Posts Tagged "The AIIC"

Revealed – why professional inventory management training is so important

Inventories allow landlords and letting agents to keep on top of their property portfolios and limit potential loss of income from tenant disputes.

The level of professionalism, accuracy, and expertise of the inventory will contribute to the outcome of the tenancy.

Like with all industries, the right skills, knowledge, and abilities must be acquired to get the best result, and training provides exactly this.

Therefore, landlords and letting agents who recognise the necessity of inventory management training will be able to manage their properties effectively.

Trained professionals take less time

Inventory management training courses are not only aimed at those aspiring to become inventory clerks. Instead, new, associate members, interested parties and experienced clerks who wish to gain more confidence in their inventory reporting skills and refresh their knowledge are also welcome to undergo professional training.

Landlords and letting agents who choose to carry out their own inventories can receive the appropriate training. This will equip them with skills from knowledgeable sources about how to conduct these professionally and efficiently.

By delegating this task to accredited inventory clerks more time can be saved, as this will allow landlords and letting agents to focus on other important areas of their job.

Furthermore, professional inventories provide letting agents and landlords with all details about their properties contained in one easy to access place. This helps to save time as it makes tracking the status of the property simple and straightforward.

Less room for mistakes

Mistakes and inconsistencies with inventory reports can cost a landlord thousands of pounds in the long term. However, relying on someone who has been professionally trained to do them will reduce the risk of this happening.

Property inventory management training presents an opportunity to accumulate accurate knowledge about how to properly compile and analyse an inventory.

During training sessions, all the relevant information is covered including how to conduct reports, what to include, safety procedures, compliance issues, how to read meters, check outs and apportioning liability for damages and more.

Professional inventory management training is conducted in a way that is standardised therefore it limits the chances of vital information being missed. The more standardised this training is the less room there is for mistakes.

Training will improve the letting industry

Professional inventory management training can drastically improve the overall standard of tenancies and reduce the amount of disputes proceeding to arbitration.

Often, gaps in knowledge are what lead to mistakes. Therefore, if this gap was filled through the appropriate training more tenancies could be improved.

Inventories, that are done by a trained independent clerk make tenancies easier to manage and monitor. While certifications that are gained once the training is complete, allow people to easily recognise who is qualified to manage the inventory.

Inventories that are carried out by independent people who have the relevant qualifications will be done to the highest standard and prevent losses from being incurred. They will also help to simplify the lettings process for tenants, letting agents, and landlords.

As an agent or landlord, you want to protect your investments and establish smooth transitions from one tenant to the next. Here at The AIIC, we are dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability in the inventory process and have been endorsing high levels of professionalism in the inventory business since 1996.

It is our mission to ensure proper information and training is provided and our bank of highly skilled members will provide the best possible service. For more information, please contact us or search for your local AIIC member clerk now.

You can also download a copy of our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice guide here.

Published on 01/12/2022 | Tags: Inventories, Inventory Management, Inventory Training, Landlord, Letting Agent, The AIIC, Training | Category: Blog | Comments Off on Revealed – why professional inventory management training is so important

What role does tech play with property inventories?

Inventories are used to help prevent disputes at the end of a tenancy. These vital documents allow accurate comparisons of the condition of the property at the start and end of the tenancy to be made.

When it comes to property inventories, technology plays an increasingly large role. Reliable technology can be utilised to store written, photographic, and video evidence digitally, and also help to make the process faster and more effective.

Professional inventory clerks are trained to use different devices and software to carry out these checks efficiently and accurately.

Make inventories more efficient

Technology helps to make inventories more efficient because of the ease-of-use different software and devices can provide.

As the market continues to develop, we can expect the inventory process to become ever more digitised. For example, conducting reports through smart devices and inventory management software is becoming more common.

Easy access to these important documents online helps to cut down time. The possibility of losing these in the mail is also ruled out, which then prevents time-wasting delays.

At present, the level of demand continues to outweigh the number of rental properties available in the PRS. For this reason, along with the aims of many tenants to move in ahead of the Christmas rush, the market remains very busy.

During this busy period, landlords and letting agents will have much to focus on, but technology can assist by making sure that efficiency and accuracy is maintained when it comes to inventories.

Inventories include evidence about fixtures, furniture, fittings, and decorations. The condition of these various elements is not only noted in detail, but high-quality videos and images can improve their usefulness further still.

Overall, the process of recording these intricate details can be time-consuming. Nonetheless, inventory software helps by making details about the property easy to track and display.

Most inventories are also now signed online by all parties to ensure the process is smoother and easier to track.

Make inventories more accurate and precise

An inventory that has not been conducted with precision could cost a landlord thousands of pounds in the long term.

If it fails to demonstrate the condition, cleanliness and contents of a property, it will be extremely difficult to make a successful claim. Whether taking images or date-stamping information, it must be a true reflection of the condition at the start and end of a tenancy.

The more accurate the inventory, the easier it will be to demonstrate whether the tenant is liable for any expenses.

Technology, when used properly, can support more accurate and robust inventories, enabling landlords to keep comprehensive records of every tenancy.

For this reason, it is vital that the individuals carrying out the inventories have a thorough understanding of how to use the technology at their disposal to improve the inventory process.

At the AIIC, all our members are trained to provide the best possible service. Our independent inventory clerks are equipped to use devices to capture clear videos and images. They are also trained to use professional software to correctly log and store the information.

As an agent or landlord, you want to protect your investments and establish smooth transitions from one tenant to the next. We are dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability in the inventory process and have been endorsing high levels of professionalism in the inventory business since 1996.

You can also download a copy of our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice guide here.

Published on 04/11/2022 | Tags: Digital Records, Independent Inventory, Inventories, Landlord., Letting Agent, Proptech, Technology, The AIIC | Category: Blog | Comments Off on What role does tech play with property inventories?

Deposit disputes – how to protect your rental property

It’s highly probable that anyone who has ever rented a property will know about deposits, and for landlords across the nation, taking a deposit from a tenant is an important part of securing your investment and protecting your property against damage.

Ideally, your tenant will leave the property in immaculate condition when they move out. However, the reality can sometimes look different. Some tenants won’t restore your property to its original form when they hand the keys back – be it damaged sofas, miscellaneous items left in kitchen cupboards or even broken windows.

When this is the case, landlords are left with no other choice but to deduct money from the tenant’s deposit. Some tenants will be understanding and have no complaints with this; however, others will not let their money go without a fight – leading to deposit disputes and deductions.

Although deposit disputes only occur in less than 1% of tenancies, they can cause significant losses, and that’s without equating how emotionally draining this sort of situation can be for both parties involved.

As a landlord, or an agent acting on your landlord’s behalf, you will be eager to protect your investments and establish smooth transitions from one tenant to the next, which is why here at the AIIC have written this blog to explain how you can protect your rental property if you ever find yourself in a deposit dispute.

The return of deposit

Once a tenancy ends, it is the responsibility of you as the landlord and property owner to return the tenant’s deposit in a timely fashion. For insured protection schemes where you have held the money from a deposit yourself, you must return the deposit within 10 days.

If the money is held by the deposit protection agency, such as with custodial schemes, then the landlord and tenant must agree on how much of the deposit is returned and inform the administrator.

Once the amount returned has been agreed upon, which can be anywhere from 0% to 100% of the deposit, the tenancy deposit (TDS) scheme will typically release the funds back to the tenant within two days.

As stated above, this process usually runs smoothly, however it’s important to understand, in certain cases, what a landlord can deduct from a deposit and why disputes are raised in the first place.

Justifications for deducting from a deposit

There are a number of reasons why deposit disputes can occur, starting off with rent arrears and unpaid bills since these are the two most common things landlords deduct from deposits.

Surprisingly, rent arrears only accounted for 15% of contested deposits in 2021, which suggests that tenants will find it challenging to raise a deposit dispute as long as you can provide adequate evidence of rent arrears.

In the instance of a dispute over the deposit, if the tenant asks the adjudicator to investigate this deduction, the adjudicator will have to allow the landlord to keep this money as the tenant has failed to observe one of their basic contractual obligations, payment of rent.

The situation becomes complicated when the adjudicator won’t be able to consider the tenant’s reasons for failing to pay rent and cannot make a ruling based on whether or not the tenant is entitled to ‘compensation’ because the tenant alleges that the landlord has failed to carry out repairs or otherwise provided a ‘poor’ service.

Tenants who believe that they are justified can choose to try and recover their deposit through the Small Claims Court, rather than using the deposit dispute resolution service, but this can prove costly and very time-consuming, particularly now when the courts have such large backlogs.

Additional reasons for landlords deducting money from a deposit also include if the landlord’s contents have been stolen or damaged by a tenant, the property itself has sustained damage directly related to the tenant, the property has been left in disarray, or if the tenant has left items in the property and not arranged for them to be collected.

The importance of inventory and taking legal action

Your inventory will often be the golden nugget needed if a deposit dispute ensues, as the check-in document will detail the exact condition of the property, and this can then be compared to the check-out report.

The information provided in the tenancy agreement will also be vital because this will clearly outline your expectations as the landlord as well as the obligations of the tenant towards the property.

During the check-out process, the level of detail contained within both the inventory and the check-out is important as this will greatly contribute to the evidence you need to provide if deciding to take legal action. Legal action should only be taken as a last resort, with all the government-approved deposit protection schemes having mediation services to try and ensure it doesn’t reach this stage.

If the tenant decides to contest deposit deductions, they have up to three months after the tenancy has ended to raise the dispute with the TDS. If a letting agent manages your property, it’s worth asking them to provide you with relevant information on where the tenant’s deposit is registered and what the deadlines are.

When the time comes, after you have collated evidence to support your claim, and handed it in, the adjudication process can start. For custodial deposits, the independent adjudicator has 28 days to arrive at a decision, meaning that it can take up to six weeks, although it’s usually quicker.

While the dispute is ongoing, you can still reach an agreement with the tenant if you decide to talk to each other about the claim. However, once the adjudicator has made their decision, funds will be awarded which will be final and binding.

Best practice – avoid deposit disputes

Going through the process of deposit disputes can be tiresome and costly, so clear and consistent expectations at the very start of the tenancy are the very best way to avoid these disagreements.

As the landlord, it will be your duty to provide a detailed list of expectations that need to be met to get the entirety of the deposit back. This will in turn give a solid guideline for returning the property to the same condition it was when they took possession. Inventories also play a major part in allowing for clear and transparent comparisons regarding the condition of the property at the start and end of a tenancy, and also – if you carry out a mid-term inspection – the middle of a tenancy as well.

Here at AIIC, we are dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability in the inventory process along with deposits and have been endorsing high levels of professionalism in the inventory business since 1996.

You can also download a copy of our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice guide here.

Published on 09/09/2022 | Tags: Decent Homes Standard, Inventory Clerk, Property Management, The AIIC | Category: Uncategorised | Comments Off on Deposit disputes – how to protect your rental property

Revealed – what landlords need to know about The Decent Homes Standard

The Decent Homes Standard for the social housing sector was first published in February 2004, but has since been updated and amended a number of times.

Recently, the long-awaited “A fairer private rented sector” White Paper was finally released after months of delay and outlined that under the Renters’ Reform Bill the Decent Homes Standard will be extended to the private rented sector as well.

Statistics show that, in 2019, 23.3% of private rental homes were non-decent and 12.3% of social housing was non-decent. The government aims to develop the housing market by further improving the existing standards.

Landlords must familiarise themselves with the Decent Homes Standard and make improvements to their properties to remain compliant and keep their homes free from danger as the legalities surrounding UK rental properties intensify.

Alterations to the Decent Homes Standard

The fundamental details of the of the Decent Homes Standard are that the home is in a ‘reasonable state of repair’. Across the home this covers electrical installations, boilers, doors, roofs, windows, chimney, gas appliances and plumbing. Any home that requires work in more than two of the areas listed will not meet the standard.

For the first time, the same standard of rules and guidelines are set to apply to both the social and private rented sectors. By extending the guidelines, the government hopes to significantly reduce the number of non-decent homes by 2030.

Currently, there are a total of 29 hazards that get assessed under the Decent Homes Standard and these are given a score up to 1,000. Scores over 1,000 do not meet the standards and could put tenants in danger.

The home must meet four pieces of criteria. The minimum standard for housing must be met, it must be in a reasonable state of repair, reasonably modern facilities must be installed, and reasonable thermal comfort must be provided.

Under the new guidelines for rented housing, a home that is qualified as ‘decent’ must be ‘free from the most serious health and safety hazards, such as fall risks, fire risks, or carbon monoxide poisoning’.

Inventories help to maintain standards

The number of health problems and issues that are directly caused by non-decent housing can be reduced by following the Decent Homes Standards to the letter and also by making use of professional inventories to nip any long-term problems in the bud early on.

By getting the appropriate work done around the home and checking all facilities are in working condition, landlords can prevent their homes from falling into disrepair or accidents happening.

A comprehensive check-in inspection report, combined with mid-term inspections during the tenancy and a thorough check-out inspection report at the end, are necessary to ensure the tenancy is hazard-free. Comparisons from the start, duration and end of the tenancy can then be made.

Inventories provide assurance and certainty as they are time-stamped and provide a timeframe of deterioration of the home. These important reports make it easy to identify and resolve issues that could be detrimental to a tenant’s health.

By inviting a professional inventory clerk into the home to conduct checks, landlords can be confident that the status of their home is recorded fairly and accurately. As independent assessors with experience in the sector, they are qualified to conduct these checks in an unbiased manner.

Landlords who provide decent homes from the start can rely on inventories as a source of protection that demonstrate the home was in good condition and that the landlord is compliant.

Overall, both the Decent Homes Standard and inventories support the view that tenants have the right to adequate housing. Inventories help adhere to these standards and expose landlords who do not.

As an agent or landlord, you want to protect your investments and establish smooth transitions from one tenant to the next. Here at AIIC, we are dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability in the inventory process and have been endorsing high levels of professionalism in the inventory business since 1996.

You can also download a copy of our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice guide here.

Published on 12/08/2022 | Tags: Decent Homes Standard, Inventory Clerk, Property Management, The AIIC | Category: Blog | Comments Off on Revealed – what landlords need to know about The Decent Homes Standard