Two Moments That Decide Everything
Most tenant disputes arise not mid-contract but at its ends: at handover when nothing is documented, and at move-out when a deduction has no reference.
What a Handover Record Must Contain
- Date, time, and attendees
- Condition of each room with brief description and dated photos
- Meter readings at handover
- Contents list for furnished units
- Number and types of keys handed over
- Existing faults, explicitly documented
- Both parties signatures with a copy each
Item six is the most overlooked and most important — recording pre-existing faults protects the tenant from being charged and the owner from later emergency claims.
Meter Readings: Small Detail, Large Impact
Not recording readings at handover means the previous period bill may land on the new tenant. A common dispute caused by one unrecorded number.
Key Management
Track: how many copies exist, who holds each, a signed handover log, and a clear policy for extra copies.
The critical rule: on tenant change, replace the cylinder — do not merely collect the key. The number of keys returned does not prove how many were made.
Move-Out: The Same Discipline
Repeat the steps: photos from identical angles, meter readings, contents inventory, and key count. Compare against the handover record item by item. Deductions based on this documented comparison are rarely contested.