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An inventory expert is warning against relying extensively on technology when compiling evidence on the condition of a property at the start of a tenancy.

Danny Zane, director of My Property Inventories, says extensive use of technology does not allow for the inclusion of sufficient detail to provide indisputable evidence of the original condition at the start of a tenancy.

Many landlords and agents are using digital evidence to replace what he claims to be essential written descriptions at check-in and check-out.

A glossy inventory that relies heavily on photographs will be of little use in a dispute. In fact, there is no point in producing a picture book for an inventory, with very little proper description and hundreds of photographs - inventories like these just do not provide enough detail he claims.

Zane suggests that photography and video are adequate for large areas of damage such as carpet burns or serious damage to worktops and interior dcor, but fail to capture more detailed damage such as small chips and scratches in sinks and baths, knife marks on worktops, scratches to halogen hobs.

His firm says agents and landlords should prepare:

- 'before and after' photos with a clear narrative as to what the photo is showing, such as colours, item description, marks on surfaces;

- photographs should include something to show scale within the photo and they should clearly show the condition of the property at any given time;

- photographs should be large and dated, with the camera set to automatically to put the date on the picture or have the date should be embedded in the inventory document either on the relevant pages or as an addendum page;

- use good quality printers to avoid distorting colours.

Comments

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    I think that that kind of services that these guys has created are very important for people who stands close to this issue. [url="http://www.maglodz.pl"]Wynajem magazynw strykw[/url]

    • 21 April 2015 15:56 PM
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    Nah - disagree Danny ! We have been in business for just over 25 years and switched to video inventories (from antiquated paper and photos) as soon as technology became available.

    I quote (almost word for word) a TDS dispute which went in our favour (most do as we provide a DVD of before and after). The adjudicator said "On a further point, I have been adjudicating here for some 4 years and I have to say that this is the most detailed and compelling evidence submitted on behalf of the Landlord's case that I have ever seen".

    I have spoken to an adjudicator ho happens to be a family friend and she states that they prefer video inventories over paper/photos AS LONG AS THE EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED CONCISELY!

    What we do is this. For every point contested in a dispute, in our evidence, we state (for both the before and after video DVD) the position on the DVD (minutes and seconds) of the disputed issues.

    As far as your comments (Danny) go relating to video failing to capture scratches on hobs etc. etc. Just not true - in our case anyway. Our staff are trained to carry out a visual inspection of each room BEFORE turning on the video camera so they know what problems to focus on. They always take a ruler with them so they can show the size of the scratch/problem.

    Nice advert here on LAT but after 25 years in the business and having taken on properties from other agents with just paper/photo inventories, I can tell you now they are nowhere near as effective as video.

    • 14 February 2015 07:47 AM
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    Hi Matt,
    Many thanks for your very interesting feedback.
    Our un-bias, impartial and AIIC regulated reports are fully photographic. The written side of our reports are exceptionally detailed; we note a picture paints a thousand words but without the detail in writing we are seeing many cases in dispute go in favour of perhaps the wrong party due to lack of supporting evidence.
    It is critical in the modern market to have a third party report, not compiled by an agent and to make sure there is no room for error photographs of any furnishings and fixtures, any damage showing scale and of course overview shots of all rooms. All this backed up by a full written opinion from the un-bias clerk.
    The inventory industry has come a long way over the last decade and one thing we have all learnt is when its third party and highly detailed there can be no dispute over its contents and or relevance.
    For more information on this and its relevance please see the AIIC website and or training courses.
    Sadly, not everyone wants an un-bias report and they are currently not a mandatory requirement.
    Once again Matt, many thanks for your feedback.

    Danny

    • 10 February 2015 11:44 AM
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    I think this guy clearly wants people to use his services as i can guarantee a visual inventory is far far far superior to a written inventory. We manage a stock of over 450 properties and very rarely get a dispute to our findings because our visual DVD inventories are so in depth and thorough. So im afraid this guy is talking out of his bottom

    • 10 February 2015 09:04 AM
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