The inventory report everyone signs too fast

On the day you get the keys, everyone is in a hurry: you, the landlord, the agency. And that is exactly the day someone hands you a document to sign - the inventory report. Plenty of people skim it and regret it months later. This document describes the exact condition of the flat when you move in, room by room, and it is what everything will be compared against when you leave.

Why it matters so much

When you move out, the condition of the flat will be compared with what is written in this document. Anything that is not in there can, in theory, be blamed on you: a scratch on the floor, a mark on a wall, a door that does not close properly. And since your rental deposit is on the line, every detail missed at move-in can turn into an unpleasant conversation at move-out.

How to do it properly

Take your time, even if everyone around you is sighing. Go through every room and test whatever can be tested: lights, sockets, taps, the toilet flush, windows, shutters, hobs. Write down everything you notice, however tiny it seems - a small scratch, a tired seal, a mark on the ceiling. What is written down in black and white cannot be argued about later.

Back the document up with dated photos of every room and of each flaw you spotted. Keep them safe for the entire length of your tenancy, along with your signed copy of the inventory. The best evidence file is the one you never need - but if it does come in handy one day, you will be grateful to the past you who took those photos.

And when you leave?

The same exercise awaits when you leave, in reverse. The move-out condition gets compared with the move-in report, allowing for normal wear and tear: a lived-in flat is not a damaged flat. Hand the place back clean, flag anything that broke along the way, and lean on your move-in document to keep the conversation calm. That moment is exactly what you filled it in so carefully for.

The official rules around leases and inventory reports are laid out on the public administration websites. A few minutes of reading before you move in, and you will understand what you are signing better than most people ever do.