Category check out

Should tenants be present for a check-out?

The simplest answer is that tenants are not required to be present for a check-out.

The check-out, which usually occurs on the last day of the tenancy or a few days after the tenants have moved out, is the final inspection of a property and its contents. The inventory clerk will look to see what, if any, changes have taken place during the tenancy, list all damages for which the tenant may be responsible for costs, and note any necessary actions, such as maintenance work that must be done.

A tenant might feel anxious if they are present for a check-out. There may be tension between the parties if they feel threatened or worried that the inventory clerk will find problems and they will lose their deposit. Of course, the inventory clerk is an unbiased reporter, and they will never discuss the issues with the tenant – they will simply make a note of the condition of the property. However, when there is money at stake – the tenant’s deposit – it can still feel nerve-wracking. So it’s often best if the tenant is not present for a check-out.

What Does The Check-Out Assess?

At the check-out, you should pay particular attention to two things: damages and cleanliness. The inventory clerk will compare the current state of the property to the original inventory report while taking the length of the tenancy and type of occupancy into account. The inventory clerk is responsible for determining who is responsible for returning the item to its original check in a state that allows for reasonable wear and tear.

What Does The Inventory Clerk Do?

The original inventory report and the present circumstances are all that matter for an independent inventory service company and their employed inventory clerks, like the ones at Looksy Inventories. The clerk is not there to pass judgement on the tenants, and they are also not required to know the specifics of any damages or cleaning issues that may have occurred on the property. Simply put, they will take several photos to document the situation and note the exact new condition of any item, be it a door, wall, carpet, piece of furniture, or anything else.

As a result, the check-out inventory is factual and based only on what is and isn’t present. Even if the tenants or landlord were present and could explain the situation, the inventory clerk would still need to record everything based on facts and without being swayed by any of the parties.

For more information about whether or not a tenant should be present at a check-out, or for any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Among the numerous things you must do as a landlord, one of the most crucial is to do an inventory. This entails producing an inventory of everything in the property you want to rent out, including the building itself – walls, floors, ceilings, roof, drainpipes, drains, and so on.

This is more than simply a list of goods; it also includes the state of each item. This is critical for both you as a landlord and your tenant. If you have anything in great condition when you lease the property, but the tenant breaks it during the tenancy, you have the legal right to remove money from the tenant’s deposit to fund any repair or replacement.

Inventory is vital from the tenant’s perspective since, for example, if there is a large scratch on a wall, it must be mentioned in the inventory from the start. That means you, as the landlord, are unable to deduct money from the renter’s deposit since the initial inventory demonstrates that the scratch was there when the tenant moved in.

So far, so good. But what about check-in and check-out reports Sevenoaks (and surrounding areas, of course)?

Check-In Reports

So, when the tenant moves in, you must complete a check-in report that specifies everything in the property, including its condition. This check-in report should ideally be completed on the day the tenant moves in, with the tenant present. This means you can both agree on the state of things, which makes life simpler. If the renter is unable to be there, give him or her a copy of the check-in report and allow them a few days to make any remarks – just in case there is damage to anything and you overlooked it. You must both sign the report after you have reached an agreement.

You will also be required to conduct interim inspections throughout the lease. This is for a variety of reasons, one of which is that it will allow you to identify any faults that may need maintenance or repair. It also allows you to examine how your renter is living and whether or not your property is being well-maintained.

Check-Out Reports Sevenoaks

When the tenancy comes to an end, you must create a check-out report, which you must then compare to the initial check-in record. If there is damage, you may deduct the cost of repair or replacement from the tenant’s deposit. It’s usually best to have check-out reports Sevenoaks (as well as inventories, check-in reports, and interim visits) conducted by an unbiased third party – this will prevent any accusations of unfair behaviour on either side. 

Some landlords prefer to visit the home a couple of weeks before the end of the rental to do a check-out report that shows the tenant any damage and gives them the opportunity to carry out repairs or replace an item before moving out. This may frequently save further problems since the tenant can admit that anything is their responsibility and correct it so that they receive their whole deposit back.

For more information about check-out reports Sevenoaks, please get in touch with us at Looksy Inventories. We are experts in all things rentals.

What should landlords do when a tenant moves out? The very nature of the rental market means that no matter how good a tenant might be, eventually, they will want to move on. They might have saved up enough of a deposit to buy their own property, they might need a larger home, or even a smaller one. They might just want a change. 

When this time comes, it is vital to get the property ready for the next tenants as soon as possible so that you are not losing out on the rental income for too long. If you’re wondering what should landlords do when a tenant moves out, here are some tips. 

Inspect The Property 

This is a job that is best done before the current tenant leaves so that if anything needs to be put right, you can discuss it with them. However, if you are unable to do that, you will need to get there and check everything over as soon as you can after they move out. Alternatively, you can hire an inventory company to do the job for you – this can be extremely useful if you live a long way from the property. 

If there are any problems, you will need to discuss these with the tenant. If they cannot put the problems right, their deposit will be required to cover the cost of repairs. Otherwise, the deposit needs to be released back to the tenant within ten days of their leaving date. 

Tidy Up

Depending on how long the tenants lived in the property, another answer to the question of what should landlords do when a tenant moves out is that you may need to repaint the walls, put up new wallpaper, or even replace the carpets. This will often be down to general wear and tear and isn’t the responsibility of your ex-tenants. Ideally, they will have cleaned everything before they went. Still, you may need to look at the end-of-tenancy cleaning prices and hire professionals to make everything look absolutely perfect for prospective tenants. 

You can also dress the property by installing your own furniture. This can help a property rent more quickly as prospective tenants will be able to see how they can make it a home. An empty property can be difficult to rent out. 

Reduce The Council Tax 

Once the tenants move out, they will no longer be paying the council tax on the property, and it will fall to you as the landlord to pay it. You must contact the council involved and apply for a reduced rate if the property is empty. If you don’t, you could be paying hundreds of pounds over and above what you should be. 

Change The Locks 

When it comes to wondering what should landlords do after a tenant moves out, changing the locks is often forgotten. Even if you had the most trustworthy, reliable tenant you could have hoped for, it is still wise to change the locks once they move out. You never know if there is a spare key still around, or if they made copies. Of course, generally, a tenancy agreement will require any copies to be handed in as well, but if they can’t be found, or they have been forgotten, you may simply never know about them. Changing the locks means you can ensure the property is kept safe and that the next tenants are the only ones who have keys. 

A landlord’s or their agent’s losses after a tenancy may surpass the deposit value in rare cases. When a landlord or letting agency seeks to collect more than the deposit value, the landlord and agent may believe that moving to court is essential. However, it’s actually essential to understand that litigation is always a last resort. 

Even if the alleged losses certified by an inventory service business exceed the deposit value, it may be wise and cost-effective for a landlord or agent to first use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) service and then recover the balance in court.

By doing so, a landlord and agent have demonstrated that they have made all reasonable measures to avoid going to court and, as a result, have complied with the Overriding Objective of the Civil Procedure Rules. In such cases, an adjudicator’s review of the deposit claim would generally end after the deposit monies are depleted.

Tenant’s deposit, inventory check-out evidence, and landlord’s claim

For example, if the deposit value was £500.00 and there were valid claims for cleaning (£150.00), redecoration (£350.00), and tenancy rent arrears (£300.00) based on the checkout inventory report, an adjudicator cannot award more than the £500.00 deposit value, and the adjudication will end before all claims are resolved.

A landlord may have little choice in such a case but to seek compensation for their additional losses in court. Some schemes will enable landlords or renting agencies to choose the order in which claims should be evaluated; as a result, landlords and agents should be conscious of which claims they want the ADR service to consider first and which claims they want the ADR service to consider last.

A complex damage dispute based on an independent property inventory report, for example, might be resolved through ADR, but an easy rent arrears claim could be resolved in court after the deposit funds are depleted. In any case, a landlord or renting agent must consider the expenses, dangers, and time involved with court procedures and determine whether it is economically or sensible to proceed.

Clear inventory checkout evidence

Suing a tenant who does not have any money may be futile since, while a landlord or agent may be successful in getting a judgment, the terms of payment may require the tenant to pay back the judgment over a long period of time. In contrast, if a tenant desires to file a counterclaim, the only method to do so is through the courts, as most ADR firms would not accept counterclaims against the landlord or agent. This is because deposit protection ADR businesses only deal with claims against deposits.

For example, once an inventory clerk has produced an inventory check report outlining tenant obligations, a tenant may seek to file a claim against the landlord or the agent for failing to preserve a deposit. Such a claim would not be considered by an ADR firm and would have to be decided by a judge.

In any instance, the parties would be advised to seek legal counsel before proceeding to court.

Although the majority of tenancies end with no problems, a checkout report can bring ultimate peace of mind to both the landlord and the tenant. And if there is a problem at this potentially sensitive time, the checkout report is there to help – it is an unbiased record of exactly what the state of the property was when the tenant moved out. 

When you have a checkout completed by an independent inventory clerk such as the experts at Looksy Inventories, landlords and tenants can avoid most disputes. If there is still a problem, the report itself is the evidence needed if you choose to take the case to adjudication with the TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme). It’s clear that having a checkout carried out at the right time by the right professional inventory company is crucial. 

What Is A Checkout Report?

Before we go any further into exactly what landlords need a checkout report carried out, let’s delve a little deeper into what this report actually is and what it entails. Essentially, the checkout inventory report is a thorough record of the condition of the property once the current tenants have moved out. Every room is inspected, and a report is made on the state of how the tenant left it. This report provides all the evidence needed to justify any deduction that the landlord might need to make for repairs or other issues that the tenant’s time in the property has meant needs to be done. It will also show the landlord what work needs to be done before they can rent the property out again. 

When compared to the full inventory report that your inventory clerk did at the start of the tenancy, the checkout report makes it easy to see what changes have occurred – good and bad – within the property and a full assessment as to the landlord’s next steps can be made. If there is a dispute, both documents together will form the main evidence in an adjudication process, and if either is missing, the TDS is more than likely going to give the tenant the benefit of the doubt because who’s to say when the damage was caused and who by? It could have been there when they moved in unless the checkout and inventory prove otherwise. 

What Does A Checkout Report Include? 

A checkout report will give you a detailed description of the cleanliness, overall maintenance, and specific damage within a property. At Looksy Inventories, every checkout report is meticulous and thorough and will contact photographs as well as in-depth descriptions. 

It’s hard for a landlord to be objective when it comes to their property, especially if they have owned it for some time, or perhaps they once lived in it themselves, and it can often be hard to determine what is damage and what is fair wear and tear (something that you cannot claim for). The checkout report will make it clear so that the landlord can decide on their next course of action. 

What Are The Benefits Of A Checkout? 

As a landlord, it could be tempting to bypass the checkout altogether. After all, if you have the full inventory report completed, is there any need for the checkout? Can’t you just move on after the tenant leaves? Of course, it’s always down to you; it’s your property and your business, but there are many benefits to having a checkout report, and here are some of them:

• An independent checkout expert shows your tenant you are being fair 
• A tenant is much more likely to agree to any issues if a third party completes the checkout report
• A checkout report promotes a positive landlord-tenant relationship 
• A checkout report will reduce unnecessary costs and save the landlord time 
• The checkout will ensure a much smoother transition from one tenant to the next, ensuring you have less time with an empty property on your hands 

At Looksy Inventories, we are thoroughly trained and highly experienced when it comes to checkouts. We can provide an independent, thorough, and easy-to-read report that will give you the confidence you need to take the next step, whatever that might be. It’s not easy to be a landlord at times, and anything that can be done to assist you is important; the checkout is one of these things. 

Contact Looksy Inventories For Your Checkout Report 

When you need a checkout for your rental property, don’t hesitate to contact Looksy Inventories. We are independent, unbiased, and offer great prices on all our reports. You can trust that no matter what you need us for, we can be there for you. 

If the current tenant’s agreement is about to end and they are going to move out of your rental property, it’s a good idea to give them some useful information about what’s going to happen during the check out process. After all, this will save both you and them from worrying, make things much smoother, and it will help you to decide whether or not to hire a professional for the pre-check out.

What Is The Check Out Process?

The check out process is a simple one, but not something that all landlords are happy to conduct themselves. Lettings agents are busy and can’t always be on hand to conduct the process either, and this is where inventory professionals will come into their own; the check out (and pre-check out) is all part of the service.

The check out process technically begins with the notice to leave, which will either come from the tenant or the landlord, depending on the situation. At this time, the pre-check out service can be implemented.

Next, the tenants will need to return the property to its original condition. Remember, a landlord should never expert any betterment (although it is sometimes the case that this has happened – a great bonus) but they should receive their property back in at least the condition they let it in. Again, another reason to have a full inventory report carried out; that original condition will be clearly stated and matched against what the property looks like when the tenants leave.

On the day the tenants move out, the check out itself should take place, and a check out report completed for the landlord. The tenant will also be able to see the report and will be able to either accept it or challenge it. The deposit return can be negotiated and then released.

The Pre-Check Out Process

We’ve mentioned the pre-check out process a number of times now, and although it’s not something that every landlord requests, and it’s not something that every tenant is going to demand, it can be useful in terms of ensuring everyone is aware of their duties at the end of a tenancy. Plus it gives the tenants the time needed to put the property back the way it is meant to be, if that is something that needs to be done.

The pre-check out visit is conducted by an inventory clerk who can look at each room and make a report as to whether any action needs to be taken. The original inventory is crucial at this time, otherwise the clerk is not going to know what the property was like initially, and won’t be able to say one way or another whether anything has or hasn’t been changed.

What Are The Benefits for Tenants?

The tenant will absolutely benefit from a pre-check out. They will be given all the information they need, written down and explained, regarding the tasks they need to carry out before the day they move out. In other words, they will be told exactly what they need to do in order to have their deposit returned to them with no quibbles.

The tenants do have a number of responsibilities when they come to check out. These will depend in part on what is written in the tenancy agreement, but usually include:

• Cutting the grass
• Disposing of rubbish
• Conducting a thorough clean
• Defrosting the freezer
• Removing all personal items
• Repair any damage (over and above normal wear and tear)
• Replace any items that were removed during the tenancy

Knowing this information in advance will make it more likely that the work is done.

Benefits for Landlords and Letting Agents

The pre-check out isn’t just useful to give tenants the heads up on what they need to accomplish before the day they move out; it’s also useful for landlords and letting agents. It makes the check out process a much quicker, smoother one. It also means there is going to be less maintenance required before the next tenant moves in, saving time and money and keeping the new tenant happy because there are no delays. Plus it helps to keep communication channels open between all parties, with the inventory clerk as the mediator/facilitator.

What Next?

If you need an inventory report, check in, check out (or pre-check out) or interim report, please get in touch with us at Looksy Inventories. A friendly, family run business with a positive, professional attitude, we can make sure everyone in the process is happy.

Landlords and tenants alike have to be careful when it comes to changing the locks on a rented property. Although the landlord might own the property (or at least have a mortgage on it) they are renting out, they have to aware that this is someone’s home, and that the person living there has a right to feel safe and secure. Tenants are, in fact, granted a ‘right for quiet enjoyment of their rented property’.

Equally, although the tenant lives in the property and calls it home, they have to understand that, ultimately, it belongs to someone else, and that someone else – the landlord – must be in control of the property.

This means that, apart from in a few situations and usually with the tenant’s permission, the landlord can’t change the locks in the property and vice versa.

So just when can the landlord or tenant get away with changing the locks on a rented property? Read on to find out.

Changing The Locks On A Rented Property Between Tenants

The ideal time for a landlord to carry out changing the locks on a rented property is in between tenants. Despite the fact that the rental agreement may well have said that no copies of keys should be made, it could be that this has happened, and that keys have been given to friends and family members, cleaners, contractors, or anyone else who might have needed to access the property when the tenant wasn’t home.

The fact that the tenant has moved out should mean that none of these people need to use the keys anymore, and ideally they will either be handed to the letting agent or inventory clerk at check out, or disposed of.

Yet sometimes this doesn’t happen. And to be on the safe side, and to ensure your new tenants are completely safe and secure, it’s a good idea to change the locks. Everyone’s happy, there can be no issues, and you have control over how many keys there are again (for now, at least).

Changing The Locks On A Rented Property If Keys Are Lost

What should a landlord do if a tenant loses their key and can’t get into the house? In most cases, they don’t need to do anything – the tenant will need to fork out for a new lock and they will also need to inform the landlord. Sometimes this just can’t be helped; if the tenant needs to get inside because they’ve lost their key or locked themselves out and they’ve exhausted all other options, there is nothing else to be done.

In this case, it will be down to the tenant to organise changing the locks on a rented property, and they will need to pay for it too.

What If There Has Been A Break In?

If someone has broken into a property changing the locks should be a priority. The lock itself might be damaged so that the property is longer secure, or the thieves might have stolen keys (or have a key) enabling them to return… either way, changing the locks on a rented property if there has been a break in is essential.

But who is responsible?

Well, this one is going to depend on the circumstances. If the lock or door was damaged during the burglary, it is most likely to be the landlord’s responsibility to fix the damage and change the lock at the same time – and this is probably going to be covered by insurance. If there was no damage (or if the door had been left unlocked, for example), it is probably down to the tenant to deal with.

This is why it’s important to have a good relationship between the tenant and the landlord so that, should any issues occur, they can quickly be discussed and a course of action decided on.

If the current tenant’s agreement is about to end and they are going to move out of your rental property, it’s a good idea to give them some useful information about what’s going to happen during the check out process. After all, this will save both you and them from worrying, make things much smoother, and it will help you to decide whether or not to hire a professional for the pre-check out.

What Is The Check Out Process?

The check out process is a simple one, but not something that all landlords are happy to conduct themselves. Lettings agents are busy and can’t always be on hand to conduct the process either, and this is where inventory professionals will come into their own; the check out (and pre-check out) is all part of the service.

The check out process technically begins with the notice to leave, which will either come from the tenant or the landlord, depending on the situation. At this time, the pre-check out service can be implemented.

Next, the tenants will need to return the property to its original condition. Remember, a landlord should never expert any betterment (although it is sometimes the case that this has happened – a great bonus) but they should receive their property back in at least the condition they let it in. Again, another reason to have a full inventory report carried out; that original condition will be clearly stated and matched against what the property looks like when the tenants leave.

On the day the tenants move out, the check out itself should take place, and a check out report completed for the landlord. The tenant will also be able to see the report and will be able to either accept it or challenge it. The deposit return can be negotiated and then released.

The Pre-Check Out Process

We’ve mentioned the pre-check out process a number of times now, and although it’s not something that every landlord requests, and it’s not something that every tenant is going to demand, it can be useful in terms of ensuring everyone is aware of their duties at the end of a tenancy. Plus it gives the tenants the time needed to put the property back the way it is meant to be, if that is something that needs to be done.

The pre-check out visit is conducted by an inventory clerk who can look at each room and make a report as to whether any action needs to be taken. The original inventory is crucial at this time, otherwise the clerk is not going to know what the property was like initially, and won’t be able to say one way or another whether anything has or hasn’t been changed.

What Are The Benefits for Tenants?

The tenant will absolutely benefit from a pre-check out. They will be given all the information they need, written down and explained, regarding the tasks they need to carry out before the day they move out. In other words, they will be told exactly what they need to do in order to have their deposit returned to them with no quibbles.

The tenants do have a number of responsibilities when they come to check out. These will depend in part on what is written in the tenancy agreement, but usually include:

• Cutting the grass
• Disposing of rubbish
• Conducting a thorough clean
• Defrosting the freezer
• Removing all personal items
• Repair any damage (over and above normal wear and tear)
• Replace any items that were removed during the tenancy

Knowing this information in advance will make it more likely that the work is done.

Benefits for Landlords and Letting Agents

The pre-check out isn’t just useful to give tenants the heads up on what they need to accomplish before the day they move out; it’s also useful for landlords and letting agents. It makes the check out process a much quicker, smoother one. It also means there is going to be less maintenance required before the next tenant moves in, saving time and money and keeping the new tenant happy because there are no delays. Plus it helps to keep communication channels open between all parties, with the inventory clerk as the mediator/facilitator.

What Next?

If you need an inventory report, check in, check out (or pre-check out) or interim report, please get in touch with us at Looksy Inventories. A friendly, family run business with a positive, professional attitude, we can make sure everyone in the process is happy.