The Tenancy deposit schemes protect all deposit money. As long as the terms of the tenancy agreement have been met and there is no request from the landlord for deposit monies to be retained the money will be returned to the tenant. Anyone wishing to hold back monies for cleaning, repairs, gardening etc?..will be required to prove the contents and condition of the property including all fixtures, fittings and furniture at start of tenancy up until the end of the tenancy.
Aside from your rental agreement, the Inventory is one of the most essential documents to have, even if the property is unfurnished. With the regulations now in place to protect the tenants deposit, its even more important to get this inventory completed by an independent party. This will enable the appropriate dispute company to accurately determine any loss or damage to the property or its contents.
Many tenants in the private sector give their landlords a deposit against possible non-payment of rent or damage to property. When a tenancy comes to an end, there is usually no disagreement about the return of the deposit. But sometimes there is, and this can cause much hardship and inconvenience to both landlord and tenant.
The Housing Act 2004 (Chapter 4, sections 212-5; & Schedule 10) made provision for both the protection of tenancy deposits and the resolution of disputes over their return. The legislation came into effect on 6 April 2007. After that date all deposits taken for Assured Shorthold Tenancies should have been covered by a tenancy deposit protection scheme.
Professional Inventories and Check In and Check Out reports prepared by Arrowz Inventories will carry the greatest of weight and will help to ensure disputes are resolved swiftly and fairly. Contact us now for free and impartial advice and for details about how Arrows Inventory Reports are compiled and can be submitted to an independant dispute resolution service, on your behalf.
Dispute resolution under the scheme, emphasises the need for accurate documantation to support any claim.