At the beginning of a tenancy, a landlord is required to provide the tenant with a signed copy of the ingoing inspection report.
The report is vitally important to both the landlord and the tenant. It sets out the condition of the property before the tenant moves in. It must contain comprehensive details of the property and all its contents as well as recording the condition of each item. It is essential that both parties are as detailed as possible.
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The report provides the benchmark for what the landlord will expect at the end of the tenancy fair wear and tear excluded. For example, if a tenant has been there for 10 years, then it should be expected that there will be some wear and tear to the carpet (particularly around traffic areas). It is essential that both the landlord and the tenant fill out the reports thoroughly as possible. It is a great idea for all parties to take lots of photos or even make a video to help corroborate their assessment of the condition of the premises and all its contents.
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It’s all smiles now. But that could all chance if you’ve totally botched the ingoing inspection. Picture: iStock
Everything related to the condition of the premises and its contents must be noted by all parties. Don’t ever think that a small chip in the wall or a minor stain on the carpet doesn’t need to be noted down – it will come back to bite everyone at the time of a discussion about repayment of the bond at the end of the lease.
If there is a dispute about the condition of an item when the inspection sheets are returned by the tenant, it is imperative that the landlord or property manager contact the tenant and make a suitable time to inspect the item with the tenant and come to an agreement about its condition. It is possible that the landlord simply missed an item.
The ingoing inspection is more important than you might think. Overlook it at your own risk. Picture: iStock.
Make sure any agreement about the condition is recorded in writing. Never leave any dispute to be sorted out at the end of the lease. You want a smooth and harmonious parting of the ways – and a little thing like a stain on the carpet can really blow up.
Both parties should make sure that the inspection report is retained throughout the tenancy. Take extra care to ensure that they are not lost or destroyed. A good practice for a tenant is to scan the sheets and then save it to their hard drive or in the cloud.
Inspection sheets protect all the parties to a tenancy – so make sure you are as accurate and detailed as possible when completing them.
– Paul Edwards is REISA’s legislation and industry adviser.
