Recent research has revealed that landlords and letting agents are currently winning more inventory disputes than tenants for the first time since the introduction of the 2007 Tenant Deposit Scheme.
Figures from the Tenant Deposit Scheme Annual Review for 2015 show that 19.8 per cent of all disputes raised by landlords or agents resulted in 100 per cent pay outs in their favour, while just 19.2 per cent of disputes resulted in 100 per cent pay outs to tenants.
In the remaining 61 per cent of cases in 2015, the sum disputed was split between both parties.
This marks the first time in 8 years that landlords and agents came out on top, following common criticisms that UK Courts are often biased towards tenants.
Jax Kneppers, Chief Executive of property surveyors, Imfuna Let Testing, said: “More and more landlords and agents are recognising the power of digital professional inventories and mid-term inspections and this is why the balance is starting to shift.
Many landlords and agents are ensuring that the condition of the property is fully recorded at the start of the tenancy, with a comprehensive inventory, along with a thorough check-in and check-out report,” he said.
Mr Kneppers believes that the recent shift in dispute pay outs is a sign that UK landlords and agents are beginning to present better documented evidence at adjudications.