Move-in day, done properly: the inventory walked through with the tenant, comments captured, signatures collected on the spot, keys handed over and meters read — so the tenancy starts from an agreed baseline instead of a future argument.
Why the walk-through matters
An inventory sitting unsigned in an inbox protects nobody. What turns it into decisive evidence is agreement — and the surest way to get agreement is to walk the tenant through the property against the report on the day they collect the keys. They see what the report says about each room while standing in it; anything they'd challenge gets raised, discussed and recorded there and then, not eighteen months later with a deposit at stake.
Tenant comments are written into the report, both parties sign, and every party — landlord, agent, tenant — receives an identical copy. From that moment the starting condition isn't the landlord's claim or the tenant's memory; it's a shared document nobody can plausibly reopen. Deposit adjudicators treat a signed check-in as close to settled fact, which is why the check-out comparison at the end of the tenancy becomes straightforward instead of contested.
The practical loose ends are tied off in the same visit: each key and fob is listed against the tenant's signature, and meter readings are taken on the day the tenancy starts — so the utility accounts open on the right numbers and the "who used that gas" question never arises.
Day-one compliance
Alarms must work on day one. In England, landlords must ensure a smoke alarm is fitted on every storey used as living accommodation and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a fixed combustion appliance — and that they are shown to be in working order at the start of each new tenancy. We test each alarm during the check-in and record the result in the signed report, giving you dated, tenant-witnessed proof of compliance from the first minute of the tenancy.
If we compiled your inventory report, the check-in runs straight from it. If you already have a recent inventory from elsewhere, we can check the tenant in against that document instead — we'll flag anything materially out of date before signatures are taken.
Everything later refers back to this document: mid-term inspections measure drift from it, and the check-out compares against it item by item. A clean, signed check-in is the single cheapest way to make every later stage easier.
Booking is simple: tell us the move-in date, address and furnishing level via the quote form or WhatsApp, and we'll confirm the slot — with the inventory prepared in advance so move-in day itself runs to time.
Common questions
It depends on the size and furnishing of the property and whether we're also compiling the inventory or working from an existing one. Send the address, bedroom count and furnishing level via the quote form and we'll reply with a fixed quote, usually the same working day.
The inventory is the document — the detailed record of condition and contents. The check-in is the event: walking the tenant through that document at the property on move-in day, capturing their comments, collecting signatures, handing over keys and reading the meters. The inventory describes the baseline; the check-in gets it agreed.
We complete the walk-through and records on the day, then send the report to the tenant with a set window to comment and sign electronically. A report issued promptly with a fair chance to respond still carries strong evidential weight — silence after a reasonable window is itself noted.
Yes. Landlords in England must ensure smoke alarms on every storey, and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with fixed combustion appliances, are in working order at the start of each new tenancy. We test them during the check-in and record the result in the signed report — evidence of day-one compliance.
Landlord, letting agent and tenant each receive the signed PDF, normally the same day. Everyone holding an identical, signed copy from day one is exactly what prevents the end-of-tenancy argument about what was agreed.
Tell us the property type and postcode — we'll come back with a fixed quote and the earliest available date.