Sent inventory to agency - what next?

[heyitsroth]

On moving into my new flat I took a thorough inventory with lots of pictures, compiled it into a PDF, and sent it to the letting agency.
A large part of it was documenting the lack of cleanliness of the property - this wasn't a problem, it wasn't in the best state when I viewed it so I knew what to expect, but I also don't want to be expected to return it in a better condition and the end of the tenancy.

My question is what happens now? Do I need to wait for them to sign it, or is it good enough that I've sent them the pictures (sent via email)? Or is it just good enough that I have the pictures at all. If they need to sign it, do I need to wait before cleaning the flat, since by doing so I would be affecting their ability to verify what I have documented in the photos?

Never bothered to do things properly like this before so not sure how it wiorks

[RedHitman]

You are the tenant and YOU did an inventory, is that right? Fair play to you if you did, at least you’ve got plenty of evidence should any issues arise.

I’ll be surprised if you hear anything back. The usual protocol is that the landlord/agency conducts the inventory for YOU to sign, not them! If they’ve not done one then more fool them.

Good on you, but don’t hold your breath.

[DPT57]

What does your tenancy agreement say about the condition in which it must be returned? It's perfectly possible for a landlord to contract with a tenant to return the property in an improved state of cleanliness.

[theartfullodger]

What does your tenancy agreement say about the condition in which it must be returned? It's perfectly possible for a landlord to contract with a tenant to return the property in an improved state of cleanliness.

True, but doubt it would stand up in court? Know any test cases?

The tenancy could state front door to be repainted blue one week, red the next, but no judge or ADR would uphold.

Roth you've done all you need, bar perhaps move-in photos.

You contract is with landlord. Next time write/email landlord, copy agent, keep copy

[heyitsroth]

You are the tenant and YOU did an inventory, is that right?
...
The usual protocol is that the landlord/agency conducts the inventory for YOU to sign, not them! If they’ve not done one then more fool them.

They did make one for me to sign, but it left quite a lot out and gave quite vague 'fair condition' descriptions to a lot of things. Tbh, on further research of how things like this work, it seems like the burden of proof is on them if they want to make deductions at the end of the tenancy; so 'fair condition' wouldn't help them and I might actually not have needed to create such a detailed report...

It's perfectly possible for a landlord to contract with a tenant to return the property in an improved state of cleanliness.

Yes it does have a clause that says I must professionally clean the property at the end of the tenancy. However, the 'Approach to unfair contract terms' on TDS's website says:

the most common expectation we will see is that the tenant must leave the property cleaned to a professional standard. Many agents and landlords regard this as an ‘absolute’ obligation – i.e. the property must be left in that condition in any event, and that the tenant is responsible for the cost of cleaning to that standard if they fail to do this themselves. The approach that TDS will take is generally to start from the presumption that the tenant can only normally be required the leave the property in the condition in which they found it

So it looks like they'll be on my side, but having sufficient evidence of the condition when I moved in could be crucial.


So the consensus is that I don't need to wait for them to sign or acknowledge what I sent them, if they try to make deductions at the end of the tenancy the fact that I can show I emailed it to them was enough?

Thanks for all your replies btw

[leaseholder64]

Proving that an email was sent is quite difficult; you would be better off posting a physical copy.

However, I don't see how the agents' receiving the report helps your case. What would be much more useful would have been to have an independent witness who could verify the report as true and accurate.

[RedHitman]

You definitely DIDN'T need to do this.
Again, fair play to you for being so proactive and thorough, but it could maybe go against you in the end.

If they've made a rubbish inventory and then try to take monies from you at the end, they would have to rely on their own inventory which from what you’re saying wouldn’t hold up in court.

You've now potentially done them the favour by giving them all the ammo for the gun.

[heyitsroth]

Maybe I was wrong to describe their inventory as 'vague'; it was more like optimistic and selective, and may have allowed them to do a more detailed check out report at the end where the same conditions were photographed in more detail and downgraded from 'fair condition' to 'poor condition'.

But I think it was enough to stand up to an adjudicator, hence why I felt, and read similar advice elsewhere, that compiling my own report to give an accurate depiction of the rather poor state of the property, would prevent this from happening. Otherwise I would have had to sign their inventory, but instead I signed it after adding a reference to my own, more detailed inventory in the comments