Due to the fact that not all citizens of our country have their own housing, the demand for rented apartments does not decrease, and demand, as we know, creates supply from those who have free living space. Often, the rental of housing occurs through the banal transfer of keys and money, which makes both parties to the commercial relationship unprotected in the face of a number of circumstances.
A guarantee that the parties’ agreement to rent premises will be mutually executed by both the lessor and the tenant is a written real estate lease agreement signed by the parties. In order to avoid unfavorable consequences and disputes related to rented housing, it is required to make an inventory of the property when renting out the apartment, handing over the keys to the tenant on the basis of the acceptance certificate. This article describes what an inventory of property includes when renting out an apartment, and what the acceptance certificate should be when renting housing.
An inventory of property assets when renting out living space can be included in the lease agreement itself, or can be drawn up as an annex to the main agreement. Sometimes the rented premises are bare walls, but in some cases the rooms are rented fully furnished and ready to move in. Any things, equipment, furniture tend to wear out or fail sooner or later. Thus, an inventory of property allows us to minimize the likelihood of conflict situations that may arise in the future.
For example, the owner may unreasonably demand the cost of washing machine, which was not in working condition at the time of check-in, or, conversely, the landlord will suffer losses due to the fact that expensive furniture was damaged by the tenants. Without making an inventory of the property when renting out an apartment, it is virtually impossible for either party to prove their case.
That is why, when moving in and signing a rental agreement for residential premises, special attention must be paid to a detailed description of the property included with the apartment - this is important both for the owner of the premises and for future residents.
How to compose and sample
Sample property inventory form for renting out an apartmentThe document is drawn up in a simple writing. The author is the owner of the property, who must indicate in detail in the document exactly what property is being transferred for use together with the residential premises. Before signing, the tenant can make his own adjustments.
The size of the document is not regulated. This will largely depend on how large the list of property assets transferred for use is. So, in an apartment with bare walls, the inventory may only include metering devices, plumbing equipment and a cooking stove, while in a fully furnished home the list can stretch over several pages. Any property that is valuable to the owner can be included in the inventory:
- Technique. When adding household appliances to the inventory, you must indicate the serial number of the product, color, distinctive features, year of issue;
- Furniture. In the absence of serial numbers, it is recommended to describe the furniture as accurately as possible, indicating color, condition, quantity and other identifying characteristics;
- Plumbing equipment;
- Small items, kitchen utensils, dishes;
- It is imperative to include all existing meters in the inventory, recording current readings, indicating their serviceability and the presence of seals.
Note! Separately, the document can indicate items that residents are prohibited from using, items of increased value, as well as any conditions that guarantee the safety of valuable property.
After reading the document, the tenant can make his own amendments or make comments to the document. For example, if the inspection reveals a plumbing leak that is not listed in the description, the tenant will need to note this on the document. After the parties to the contract have compared the description with the inspection of the premises and come to an agreement on all points of the document, the actual transfer of the keys to the new residents occurs. The transfer of housing is carried out on the basis of an acceptance certificate.
Important! An inventory of property when renting out an apartment can be drawn up as a separate list, as an appendix to the lease agreement, or the inventory can be included in the lease agreement itself. Then the transfer of housing for use by the tenant will occur on the basis of a transfer and acceptance certificate.
How to draw up an act
Like the inventory of property itself, the transfer and acceptance certificate is prepared in simple written form. The document is drawn up in two copies for each party. The act contains the following information:
- Personal identification data of the parties, including full name, passport data, passport registration;
- Address of location of rental housing;
- The date when the acceptance and transfer of housing takes place;
- List of property assets, according to the inventory;
- Signatures of the parties.
The deed can include information about the condition of the property that was current at the time of transfer. So, if the property inventory lists a working electric kettle, and at the time of transfer it was discovered that the kettle, although working, has some defects (for example, there is no automatic shutdown of the device when it boils), it is necessary to indicate the existing problem in the act.
After the rental agreement expires, when returning the apartment, the owner will have to draw up another transfer and acceptance certificate, this time from the tenant to the landlord. If, at the time of returning the property to the owner, the acceptance certificates contain different information regarding the property used, all responsibility for damaged and disabled items will fall on the tenant.
The rental transaction must be formalized accordingly. To do this, you need to draw up a lease agreement. An inventory of the property must be attached to this agreement.
In this article you can find all the necessary information in order to correctly draw up a property inventory act.
How to correctly draw up a property inventory act
An inventory of property is needed in order to avoid unnecessary disputes between the parties to a rental agreement regarding the property located in the apartment.
In this list it is necessary to present all the items that are transferred for use to the tenant along with the apartment for a specified period of use.
The property inventory act allows the landlord to obtain a guarantee that the tenant will fulfill his duties in good faith.
When drawing up an inventory of property, you should specify in detail all the characteristics of things:
the correct name of the items that are rented together with the apartment;
features of each item, which include color, shape and model;
Production year;
quantity.
The tenant must be extremely careful when drawing up the deed. If specific damage or breakage of items is discovered, this should be indicated in the report.
In the absence of marks of this kind, the items are considered to be rented without damage and in perfect condition.
The following characteristics should also be included in the act:
price;
degree of damage.
To indicate the appropriate value of each item, you need to subtract the degree of wear and tear of 30% from its original price.
These characteristics may be needed in cases where it is necessary to assess the damage caused to property and its monetary value. But you need to know that the cost and degree of damage to property are established by agreement of both parties to the rental agreement.
Features of drawing up a property inventory act
The document must be drawn up in two copies, in simple written form. The act must indicate the full names and passport details of the parties. The document must be dated and signed by both parties with their transcript.
The act is drawn up 2 times during the entire rental period. The first is before entering the residential area, the second is before the parties are going to terminate their contract. Before signing, you should check all items for integrity and safety.
If the condition of the property does not correspond to the description of the first inventory report, the landlord may make claims against the tenant.
Below is located standard form and a sample property inventory report, a version of which can be downloaded for free.
To avoid various troubles when renting an apartment, you need to draw up a legally correct agreement that guarantees the protection of your interests. What is an inventory for an apartment rental agreement? It is a document that describes a real estate property that is owned. This facility will be used by the tenant. Such a document acts as an annex to the lease agreement at the time of the transaction.
It is very important to make an inventory of the objects and belongings in the residential premises before renting out the property - not only for the owner of the property, but also for the tenant.
If any controversial situation arises - for example, one of the things gets damaged or goes missing, this document will help the home owner protect own rights. Or tenants will be protected and they will not be able to make unfounded claims.
For example, a tenant may be told that he stole household appliances that were not in the apartment from the very beginning.
Therefore, as soon as the tenant receives the keys to the property, he must check the things in the premises with those indicated on the list. I'll have to see if they're damaged.
If disagreements arise, a property inventory form is drawn up (which reflects all points of this kind).
Who is responsible for compiling such an inventory?
The inventory is compiled twice - the first time this happens when the tenant receives the keys to the building, the second time when he returns the apartment to the owner after the expiration of the temporary period of the agreement.
- The first time the list is compiled by the owner of the property. It includes in the list all the things that were in the apartment on the day it was handed over to the tenant. But the potential tenant has the right to list any changes affecting the property.
- The second situation is when the owner gets his home back. Then the tenant describes the property. He describes in detail everything that is in the building, plus all kinds of changes.
This procedure is very important and responsible compared to the first. It provides the opportunity to exclude various claims from the owner of the property after the apartment has been vacated.
A sample inventory of property when renting out an apartment is as follows.
What form is the document in?
There are no restrictions that directly reflect how exactly the inventory of property is required.
Both a handwritten version and an electronic version (typed on a laptop) are possible.
You can also use a mixed method - for example, print out a general list of property as a table, but leave empty lines in which the owner and tenant will personally enter the noted deficiencies during the inspection of the property.
The inventory can be both a separate document and part of the lease agreement. In the first situation, it must include the following information:
- Full names, addresses and passport information of all parties to the process.
- Information about the rental agreement.
- Address and specifications apartment in which this property is located.
How to correctly draw up an inventory of property in an apartment yourself?
A few words about the contents of the document.
Many people ask the pressing question - what needs to be reflected in the inventory? It must be compiled in such a way that not only the items available in the housing, but also the state of communication systems are covered as much as possible.
The home owner has the right to include literally everything he needs in the inventory. It can be drawn up as one list or describe each part of the apartment separately.
You can also make a list of things that are prohibited from being used outside the apartment (or that cannot be touched at all).
The inventory may reflect:
- Furniture that is available in the housing.
- Household appliances and all electronic devices.
- Description of sockets and lighting switches.
- Condition of plumbing.
- What is the condition of the kitchen appliances, as well as gas pipes and shut-off valves?
- All existing dishes and small interior items (decorations) can be described.
- What condition are the metering devices in?
How detailed does everything need to be described? When compiling it, it is necessary to describe in detail all the differences and nuances that exist between objects. This will help resolve the issue (if any conflict situation) - the item was damaged at the hands of the tenants or it was so before they moved into the apartment.
The homeowner has the right to reflect in the inventory the market price of each transferred item.
In addition to this written inventory, photographs of buildings and appliances may be taken before the tenant moves in. These images will in the future become part of the inventory - its applications.
The tenant can also photograph any identified damage to the furniture or in the building - thus, he will prove that they arose before his entry into someone else’s home.
How to inspect a living space?
We study the housing slowly, so that there are no unpleasant surprises later.
The owner has the right to include all required items in the inventory, but changes can always be made by a potential tenant. You can reflect all damage and scratches, check whether the equipment works?
The home inspection algorithm should look like this:
- We study all provided property. Let's say: on a red carpet located on the wall there is a yellow round spot. Or the furniture is damaged, the chairs are wobbly. Such nuances should be reflected in the inventory.
- We inspect household and electronic appliances. We must include the model, the year it was produced and the serial number of the device. For example: Tefal electric kettle, serial number missing, damage detected - when it boils, it does not turn off automatically.
- We study sockets and switches. If defects are found, they must be reflected in the inventory. Let's say: the socket in the bedroom, located near the door, does not charge the tablet.
- We inspect plumbing equipment. We check the operation of taps and drainage systems, and see if there are any leaks.
- Next, the kitchen stove is checked. If it is a gas type, check each burner separately. If the stove is electric, we study the lighting of the indicator lamps directly on the stove. We study the operation of the oven.
- We make sure that there are no chips, scratches or damage on the dishes and other small items. If they exist, we reflect this in the inventory.
- And lastly, we study metering devices. We examine in detail all the meters in the apartment and check whether the seals are in good order. We record the testimony. The homeowner must make sure that he has no arrears in paying utility bills.
Damaged property upon concluding a lease agreement
Often, the owner of the apartment and the tenant argue over damage to property.
There is such a thing as natural wear and tear. Both repairs and furniture and appliances have their own specific operational time period.
And if property deteriorates, which, in the opinion of the employer, can be considered normal wear and tear, he sometimes refuses to provide compensation to the owner.
The owner of the property will be protected by an agreement in which the extent of the tenant’s liability for damage to property can be specified. The photographs taken before the tenant moved in and after the damage was discovered will also serve as evidence. Thus, the owner has every chance of ending the trial in his favor.
- But investigations will always be required - the equipment has broken down due to the fact that its useful life has come to an end or because it was used improperly.
- To avoid litigation, it is better to obtain insurance for your rental property in advance. This advice is given by all specialists.
How does a property inventory help?
The inventory is important for both parties entering into a rental agreement.
- The tenant will thus not receive any claims from the apartment owner. The landlord, with the help of this document, will ensure the integrity and safety of his home. Substitution will be excluded.
- After the lease agreement expires, the parties will sign the acceptance certificate, they will go their separate ways without reproaches, and if disputes do arise, the inventory will perfectly protect their interests in court.
When renting out residential premises, the main thing is to correctly draw up a rental agreement and inventory. To ensure that the employer behaves responsibly and the landlord does not worry about trifles, it is worth using a security deposit.
Frequently asked questions from landlords and tenants
Question: We rented housing. The owner of the premises assured that the apartment had household appliances. We paid for the first 30 days of stay, but we did not find a refrigerator or washing machine. For a month we lived without these items, and only in the second month did we get a refrigerator, and in the third - a washing machine. Of course, we paid for the second month with a smaller amount, because the promised equipment was not available. The landlord started threatening to evict us. The question is: does he have the right to kick us out of the apartment, given that most of the amount was paid by us?
Answer: When concluding a lease agreement, you need to agree on all the details. It is necessary to make an inventory of the property and all items located in the apartment. If there is no such document, you will not prove your position in any way.
Question: Do I have the right to take photographs with my phone of defects discovered during an inspection of the apartment I am going to rent?
Answer: Yes, you have. And it’s even better to make a whole video to be calm later.