As the agreed entry date approaches, you are aiming towards:

• making last minute checks
• drawing up an inventory
• meeting the tenant to transfer occupancy.

Making Final Checks

A final check of your property’s readiness, confirmation of completion of the lease and receipt of the deposit are all necessary in the run-up to handing over the keys to your property.

Checking your property’s readiness

Any last minute repairs or work must be finished. Your tenant has every right to expect all these to be complete unless there has been mutual agreement on any exceptions beforehand. It is in your own interests, too, to have all work finished, as your access to the property when your tenant moves in will be severely restricted.

Checking the lease and payments

Before allowing your tenant access to your property, make certain that:

1. The lease has been signed and is fully complete.
2. The deposit has been received.
3. The first rent payment has been received (unless the rent is payable in arrears).

Consult your solicitor or agent if you have any remaining doubts about giving the keys to your new tenant.

CASE STUDY

Morag has overlooked a defect

Demonstrating the functioning of the door intercom/ security system to her new tenant, Morag discovers that it does not work. Although she had checked all the other devices and appliances were working beforehand, she missed out the door entry system because it required two people to check it and whenever she had remembered, she was alone.

Embarrassed to have a breakdown at the very start of the tenancy, Morag promises to have the system repaired as soon as possible. She feels disappointed and annoyed with herself for having made a bad start. If only she had made the effort to check the system was fully functional earlier, she could have saved herself the discomfort of appearing inadequately prepared and the inconvenience of having to make access arrangements with her tenant for repairs.