Property Inventory & Inspection FAQs

The right service depends on the stage of the tenancy or property. Inventory & Check-In records the condition and contents at the start of a tenancy, while Check-Out compares the property at the end. Mid-Term Inspection provides a record during the tenancy, and New-Build Snagging identifies defects in a newly built or newly completed property.

For most tenancies, using both provides the clearest before-and-after record. An Inventory & Check-In records the property’s condition and contents at the start of the tenancy, while a Check-Out records the condition at the end and highlights changes against the earlier report.

A Mid-Term Inspection is carried out during the tenancy rather than at the beginning or end. It provides a documented snapshot of the property’s condition and can highlight maintenance issues or changes that may need attention.

A New-Build Snagging inspection is designed for newly built or newly completed properties. It identifies visible defects, incomplete finishes and workmanship issues so they can be raised with the developer or contractor.

If you are unsure which service is appropriate, contact Dock Inventories with the property type and stage of the tenancy or development. We can help you identify the most suitable inspection before you book.

An existing inventory may provide useful background, but it should not normally be relied on as the condition record for a new tenancy. The property may have changed since the earlier report. A new Inventory & Check-In provides an up-to-date record of the condition, contents and relevant details at the start of the new tenancy.

We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly for check-ins and check-outs linked to fixed tenancy dates. Short-notice appointments may be available, but this depends on clerk availability and access arrangements.

Not necessarily. Provided suitable access has been arranged, our clerk can carry out the inspection independently. If someone needs to meet the clerk or provide access, this should be agreed when the appointment is booked.

Access can be arranged through the letting agent, landlord, tenant or another agreed contact. Keys may also be collected where this has been arranged in advance. Please provide any relevant access instructions when booking.

Yes. The property should be in the condition you want recorded when the inspection begins. Where applicable, cleaning, maintenance, furnishing and removal of belongings should be completed beforehand so the report accurately reflects the property at that time.

Yes, subject to availability. Please contact Dock Inventories as soon as possible if the inspection date, time or access arrangements need to change.

Please provide the property address, the service required, preferred date and time, property size and any relevant access or key-collection instructions. Let us know in advance about anything that may affect access to or inspection of the property.

The report combines written observations with supporting photographs to provide a clear record of the property at the time of inspection. The exact content and level of comparison will depend on the service booked.

Yes. Photographs support the written observations and help show the condition of the property, fixtures, fittings and contents at the time of inspection. They are intended to complement, rather than replace, the written record.

A professionally prepared inventory or inspection report can provide important evidence of the property’s condition at a particular point in time. It does not itself decide responsibility or the amount of any deposit deduction; that will depend on the evidence, the tenancy and, where applicable, the relevant deposit dispute process.

If you believe there is a factual error or omission, contact Dock Inventories as soon as possible so it can be reviewed against the clerk’s notes and photographs. Independent observations will not be changed simply to support a preferred position.

Report turnaround depends on the type of inspection and workload at the time of booking. If you have a specific deadline, please let Dock Inventories know when arranging the appointment so we can confirm whether it can be accommodated.

Dock Inventories retains final reports and related records in line with its document-retention and privacy procedures. If you need a copy of an older report, contact us with the property address and approximate inspection date so we can check whether it is available.

An independent inventory company provides a record of the property based on what is observed at the time of inspection. The purpose is to create clear, objective evidence rather than to represent the interests of the landlord, agent or tenant.

Yes. Where appropriate, the clerk may give a professional opinion on whether a change appears consistent with damage, deterioration, cleaning, maintenance or fair wear and tear, based on the condition observed and the available comparison evidence. However, the clerk does not make the final decision on legal liability or the amount of any deposit deduction. Those decisions remain with the relevant parties or, where a dispute is referred, the applicable deposit dispute process.

A detailed inventory, check-in or check-out report can provide evidence of the property’s condition at the relevant point in the tenancy. This can help the parties, and where necessary a deposit dispute process, compare the available evidence when considering a proposed deduction.

Fair wear and tear generally refers to deterioration arising through normal residential use over time rather than damage caused by misuse or negligence. Factors such as the length of the tenancy, condition and age of an item, number of occupants and normal expected lifespan may all be relevant when a deduction is considered.

No. An inventory or inspection report provides evidence of the property’s condition, but it does not guarantee that a proposed deduction will be accepted. Any claim should be supported by the tenancy terms and other relevant evidence, and may ultimately be considered through the applicable deposit dispute process.

Depending on the issue, relevant evidence may include the tenancy agreement, check-in and check-out reports, photographs, invoices, receipts, correspondence and records of repairs or maintenance. The inventory report forms part of the overall evidence rather than determining the outcome on its own.