Inventory: what to include and what not to

dustinjames

hi, first time renting.

Got the keys the other day, flat.
I have an inventory which the letting agent has filled out.
But there are so many things not listed/mentioned on it.

The flat is dirty and dusty and a bit of a mess (unfurnished)
Its not been vacuumed, every kitchen drawer is stained inside, toilet is dirty,
windows, just looks like its not been cleaned, only absolute minimum done.

Who's responsibility is it? letting agents? or mine?

How important is the inventory? shall i go overboard and jot down every scratch and dent and mark in the carpet and walls and equipment?

Fridge is filthy, oven is a bit too. This is quite a lot of cleaning for me to do.

Do i need to test all appliances to make sure they are working before i fill in the inventory? eg washing machine, hot water, hob, heating. Or can i get these fixed from agent at whatever time in future?

I wanted to take the meter readings, but was unable to, agent said the tenant does NOT see the readings, they are elsewhere, and a qualifed electrian comes now and then, and then checks the meters, emails the agent the numbers and then are dealt with accordingly.
Does this sound like normal practice?
I got the keys yesterday, but what if i am billed for the elec and water from dates BEFORE my moving date?? seems like im powerless as i dont know the readings.

I have 5 days to get the inventory back to them.

Please advise if you can.

thankyou

clutton_2

yes - complete everything you can find.. it is crucial that you complete this as fully as possible otherwise the agent could try to charge you for damage / dirt when you leave if you have not recorded the full condition when you move in.

Yes - test everything electrical etc and make sure it all works.. if it does not record it on the inventory

RE fuel - ask whose name the bill is in.. if it is in yours.. write to them asking for the opening meter readings as this will be in your best interests..

you need to do everything in writing so that you have a paper trail if things go wrong later on

i would take photos also and send a set to the Letting agent...

Have you paid a deposit and have you been told whihc Deposit Scheme it is lodged with ?

bw

DVardysShadow

Oh, so much wrong here.

Items missed from Inventory - not your problem. Items not present but on Inventory - don't sign for them.

Yes, note down all grime scratches marks whatever. They have probably ripped off a tenant for these several times over.

Was it made clear to you before you took over that meters were inaccessible? Personally, I would write to Landlord [Agent] and insist that bills were down to them until such time as you had access to the meters and that similarly you would require access to the meters for final readings at checkout. It is totally unacceptable not to have access to meters. Is Landlord submetering you or are you with the utilities direct?

DVardysShadow

clutton wrote: »

... RE fuel - ask whose name the bill is in.. if it is in yours.. write to them asking for the opening meter readings as this will be in your best interests..

In the right direction. However, I strongly believe the bill payer should have free access to meters - or at worst, sight of the meters to start and finish and at billing frequency.

dustinjames

clutton wrote: »

yes - complete everything you can find.. it is crucial that you complete this as fully as possible otherwise the agent could try to charge you for damage / dirt when you leave if you have not recorded the full condition when you move in.

Yes - test everything electrical etc and make sure it all works.. if it does not record it on the inventory

RE fuel - ask whose name the bill is in.. if it is in yours.. write to them asking for the opening meter readings as this will be in your best interests..

you need to do everything in writing so that you have a paper trail if things go wrong later on

i would take photos also and send a set to the Letting agent...

Have you paid a deposit and have you been told whihc Deposit Scheme it is lodged with ?

bw

the elec company, they said they tell them the day i move in and so its all sorted, i start paying from my move in date. the agent says. So the fuel bill will obviously be in my name when i get it. But the fact i cant read my meters myself is worrying, the inventory has a meter reading section but i am unable to fill it in.

So dirt and stains are to be included? not just permanent knocks and scrapes?

Theres not enough room on the printed inventory they gave me.
shall i just start a A4 hand written to attach to their one???

Send the pics to them NOW?

Yes £550 deposit, protected properly i think. "Deposite protection service".
The agent is arla registered.

5 day time frame, so if they gave me the inventory on thu, when is the deadline? good fri and weekend and bank hol mon not included???

thankyou

dustinjames

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Oh, so much wrong here.

Items missed from Inventory - not your problem. Items not present but on Inventory - don't sign for them.

Yes, note down all grime scratches marks whatever. They have probably ripped off a tenant for these several times over.

Was it made clear to you before you took over that meters were inaccessible? Personally, I would write to Landlord [Agent] and insist that bills were down to them until such time as you had access to the meters and that similarly you would require access to the meters for final readings at checkout. It is totally unacceptable not to have access to meters. Is Landlord submetering you or are you with the utilities direct?

inventory: so i will fill it in, add my notes....but NOT sign it? and just send it in unsigned? (postal), until they agree and then I sign?

"Was it made clear to you before you took over that meters were inaccessible? " No.

Submetering? they just made me sign this paper, which put the utilities under my name, and they tell the utility company, it was dated to the moving in date. If i cant have access to my meters, im guessing nobody can in these apartments, ill ask my neighbours.

G_M

Think ahead. In 6 months time when you leave and ask for your deposit back, they say "we have to deduct £X for professional cleaning as you have left the flat dirty." You say " but it was dirty when I moved in". Your word against theirs. UNLESS it is recorded on the inventory, and better still with photos, copies of which are attached to the inventory.
Same with items on the inventory but not in the flat.

If the bills are in your name you need sight of the meter. Insist. refuse to sign the inventory till the meter reading is included on it and confirmed BY YOU. Don't accept their word that the reading is X, insist on seeing the meter.

Don't by harassed by the 5 day limit - if 6 days pass they will be keen to get a signed inventory from you. Just keep saying "but I haven't seen the meter yet"

dustinjames

G_M wrote: »

Think ahead. In 6 months time when you leave and ask for your deposit back, they say "we have to deduct £X for professional cleaning as you have left the flat dirty." You say " but it was dirty when I moved in". Your word against theirs. UNLESS it is recorded on the inventory, and better still with photos, copies of which are attached to the inventory.
Same with items on the inventory but not in the flat.

If the bills are in your name you need sight of the meter. Insist. refuse to sign the inventory till the meter reading is included on it and confirmed BY YOU. Don't accept their word that the reading is X, insist on seeing the meter.

Don't by harassed by the 5 day limit - if 6 days pass they will be keen to get a signed inventory from you. Just keep saying "but I haven't seen the meter yet"

sony erickson phone, setting puts the date and time on the picture in corner, just tested it. Is this good proof?
I have to attach the pics to inventory as print outs? cant i just email them to the letting agent?

this is going to be hard work and time consuming.

that is very true, how can i sign the inventory if the meter readings are left blank and filled in later by the letting agent himself. the property has been vacant for at least 2 months, they could try to pass on the bills of that period to me, the new tenant.

Where can the meter readings possibly be? if not in the flat?
nearby outside? under lock and key?

they may penalise me for not adhearing to 5 day limit.
this wont be agreed by both parties in 5 days.

So it looks like i will fill in the inventory, add several more sheets of notes, and NOT initial and sign it, send it to them, let them agree or disagree, and then they send it back to me, and THEN i initial and sign it.....?

thankyou

G_M

the 5 day limit is arbitory. It is far more important to get it right than to get it in 'in time'. Don't be rushed.
With flats, there are often a bank of meters (one for each flat) in the hallway or under the stairs somewhere.
More modern flats tend to have them in locked white boxes outside (so the meter man can read them without ringing the bell). There is a standard key for these boxes that the meter man has and which you can buy from hardware stores I believe.

Do NOT sign the inventory with a blank meter reading. You're right to be wary. You could end up paying the last 2 months bills.,

dustinjames

thankyou all.

i was told the whole apartment is electric and that southern electric are the supplier of it.
Ill try contacting them for any info.

If i find the meter, can i lawfully check it myself?

So i guess there is no gas meter, but what about water? would there be water meter? (sorry im clueless about all this).

I was told that water is simply switched to hot by pressing one button in flat.
SO we cant check on how much water is being used? or heating of it? Maybe the heating of water is linked to the electricity bill?

LittleMissAspie

Try looking under the kitchen sink/back of the cupboards for the water meter.