Information for tenants

Inventory

An inventory is a list of all the items at the property noting the condition of all the furniture, fixtures, fittings and effects which are to be left at the property for the duration of the tenancy and for the tenant's responsibility and safekeeping.
This should be supplied by the landlord at the beginning of the tenancy and should list each room noting what is in that room. For instance:-

Bedroom	Double Bed

	Chest of Drawers

	2 Double Wardrobes

	Curtains - Green
	Walls - Magnolia (newly decorated), etc...

This should be checked at the time of occupying with the landlord, making a note of things such as decoration, whether there are any cracked sockets or any defects and making sure that both yourself and the landlord agree on it and sign it.
Your landlord will ask you for a bond at the beginning of your tenancy. This bond is to cover things suchas any damage to the property or contents while you are living. Your bond must now be protected in one of the Government appointed schemes and you must be notified by your landlord or his agent as to which scheme your money is held.
The inventory, therefore, is now an extremely important piece of documentation as it will be used as evidence of what condition the interior of the property and the furnishings, etc., are in when you first move into the property. If the landlord wishes to make a claim for any damages against your bond, he will have to provide proof that this damage was caused during your tenancy and not before.