Agency won’t agree and update my inventory report.

SKINNYCOW

Hi all,

I moved into a rented flat last year on 7/11/2017. After living there a week I realised that I had not received my inventory report and requested it from my agent. I received this on 14/11/2017, exactly one week later.

I went around the flat and had noticed quite a few defects, even though it was a new build. Some were very minor but I decided to take photos and add it to my inventory report. I amended my report and attached 21 photos and sent it back to the agency to get it approved/agreed. I rung them to see if they had received it and they said that they will forward it to the inventory company to get it updated and that I should receive a copy back by the end of the week. I never received it.


With hindsight, I realised that they never sent it and I never chased it up because I thought that they must have thought that the defects were too minor or perhaps they just didn’t believe that it wasn’t me whom caused all these defects. I feel terrible now for not chasing it up at the time but because I’ve never rented anywhere before, I didn’t understand just how IMPORTANT it is to have an accurate check-in report. Also what’s annoying is that my photos weren’t time stamped.

Not long after speaking to them, they sent a contractor over to fix all the defects on the door following a De-snag inspection (for this New Build). Many of my photos were of scratches and dents in my front door.

I have decided not to renew my contract with them after living there a year, so am leaving soon. After going through my paperwork, I realised that my inventory report has not been updated. The lady that promised to do this has now left, so I forwarded the original email that I had sent her with my amended report plus photo attachments to my new property manager.

I told her to disregard 8 of the photos in my amended report. All the door snags which were later fixed by their contractors so not my fault and another photo of what looked like a scratch on the Utility cupboard door. This turned out to be a bit of dirt which I just wiped off.

They are being funny with me. I had returned my amended report on within 7 days. Perhaps they think I took 2 weeks to sign and return the amended report back to them. I spoke to another agent and I could tell she was trying to fob me off. She said that she would check with the inventory company to see if they have my amended copy and if not , she will re-send it. I asked her if I could have an updated copy and he said, yours is the updated copy. But I know that it isn’t. She said I will try to get you something in writing after I asked for an updated copy.

After the phone call she said that she has sent my report to the inventory company and it will be used at check-out (i don’t believe this at all). Why am I concerned? Because when I have asked her to clarify and confirm that my amended inventory report has been AGREED and that my amendments/discrepancies will be added to my updated check-out report. She will not respond.

After reading all the bad reviews about people having problems with trying to get their deposits back from this company and being accused of damages in the flat, I am really stressed and worried. This is a really big company but it doesn’t mean that they are ethical. I wished I had known this beforehand.

Honestly, I did not cause those defects that I discovered. I will hold my hands up if I did. The inventory clerk whom inspected the flat beforehand must have been blind. Knowing this company’s reputation, I am now really concerned that the will accuse me of all these damages so that they could keep as much of my deposit as possible. I had noticed a scratch on a brand new microwave and chips and various other defects on the side tables, (these clearly weren’t brand new).

Although I have signed and dated my inventory. It doesn’t seem like they are willing to get it updated at such a late stage now, seeing Inam going to be leaving in just under 3 weeks time. Were the agents supposed to sign my amended report?

I’m really annoyed with this company as I’ve paid hundreds of pounds for the initial admin fees and I have actually paid my share of the check-in report AND check-out report which is £140 each time. Seeing I’ve already paid for my check-in report , I expect it to be accurate. I know it bad that I didn’t chase it up and it looks bad on me, all those photos with defects but I submitted them at the time because I know that I didn’t cause them and I was just trying to cover my back by flagging it up at the time. Perhaps, I just made things worse.

This is supposed to be a ‘high-end’ company but after reading all the bad reviews and my past experiences with them they really are below average and clients are really not getting their money’s worth considering we had paid the higher than average admin fees for renting with a ‘high-end’ agency. From reading all the bad reviews about them fabricating defects and damages to try and retain as much of your deposit as possible, they seem like a really unethical company. Which probably explains why their staff turnover is so high.

Apologies for any typos!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

J

Comms69

to be honest; you have photos. You have evidence you disputed the report.


I wouldn't worry.


take it to the DPS arbitration when required

theartfullodger

Agent works for landlord, not you. Not surprising. You have the evidence, go to dispute when required.

SKINNYCOW

Thanks for the replies. My photos aren’t time stamped so I’m not sure how strong my case would be. After doing some research, I’ve read that it’s really important to get the photos time stamped or they won’t be much good. I have learnt some lessons from my first ever time renting. I know that I need to request and check my inventory report from day one.

J

Pixie5740

How did you send the photographs to the letting agency originally? By email? An email that will show the date and time you sent it....

Pixie5740

As a tenant you are not the letting agency's client. Sure you pay them considerable sums of money but you have no contract with them. Your contract is with the landlord and the landlord is the letting agent's client.

SKINNYCOW

Hi Pixie,

Thanks for your reply. I had scanned and emailed my amended inventory report to them with attachments. The inventory report was a pdf attachment plus 21 photo attachments back in November 2017. Yes, I still have that email with the forwarding details.

I’m concerned because after reading the email that was originally sent to me, they said that I have to inform them of each discrepancy in writing but I just wrote comments on my actual inventory report. I just wrote something along the lines of please find 21 photo attachments with supporting comments. But I didn’t describe each discrepancy in detail in the actual email that I had sent with my amended report (pdf attachment) which I think I should have. After doing some research, I think this is what you’re supposed to do and you have to get them to agree it (which they won’t).

J

G_M

I got a bit lost in your (rather rambling) first post. But if most of the 'defects' you originally sent them were fixed by the landlord (" they sent a contractor over to fix all the defects on the door") then surely that means the original inventory is now (broadly) accurate?

Having said that, whether they sent back an amended inventory or not really does not matter much. You reported, in writing, at the start of the tenancy, a number of defects.

You do not need to chase them, or discuss this, or get anything confirmed, unless and until the landlord proposes to make deductions from your deposit.

If he does not, all this anxting and communication is just unnecessary hot air.

If he does, then that is the time to contest any deductions you disagree with. Initially direct with the landlord (enclosing your earlier communications from when the tenancy started), and then if that fails, via the scheme arbitration process.