For commercial landlords or tenants the potential for disputes over the condition of a property can be every bit as acute as for residential tenancies – more so if insurance companies get involved. The remedy, however, is just as straightforward for commercial premises.

A comprehensive inspection to put together an inventory and Schedule of Conditions at the start of the tenancy will provide a clear record of the nature and condition of the property and its contents, fixtures and fittings, meter readings and photographs. This is used to compare with the report and Schedule of Dilapidations compiled at the end of the tenancy, so all parties can see if and to what extent the condition of the property has changed over time.

Having used an independent service with fully trained and accredited clerks, you can have the confidence that your interests will be protected, and that there will be one less thing to worry about when renting your property.

By comparing the initial Schedule of Conditions with the final Schedule of Dilapidations, both sides can clearly see any changes over the lifetime of the tenancy, reducing or eliminating the room for disagreement.

But if there is still a dispute, the inspection report will provide vital proof about the relative state of the property at the beginning and end of the tenancy. For residential properties the report constitutes important evidence under the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme, designed to adjudicate between the parties and to reach a settlement. For landlords, required by law to prove that any deductions from a tenant’s deposit are justified, a comprehensive, professionally compiled report could mean the difference between being able to withhold sums necessary to make good any damage or mess, and being considerably out of pocket.

With the courts and those adjudicating such disputes often seeming to favour tenants in the absence of firm evidence, the cost of a thorough inspection and inventory report is money well spent.