UK
Inventory
An inventory is the room-by-room record of a rental property’s condition and contents at the start of a tenancy. It is the document a deposit dispute is later judged against.
Also called Schedule of condition.
Check-in uses it
The tenant should see the inventory at check-in and have a short, stated time to add comments. A report that only the agent signed, and that the tenant never received, is a weak record. Photos help when they are dated and tied to a room.
Check-out
The check-out compares the property with that same inventory, allowing for fair wear and tear. Fair wear is not the same as damage. Do not write “tenant will be charged” in a draft before the landlord has decided and the scheme’s rules have been followed.
Questions
What does Inventory mean?
An inventory is the room-by-room record of a rental property’s condition and contents at the start of a tenancy. It is the document a deposit dispute is later judged against.
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.