Inventory FAQ's

“What is an Inventory?”

An inventory is a fair and accurate description of any property at the time of inspection. It should cover all areas including the front and rear garden, garages, outhouses and sheds as well as all of the internal rooms, furnishings and the condition.

“So can’t I just do it myself?”

Well yes, you could do it yourself, however it is NOT advisable. Landlord and tenant reports tend to be biased towards one party and are therefore not recognised as fair documents should the deposit end up in a tenancy dispute. Also, items tend to be missed out from landlord or tenant inventory reports as the person doing them does not always know what to look for, We are experienced and professional clerks and make sure we are fully prepared for any eventuality!

“I can do that, so why use Torbay Inventory Company?”

There are a number of reasons why you should use Torbay Inventory Company. We have been in the industry since 2004, successfully building relationships with letting agents and adapting our report style to fit everyone’s requirements. We are unbiased and independent, qualities we pride ourselves on. Landlords return to us time and time again as they feel secure in the knowledge of a service that ensures their property has been reported to a market level of satisfaction. Along with the experience within the industry, we provide ‘the complete package’, our office is manned between 9am and 6pm during the weekdays and 9am to 1pm at the weekends this means that there is always someone on hand should you ever have any problems. All you have to do to book a job is email info@torbayinventorycompany.co.uk with the details of the address and size of property, along with what time and day you’d like the job and we’ll do the rest.

“What does my money pay for?”

Once you have emailed the booking to us, you will receive notification that the job is booked in. On the day of the confirmed booking, a Torbay Inventory Company Clerk will attend the property and carry out the report. Our comprehensive property inventory software means that we complete the report there and then. We do not reply on lengthy longhand notes or dictation. We take photos from the device which embeds straight into the report. We will take meter readings as standard to record the information we need. If it is a check in or check out we will use a report we have, either our own or one by another company and make notes accordingly. The Photographs are also taken as standard, to show cleanliness and condition of the property and its contents. At check in’s and check out’s we also complete the signed declaration, the report is uploaded and sent to you.

If the report is ready, then it can be emailed from the property at the appointment – providing immediate access to the report. In some cases this may take up to 12 working hours. This would only occur if, email connection was not possible at the property, or if extra formatting was required due to additions or amendments made by the tenant and or Clerk.

“What is a Signed Declaration?”

At check in’s and check out’s we also obtain a signature from the tenants to show that they have received the keys and that they agree on the overall condition of the property at the time we attended. Meter readings are also taken at this point so you can advise the utility companies accordingly.

“Do I have to be there?”

No. We can collect the keys from you, the landlord, the tenant or the managing agent and return them if necessary. We are also happy to sign keys over to tenants or sign keys back in to us.

“What if I need to cancel or move the appointment?”

It’s not a problem, just give us as much notice as possible. We won't charge you for moving or cancelling a job as long as our clerk is not already there or on their way (so you can cancel a booking about an hour and a half before and it should be fine). If our clerk is already there or on their way to the property then there will be a £30.00 charge, which is simply covers their costs for time and petrol.

“When will I get my report?”

Reports are sent out via email within 12 working hours of completing the report, we understand that in Lettings often there is a quick turnaround time and the last thing anyone wants is to be held up waiting for the report! If you require hard copies of the report we can send these out too, free of charge of course!

“Who do I pay?”

Payments can be made by cash, cheque or bank transfer. Unless you have an account with us, payment must be made and cleared before we attend the property. Please contact us for our bank details. Please make sure that you use the invoice number as your reference number, so that we can allocate your payment correctly.

“What if I need to talk to someone about the report?”

There will always be someone available at Torbay Inventory Company should you need to talk anything through. You are also welcome to pass on our details to landlords / tenants or managing agents if necessary. We can be contacted by telephone on 01803 431 536 or by email at info@torbayinventorycompany.co.uk

“If I have cause for complaint who do I speak to?”

Should an issue arise, please put it in writing to info@torbayinventorycompany.co.uk , we will respond to you within 1 working day to try to solve the problem or issue. If you want to make any comments about the report these must be received within 14 days in writing to info@torbayinventorycompany.co.uk , these comments will be passed to the clerk and the report updated if they agree with your comments. If they do not agree a revisit may be required, we will book this with you at a time which is convenient for you.