventories should also be undertaken on a regular basis. This can help reduce the problems of landlords being unwilling to accept wear and tear as they can see it occurring over time with the evidence before their eyes in repeated photographs. The more photographs there are, the better. It is after all ultimately the landlord’s responsibility to show proof of dilapidations, as the deposit is the tenant’s money and any claims for compensation by the landlord need to be backed up with evidence.

About The Company:

Reports2Go has created the Reports2Go app which is free to download on to a mobile or tablet and makes the whole process of taking inventory much quicker and simpler, at the same time providing concrete evidence of dilapidations or wear and tear with many photographs.

https://reports2go.co.uk/