Ah the joys of renting: Inventories

c00lbeans

So after a good few years away from renting, myself, the wife and hounds number 1 and 2, decided to move into rented accomodation whilst the housesale is going through, saving me a collosal commute to the new workplace as well as making us "Chain free" for the purposes of buying.

We found a property that suited our needs and would accept the dogs (sweetening the deal with 6 months rent up front and an offer to have the carpets cleaned when we leave).

Payed the extortionat lettings agency fees and met the agent at the property to get the keys and, I assumed, walkthrough the inventory.

and then this happened.

When I enquired about the inventory the agent said "the landlords have elected not to have us prepare one, If you would like you can pay £80 (their fee) and we'll prepare one for you"

and with that he handed over the keys and skipped off on his merry way.

I then proceeded to photograph EVERYTHING, including time and date stamps, but am I right in assuming the landlord will find it difficult to enforce any deductions from the Deposit without an cosigned inventory.

The property is old, carpets are a bit worn, there's the odd cracked tile in the bathroom, now we're obviously not going to trash the place, and as already mentioned we'll have the carpets washed when we leave.

Also

If letting to two people (both names on the lease) and taking fees for two people, would it not be sensible to give over two sets of keys?

Apparently not in this case :mad:

PasturesNew

No inventory = no proof = no deductions.
Simples
And, just for security you've got your own inventory. You might like to knock that up into a document/series of photos and get it date-stamped in some way "just in case".... but refer to line one of my posting too.

dimbo61

Sign of things to come ?
If the LL can not get a proper inventory done what else will he/she fail to do?
Have you got a copy of the gas safety cert? Have you been given the info about where the deposit is registered ? Within 30 days? and the prescribed information.
Do the electrics look safe ? and no signs of damp/mould.
NOW you have already paid 6 months up front so guess the LL will respond when you call him/her for any repairs that need doing !!
Hope everything goes well in the purchase of your new home.

BitterAndTwisted

No inventory puts you in a much better position if you cause any damage than signing an accurate one. You can't be charged for a single thing when you move out unless you landlord has other reliable evidence. Crack a few more tiles if you feel like it!

c00lbeans

dimbo61 wrote: »

Sign of things to come ?
If the LL can not get a proper inventory done what else will he/she fail to do?
Have you got a copy of the gas safety cert? Have you been given the info about where the deposit is registered ? Within 30 days? and the prescribed information.
Do the electrics look safe ? and no signs of damp/mould.
NOW you have already paid 6 months up front so guess the LL will respond when you call him/her for any repairs that need doing !!
Hope everything goes well in the purchase of your new home.

Weirdly they seem to have been pretty on the ball with the GSC and deposit information and they have a plumber coming out to fix a leaky radiatior discovered on day one.

I just found it mind boggling that they hadn't had an inventory done, even stranger that the estate agent seemed to think that it would be in my benefit to pay for one:rotfl:

I agree that paying for the rent up front puts me in a weaker position, but needs must in order to find somewhere that would house our pooches

The response I was getting when phoning an estate agent and saying "I have dogs"
seemed almost on the level of "Hello I would like to rent a house, my occupation? artist, My medium? feces"

Werdnal

c00lbeans wrote: »

even stranger that the estate agent seemed to think that it would be in my benefit to pay for one:rotfl:

Why wouldn't he? Money in his pocket, thats what agents are best at! If he could have conned you into paying for something the stupid landlord didn't think worthwhile, then win-win for the agent ...