The check-in report is your most powerful piece of evidence in any deposit dispute. It establishes the condition of the property on the day you moved in, and every deduction your landlord attempts at the end of the tenancy will be measured against it. If your check-in report shows that the bathroom had mould, the kitchen worktop had burn marks, and the carpet had stains before you arrived, your landlord can't hold you responsible for those issues when you leave (and believe us, many will try!)
Some landlords commission a professional check-in report produced by an independent inventory clerk. If this happens, check it carefully when you receive it. Walk through the property and compare every entry against what you can actually see. If anything is inaccurate, incomplete, or understated, note your disagreements in writing and take your own photographs as a backup.
Many landlords don't provide a check-in report at all. In these cases, any evidence you create yourself becomes the only evidence that exists. Photograph every room, every surface, every fixture. Capture close-up shots of any pre-existing damage, wear, or cleanliness issues.
The deposit protection schemes decide disputes on the balance of evidence. If neither party has a check-in report, the adjudicator has no way to determine what condition the property was in at the start of the tenancy, and deposit deductions become very difficult to resolve fairly. A detailed, timestamped check-in report shifts the balance of evidence firmly in your favour.
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