Independent check out – not happy with the service?

Independent check out – not happy with the service?

9:25 AM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago 11

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Hi, I had an independent check out and paid in advance £120 + VAT over six weeks ago through my agent.

Firstly the report was not completed in the time advised and when I finally received the report, images were missing and details I had expected to be recorded were omitted eg, agent advised the clerk the tenant had damaged the vertical blinds and an internal door.

Nothing recorded or images. I have contacted the clerk direct and still waiting a response.

I am hopeful that the deductions will be agreed between the tenant and myself but feel I need the report to be accurate in case we go to the deposit dispute scheme.

The fee is not a small amount and I do not feel it is reasonable to pay this fee in advance, in case, like my situation, you are not satisfied with the service. I will be feeding this back to the agent.

Has anyone not been satisfied with their checkout report and how was this resolved please?

Many thanks,

Alison


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Graham Bowcock

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10:46 AM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago

What does your agent say about the situation? Do they agree with you? If you are not happy then I would expect them to make the running on your behalf to either give an explanation, or to get things corrected.

Hopefully you have not released the deposit yet.

Alison Clark

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10:55 AM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago

Thank you. Waiting to hear back from the agent.

Deposit not released, thankfully.

Dylan Morris

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12:00 PM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago

It’s always a red flag to me now when a service provider insists on payment before they’ve actually delivered the service. Had this with an electrician a few years back, never again. Provide the service then invoice me afterwards, as it should be. Otherwise what incentive have they to carry out a decent job when they’ve already been paid.

Alison Clark

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13:42 PM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by Dylan Morris at 07/05/2025 - 12:00
Exactly.

The check out fee was in my estate agent contract but they deducted this automatic from my rent statement in March, with no notification.

PH

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19:49 PM, 7th May 2025, About A week ago

Why didn't the agent carry out the check-out ?

Alison Clark

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6:27 AM, 8th May 2025, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by PH at 07/05/2025 - 19:49
Hi PH. I don’t think they usually do? They arrange an independent clerk to carry this out. The checkout is in the fully managed contract. This whole BTL has been a shambles from start to finish. The combination of an horrendous tenant and unorganised agent. The last thing I need now is for them to make an error with the deductions/deposit return. I am waiting for the clerk to respond. He may have the images I expected to be on the report? The tenant vacated Monday 28th May, checkout was Thursday 1st May. I wasn't happy with the delay! no report until Saturday lunch to the agent, I chased this all day knowing it was a bank holiday, we finally received a copy Tuesday morning from the agent. We have a damaged door, this has been left as is in case the clerk needs to return?

I have held back my email requesting the deductions from the deposit, but wondering whether to proceed with this or wait until I am happy with the check out report? Thank you.

Alison Clark

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6:40 AM, 8th May 2025, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by Alison Clark at 08/05/2025 - 06:27
Other items have not been recorded on the check out report. Glass scattered all over the garage floor, damaged vertical blinds, hole in a wall filled by tenant but not finished, etc, all not recorded on the check out.

Alison Clark

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6:46 AM, 8th May 2025, About A week ago

Not to mention. The tenant kindly posted the keys through the branch letter box Sunday evening (not as agreed, avoiding signing a deed of surrender) and left all the property windows open at the back (obviously his attempt to remove pet odour.)

Alison Clark

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8:20 AM, 8th May 2025, About A week ago

Reply to the comment left by PH at 08/05/2025 - 08:02
Thank you for your advice in the past. You too. Best wishes. Alison 😊

DPT

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10:18 AM, 8th May 2025, About A week ago

We're they a member of the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks? If so you could make a complaint to them.

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