First time renting a flat with an inventory. Stayed at an anquaintances’ houses or inventory-less rental since I’ve moved in to UK.
So the landlord/estate agent gave us a soft and hard copy of the inventory. It is an unfurnished flat.
There are minor discrepancies – paint cracks and scuff marks here and there that could be chalked up as wear and tear but nothing HUGE. I’ve still taken pics of all the ones that weren’t specifically mentioned in the inventory. The only issue is that i don’t think it was adequately cleaned tough the agent said it was professionally done.
When they gave us the inventory he told us to come back to the agency if I can to make any changes within 7 days.
A friend has told me that I don’t actually have to provide evidence of damage unless the inventory says that it is in perfect condition either by pic or txt (as onus is on the landlord to prove the damage wasn’t there before the move in) but I tend to get stressed and obsessed with details..
So do you usually just go to the agency and go over every pic and room? Or do you just send an email with list of changes you want to make in the inventory report? Or do you edit the pdf copy of the report and send it back to them?
Lastly is it generally acceptable to just throw away any crap that isn’t mentioned in the report without telling the agent? (Previous tenant left some ugly nicknacks like plates and such) – on a related note if it is mentioned in the inventory is it acceptable to ask them to be removed? (Like cutlery and such) – reminder that it is an unfurnished flat but there are a couple of bedside tables too that we don’t want.
3 comments
your friend is incorrect. if damage isn’t in the checking report then it can be claimed for at the end of the tenancy. I’d take pics and email them to the agent.
Just send a list with all the notes to the agent. You can send pictures to them if you want. Legally you don’t have to do anything, but it means the landlord can’t bullshit you when you move out.
Send an email to the agent listing the discrepancies, include pictures if you can.
Add that there are some plates/whatever also in the flat but not listed and ask if you’re OK to get rid of them or if they want to contact the previous tenant to collect the items. Or don’t mention it at all and just get rid – they’re not going to know.
Small stuff that’s on the inventory I wouldn’t bother throw out if it’s easy enough to store it – chuck the cutlery in a shoebox or plastic bag and stick it in the cupboard under the sink or somewhere and forget about it until you move out.
Larger stuff like the bedside cabinets or anything else you don’t have space to keep I’d definitely ask about removing. Explain you understood the flat was let unfurnished and you’ve got/you’ve arranged your own furniture, and you don’t have the space to store the additional cabinets or whatever. Ask if the landlord would like to collect them, or if you can get rid. I’d say it’s certainly acceptable to ask, and personally I’d be prepared to get a bit pushy about it if they are reluctant to remove the bigger stuff, but it’s up to you how far you want to press it. And it might not come to that anyway, they may well just tell you to get rid.
Make sure that everything is in writing/email, especially if they tell you you can chuck stuff out. The last thing you want is at the end of the tenancy to be charged for bedside cabinets that are on the inventory, which you threw out 2 years ago because you were told to over the phone and so have no proof.