Private landlords can end up footing the bill for cleaning and the cost of replacing furniture and fittings if they do not provide an inventory at the start of a tenancy agreement.
That is the message from the National Landlords Association (NLA), which has stated that "inventories are not an optional extra" - they are important documents that could help property owners save money later down the line.
In landlord advice that can be heeded by private rented sector professionals across the UK, NLA chairman David Salusbury said inventories are as important as getting tenants to sign assured short-hold tenancy documents and organising tenancy deposit schemes.
He added that a proper check-out report at the end of a tenancy agreement can ensure any changes that have occurred to the condition of a property or other items within it are noted.
On the other side of the coin, tenants are typically advised to thoroughly check inventories and tenancy agreements before signing the terms.
Written by Claire Doyle
