By using an external company to produce your property inventory / check in/ inspection / check out reports, you can free up valuable time. All we require is an email detailing the service wanted, property address, date the service is due and any other relevant details. We will collect and drop off keys from your offices or can meet a landlord or tenant at the property, should this be of more convenience. As we produce numerous reports each day, we are both efficient and thorough at what we do. When working with clients, we take seriously that we are representing your business, and therefore operate in a professional and diligent manner at all times.

The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) came into effect from April 2007 and aims to help both landlords and tenants arrive at an equitable agreement in the event of dispute over a tenant’s deposit.

There are three government authorised schemes currently in effect:

‣ A custodial scheme run by the deposit protection service www.depositprotection.com

‣ An insurance based scheme operated by Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd (a company jointly owned by the National Landlords Association and Hamilton Fraser Insurance Services Ltd) www.mydeposits.co.uk

‣ A second insurance based scheme operated by the dispute service www.tds.gb.com

The legislation covers virtually all Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST) contracts which private Landlords let property in England and Wales. However, the following will not need to be registered with a tenancy deposit protection scheme: Resident Landlords (those living in the property), Landlords of properties with rent of over £25,000 a year, Company lets & Student accommodation let directly by universities or colleges.

The return of a deposit is by no means guaranteed. For example, in 2005/6: 70% were returned in full 19% were returned in part 11% were not returned at all The reasons given by Landlords for withholding some or all of a deposit were: Damage to the property (28%) Cleaning of the property (34%) Unpaid rent or bills (8%) Other reasons (30%) 17% of Tenants who had some or all of a deposit withheld felt hat it had been withheld unjustifiably. The new Tenancy Deposit Protection schemes will ensure all Landlords safeguard the deposits they take, which is in every Landlord’s and Tenant’s interest.

There have been a number of decisions by adjudicators under existing voluntary schemes which show that unless Landlords have a full Inventory, check in (agreed to) and check out, there is little or no chance of a Landlord recovering anything out of the deposit for damage. Likewise, decisions by a District Judge in a County Court small claims have shown that unless the above processes are followed exactly, it is unlikely that the Landlord will be awarded any part of the deposit to make good any damage In cases where an inventory and a check-in (agreed upon) are not carried it is common for a tenant to claim that the damage already existed when the tenancy started. So unless the Landlord has proof of the state of the furniture/property at the beginning in the form of a properly prepared and agreed Inventory/ Schedule of Condition they are unlikely to succeed. Equally, the inventory process must be impartial so as not to have any argument of bias.

Fair Wear and Tear as defined by the House of Lords is “the reasonable use of the premises by the tenant and the ordinary operation of natural forces (i.e. the passage of time)”.

Our standard working hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. However, we will endeavour to meet the clients’ needs and may be able to work occasional evenings or weekends if notice is given in advance.

As we spend much of our day driving or dictating reports, it can be difficult to answer the phone at times. Therefore, it may be better to send us an email to info@thegrovegroup.co.uk.

We cover all west London, north-west London, east Berkshire, south Buckinghamshire and north Surrey. If you are close by and are unsure if we cover your area, please do get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate.

Our property inventory reports are produced using a dictaphone and our typing team. We then proofread the reports in the office and add the photographs, meter readings and any other details which need to be included. A PDF version of the report is then emailed to the client and directly to the tenant if requested.

You will receive the completed report by email, in a PDF format, within 48 hours of us conducting the job. Reports can be completed within 24 hours when requested.

We require payment prior to completion of one-off bookings. For regular clients, we require payment within 14 days of our invoice being sent.