Reporting software company InventoryBase has backed a campaign urging for inventories to be made mandatory in the lettings sector.

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks recently set up a petition on the government’s website arguing that independent inventory reporting of private rental properties on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy should be an industry standard.

Now InventoryBase has come out in support, saying that by using independent inventory specialists a standard could be created, ensuring an absence of bias to the tenant or landlord. 

The firm says this would also enable the government’s Tenancy Deposit Scheme to have sufficient impartial evidence to enable it to adjudicate should there be a dispute. 

“There have been many reports of tenants being made to sign bias reports in return for their keys, mostly unaware that the inventory report is compiled by a landlord, agent or source that is not third party or unbiased” says the firm.

“We think it’s great that The AIIC have decided to take a step forward in making such a needed change within the industry. We deal with many different providers of lettings and see the importance every day of having reports of a good standard for the benefit of both tenant and landlord” says Steve Rad, managing director of InventoryBase.