A property inventory template for use when a tenant moves into a rental property. The single most important document for evidencing condition at the start of a tenancy — and recovering legitimate deposit deductions at the end.
What this document is
The inventory is a written record of the property's condition and contents at the moment a tenant moves in. It is signed by both landlord and tenant and forms the baseline against which any end-of-tenancy condition is judged.
Why it matters for deposit disputes
If you make any deposit deduction at the end of a tenancy and the tenant disputes it, the matter goes to the deposit protection scheme's adjudication. Adjudicators consistently rule against landlords who cannot produce a properly documented inventory.
An inventory paired with photographs and a tenant signature transforms a "your word against theirs" dispute into a documentary one.
Best practice
- Walk through the property with the tenant on move-in day.
- Take dated photographs of every room, fixture, and appliance.
- Note the meter readings (gas, electric, water).
- Get the tenant to sign each page, not just the last one.
- Provide the tenant with a copy and keep your own original.