20/09/2026
Tenants have a duty to leave a property the way they found it (allowing for fair wear and tear, of course), but every now and then, I open the front door at check-out and my heart just sinks 😫
That happened to me recently. The property was left uncleaned, several items were damaged, and there was a mountain of personal belongings left behind to clear out.❌️
To make things trickier? The tenant’s deposit had already been used to cover a rent shortfall. There was literally £0 left in the DPS to claim against. 💰
So, I put together a 56-page report, placing side-by-side photos of how the property was handed over at check-in next to how it was left at check-out. Every single piece of damage, stain, and item left behind was accounted for, along with quotes for putting it right. 📷
In this situation, we had a guarantor for the tenant, and I’m pleased to say that after receiving the report, the guarantor covered the costs. If that had failed, the 56-page report along with the agreements, signed inventories, etc., would have gone through small claims court.
Moments like this are a huge reminder of why crystal-clear, photographic inventories at check-in are a non-negotiable in property management. 📷📷📷📷
