Check Out

Check-Out

The second most important report to finalise any deductions!

Check Out

The purpose of the Check-Out is to identify and note any discrepancies between the Inventory report and that of the Check-Out once the Tenants have vacated the property. Our clerk will comment on the cleanliness of the property, condition of furniture/other items that were present at Check-In, any new items that may have been left behind by the Tenants, items that may be missing or permission not sought for their disposal, any damages or broken items caused as a result of the property being occupied.

This report will also include photographic evidence that is time and date stamped giving you a clear overview of each room/area that is being inspected. Meter readings will also be taken and will be used to close off any outstanding utility bill that they may have not cleared by the last day of their tenancy.

If there are any damages/repairs that need to be carried out prior to any new tenancy commencing, these will be highlighted on a separate column. The report will also advise if the issues are due to wear and tear as per the original condition at the start of the tenancy/length of stay of the tenants or if they are negligence caused by the Tenants. Unfortunately, a claim for deductions cannot be made if something is deemed wear and tear or was present prior to the start of the Tenancy. Deterioration will occur over time and as such claims of this nature cannot be made.

Please note: This report will not include information on the functionality of the bath, shower, taps, sinks, and general plumbing.

In the event of a dispute between the Landlord and the Tenant, the Check Out report is an important document to have. If neither party (Landlord or Tenant) come to an agreement on the damages/proposed deductions, the matter may need to be raised as a 'claim' via the Deposit Protection Scheme. Should this be the case, the independent adjudicator will be asked to review the dispute using the Inventory and Check Out reports and make a ruling on the judgement.

For more information on fair wear and tear, please refer to the TDS website by following the link below.


Tenancy Deposit Scheme

What are the most common disputes?

Cleaning

Tenants are required to return the property in the same condition as found, this includes the same cleanliness standard. The Inventory report would advise whether the property was cleaned to a domestic or professional standard. If a property is not returned in the same condition as found, the Tenants should be charged for the additional cleaning that is required. If a Landlord paid for a professional clean at the start of the tenancy, an invoice or receipt will need to be used as evidence confirming that such clean was performed. It would not be deemed a professional clean if Tenants only carried out a domestic clean.


Mould/Condensation

Mould related issues are the second most common dispute. Often Tenants argue that mould is due to an underlying issue with the property when in fact, mould appears due to lack of ventilation in the room in question. A bathroom for instance would have an extractor fan. Quite often Tenants do not leave this switched on long enough to extract the moisture after showering. Where a ventilation unit is not available, a window should be left open long enough to allow for condensation to escape. Drying clothes indoors is another factor and if windows are not opened, moisture will remain on the walls long enough until mould starts to appear.


Redecoration

Marks and stains on walls are usually deemed as 'wear and tear'. If at the start of the tenancy the walls and ceilings were freshly painted and at the end of the tenancy, there are numerous marks on such areas, the Tenants would be liable for repainting (depending on the length of the tenancy). In the event that the condition of the walls and ceilings were noted as being marked, and further marks reappear during the tenancy, usually you would not be able to charge the Tenants for repainting of the entire wall or ceiling unless there is significant damage caused in which case you can only charge a nominal amount or a contribution cost towards redecoration of the entire area.


Damage/Negligence

It is the Tenants responsibility to ensure that the property and its fixtures and fittings are maintained throughout the tenancy. The Landlord is protected under a particular Clause in the contract in that if such items are damaged or negligence is evident, the Tenants are liable for the cost of repair/replacement as required. Betterment rules must also be taken into account before such costs are put forward to the Tenants. Damages can vary quite significantly however one good example would be damage caused to a carpet (burn mark or stain). The Tenants would only be liable for a portion of the cost for replacing the carpet in the room in question. However, in the event that the carpet was newly fitted prior to the start of the tenancy and the Tenants vacated at the end of a 12 month lease, the Tenants would be liable for the full cost of replacement (length of tenancy would need to be considered in such circumstances).


Our FAQ's

• Description of the fixtures and fittings along with photographic evidence

• Cleanliness of the property and any fixtures/fittings

• Smoke alarms and CO2 detectors tested and in working/non-working order

• Number of keys handed back to the Agent

• Windows, blinds, curtains, doors and flooring checked

• Kitchen cabinets, utensils/pots (if returned/are missing)

• White goods listed and tested for power as well as cleanliness

• Locks tested and in working/non-working order

• Bulbs if they are in working order/need to be replaced if otherwise • Any defects will be highlighted

• Any actions for repair will be specified

• Meter readings provided as per the start of the tenancy (serial number of the meters will be provided)

No. Tenants do not need to be present during this process as this will be carried out by a third party clerk. We can however meet the Tenants if they wish to handover the keys in person.

Yes, we can still perform a Check-Out report, as long as you are able to provide us with the original Inventory of which we can make comments against.

Usually, we have a 48 hour turnaround, though we do have requests that require the report to be submitted within 24 hours. Should you need this to be sent to you urgently, please let us know and we will arrange this at no additional cost.

Yes, both parties will have an opportunity to make any comments they feel are adequate. Should Tenants wish to comment on any of the clerks assessment or photos taken, they can do so via the Additional Comments section of the report. The revised version will then be assessed by the clerk to confirm they are appropriate, once agreed, an updated document/link will be sent via email.

You can do this by clicking the 'Make a Booking' button, or by emailing us at ... .

Do you have a dispute that you need assistance with?

Review Reports

The Inventory and Check-Out reports will be analysed thoroughly. Discrepancies will need to be assessed individually - emails, invoices and any other documentation will be requested to better assess the issues in question. If any disrepairs occurred during the tenancy, such matters would also need to be taken into consideration as they can be deemed as wear and tear.

Damage Check

In the event that there are damages in the property, a contractor will be required to provide a quote for a repair as required. This will be used to determine costs for deduction. If there are cleaning commissions, these too would require cleaners to re-attend and only rectify the areas in question (not a full professional clean).

Contact Tenants

Tenants would be notified of the discrepancies/disrepairs that were found by the inventory clerk to be deemed as Tenant negligence and will be chargeable from their deposit. Tenants should be given an opportunity to comment on any disrepairs if they feel that they can be reasonably justified as to why deductions should not be made.

Finalise Deductions

Reaching a mutual agreement on the charges that will be made is a fundamental step in this process. It would be in the Landlord's best interest to be fair in the charges being made as to avoid claims going to dispute as you may find that the arbitrator may rule more in the favour of the Tenant if such claims are deemed to be unfair to the Tenant/s.