Inventory company not sending tenant checking-in report

Another1

I have paid the fees but they are not sending me the tenant checking in report. Not answering emails. On phone says will send report but not sending.
What can I do to recover payment?

G_M

I assume your tenancy agreement requires you to pay for this report? So it is a condition of your tenancy.

If you don't see the inventory, you can't sign it.

If you don't sign it, the landlord cannot easily rely on it at the end of the tenancy if he wishes to make deductions from your deposit.

Did you sign the tenancy agreement with the landlord, or did the LL employ a letting agent? If an agent, do you know if the agent is also charging the LL for the check-in inventory?

The code of practice for letting agents does not permit double-charging":

5n You must not make a tenant or landlord pay a charge for or be
liable for an element of your service that the other party has
also been charged for in the course of the same transaction.

Another1

Apologies for the delay in replying.I have been away from my iPad.

I am the LL. it seems I am not going to get the inventory report. I want to know if there is anything I can do to get my money back from the inventory company.

G_M

Ah! That's different.

Not that it's directly relevant, is your contract with the letting agent a tenant-find only contract or a management contract?

Since you've paid for the report, it should be given to you.

Write formally and ask for it by return of post.

What else are they contracted to do and are they doing it?
* tenant vetting? Have you seen the reports?
* providing tenant with the statutory documents?
* dealing with the deposit?

If you've contracted these tasks to the agent and he fails to do them (or does them late) it is you who suffers......

This post may also be useful:


* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?

Another1

The letting agent is not involved. I found the inventory company on the internet and asked them to do the inventory check-in. The guy came and dictated the inventory in his phone and took some photos. Seemed professional. Now I am beginning to think it was all a con.

G_M

So it's a simple breach of contract. With no complications arising from an ongoing relationship.

* you write requesting the inventory you've paid for
* you send a Letter before Action
* you sue.

I trust the company is a member of The AIIC (Association of Independant Inventory Clerks).

If not, why did you instruct them?

If so, use their complaints process:

Complaints

Please ensure that you have followed the following procedures prior to filing a complaint

1) Contacted the inventory clerk concerned and discussed this matter to try to find a resolution
2) Contacted your letting agent as the instructing principle of the clerk (if appropriate) and asked them to act as mediator
The AIIC is not a regulatory body, we are a membership organisation.
Any inventory clerk applying for membership must agree to abide by our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice
Their reports and documents are inspected at regular intervals to ensure that they reach our high expectations for membership.
If after a full and frank discussion, as listed on procedures one and two above, you still wish to file a complaint, please email centraloffice@theaiic.co.uk whereupon you will be sent our Complaints Form for completion.
Please note that all complaints must be made within 30 days of the relevant completed work.
We will then – if we find that the clerk appears to be in breach of our code of practice – contact the clerk for a full explanation of events. Our disciplinary committee will investigate the matter from both points of view.
Our complaints committee will respond with their findings to all relevant parties within 14 days.
When it has been deemed that an Inventory Clerk has breached the AIIC’s Code of Practice, as a membership organisation our only course of action is as follows:
First Complaint – Written warning
Second Complaint – Further written warning
Third Complaint – Expulsion from the association.

Another1

I have made a massive mistake by not looking for a trade association. The company doesn't seem to be with AIIC.

I got taken in by the well presented website. Looks very professional and genuine.

Looks like I will have to try out your suggestion of writing. However sueing would take a lot of effort.

Thank you for your responses so far.