UK
Check-in
Check-in is the handover of a rental at the start of the tenancy: keys, the inventory, meter readings, and the practical information the tenant needs on day one.
Also called Move-in.
What to have ready
Keys or fobs, alarm codes given securely, the inventory, how to use the heating, and who to call if something is already wrong. Meter readings belong in the file the same day. US offices call this move-in.
It is not the tenancy
The tenancy agreement is the contract. Check-in is the practical start. Do not tell a tenant they can collect keys before the deposit is protected and the agreement is signed, unless your firm’s process says otherwise for that file.
Questions
What does Check-in mean?
Check-in is the handover of a rental at the start of the tenancy: keys, the inventory, meter readings, and the practical information the tenant needs on day one.
General information for agency staff, not legal advice. Rules and local practice change. Check the official source before you rely on a definition in a client letter.