The missing inventory that cost a landlord thousands

It was meant to be a quick turnaround. The landlord thought skipping the inventory would save a day’s hassle and a few hundred pounds. But when the tenancy ended, the property was left with stains, missing items and damage that no one could prove was the tenant’s fault. With no signed check-in report, the deposit adjudicator sided with the tenant. The landlord was left footing the repair bill, plus the cleaning and replacement costs, totalling several thousand pounds.

This scenario is more common than some landlords realise. Independent adjudication schemes repeatedly highlight that without a clear inventory and schedule of condition at the start of a tenancy, any claim for damages is almost impossible to win. Photographs help, but they need to be time-stamped, dated and backed up with a signed document that both landlord and tenant agree to. Otherwise, the balance of doubt will always lean towards the tenant, as deposit schemes are designed to protect them from unfair claims.

The lesson here is straightforward: never skip the paperwork. A professional inventory service is a small upfront cost that can prevent major financial loss later. Even for self-managing landlords, creating a detailed check-in report with photos and signatures is essential. The few hours saved on day one are never worth the months of dispute and the loss of funds at the end.

What do you think?

Have you ever had a dispute over damage or cleaning costs? Did you win or lose at adjudication, and what did you learn from the process?

Source: TDS guidance on the importance of inventories

This article is part of the Property118 viral series for entertainment purposes.

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