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Terms

Terms and Conditions

1       General

These are the Terms and Condition of Business for services provided between Hounslow Property Inventories as an independent inventory company and an Instructing Principal or Client. The commissioning of Services by an Instructing Principal on behalf of their Client or the Clients legal representative shall be deemed an agreement to these terms and conditions. 

2       Provision of Services

2.1   If the Client appoints an Instructing Principal as their representative for services carried out by Hounslow Property Inventories, it is the responsibility of the Instructing Principal and not that of Hounslow Property Inventories to make the Client is aware of our Terms & Conditions.

2.2   Hounslow Property Inventories do not recognise a plea of ignorance by either the Instructing Principal or that of the Client.

2.3   Please note Services cannot be exchanged and pricing options are only applicable in whole.

3       Fees

3.1   An Instructing Principal shall pay all fees due as the result of Services provided within the due date stated on the presented invoice.

3.2   If the Client is not represented by an Instructing Principal the Client will pay all fees due prior to the date and time of the Services.

3.3   It is the responsibility of the Instructing Principal commissioning Services to pay all fees for Services rendered to or on behalf of the Client in accordance with the scale of fees.

3.4   Hounslow Property Inventories reserves the right to apply interest charge for late payments for any fees more than 14 working days overdue from the date of invoice at the rate of 3% net added monthly. Interest will be applied both prior to and subsequent to any Court Judgement.

3.5  If in the event Services are commissioned and cannot be delivered, whether or not due to circumstances beyond the Instructing Principal or Client control and sufficient notice has not been made to Hounslow Property Inventories, of which ‘sufficient’ in this case constitutes 24 (twenty-four) hours, an abortive fee will be charged. The abortive fee will be 50% of the invoice total.

3.6  If an Instructing Principal or the Client fails to turn up at a pre-agreed time to attend a check-in or check-out appointment, a period of 25 minutes clemency will be permitted, after which the check-in or check-out will be completed and forwarded to the Instructing Principal or the Client to sign; Assuming that the Instructing Principal or the Client do not turn up before the completion of the check-in or check-out.  

3.7  Any discrepancies from the Instructing Principal or the Client, resulting in the check-in or check-out needing to be carried out again, will be treated as a completely separate service from the prior check-in or check-out and a new appointment will need to be made at full cost.

3.8  Any reports generated from Services delivered via any medium remain the sole property of Hounslow Property Inventories until all fees are paid in full. 

4       Disputes

4.1  Hounslow Property Inventories reserves the right not to attend Court for any disputes arising out of a dilapidation assessment between Clients if the Company’s representative did not attend a check-in appointment or sign on behalf of the Client. It has to be accepted that any time lapse between the completions of the inventory report and the check-in date cannot be independently verified by Hounslow Property Inventories. It has to be acknowledged that some alterations (any amount of damage, items removed or added) to the property may occur within this period.

4.2  Hounslow Property Inventories will, providing the original inventory for Services was provided and that this inventory report is signed by a Hounslow Property Inventories representative on behalf of the Client, go to court to argue any dilapidation assessments on termination of the tenancy, between Clients. A fee will be chargeable.

4.3  In the event of a dispute between Clients and all fees have not been paid in full any reports delivered from Services remain the sole property of Hounslow Property Inventories and therefore cannot legally be used without written permission in any Court of Law. 

5      Complaints

Any circumstances allegedly giving cause for complaint about Services provided or an invoice, must be notified by the Client or Instructing Principal on behalf of the Client within 3 (three) working days of the Services being completed or receipt of invoice and confirmed in writing no later than 7 (seven) working days as the cause of the alleged complaint arises.  The complaint will be investigated and action taken as necessary.

6      Services

6.1 The Report prepared by Hounslow Property Inventories is intended as an independent and informative guide to the Client about the condition of any fixtures, fittings, contents, furniture and décor.  The Report enables items to be visually identified, where possible items will be identified by their original manufacturer, however no attempt will be made to ascertain what period an item was produced.   The inventory clerk preparing the Report and /or check-in/out report is not an expert on fabrics, materials, antiques, etc., nor do they allege to be a qualified surveyor. The inventory report should under no circumstances be used as a structural survey report.

6.2   Inventory clerks will not undertake to move heavy and/or awkward items of furniture.

6.3   Inaccessible areas and loft spaces will not be searched or listed on the Report.

6.4   Hounslow Property Inventories does not accept any responsibility for any error or omission of data within a Report.

6.5   Unless otherwise stated, it is accepted that a listed item is in good condition and free from any defects, soiling or malfunction, which may constitute a dilapidation assessment on termination of tenancy.

6.6   It is important to note that any contents must be situated in their respective rooms as specified in the Report upon termination of the tenancy. Failure to do so can result in delay, this delay may encompass a search and match fee. The search and match fee will be additional to current scale of fees.

6.7    All measurements given are approximate.

6.8   Any plants, cleaning materials, light bulbs are considered perishable items and will not be listed on the Report.

6.9   All colours within the Report are to mean description of colour only and not that of any metals.

6.10  has the right to amend any part of the Service or pricing at their discretion in line with future market changes or updated legislation or deemed to be relevant by Hounslow Property Inventories.  In the event of any price changes, existing customers will be notified either in writing or verbally, of said changes before any additional services is booked.

6.11 The Report relates only to furniture, furnishings and all of the landlords’ equipment and contents in the property. It is no guarantee of, or report on, the adequacy of, or safety of any such equipment or contents, merely a documented record that such items exist within the property, at the date of the inventory and the superficial condition of the same.

6.12 All electrical items are considered complete with plugs, bulbs, flexes etc, unless otherwise specified.  When practical to do so appliances will be tested for power only. 

 6.13  Meter readings will be read and noted at the check-in and check-out appointment only.  It is the Clients’ responsibility to state the locations of any such meters. If unaware of, unable to locate or has unreasonable access to meters, the meters will remain unread, Hounslow Property Inventories will not revisit a property at a later stage on behalf of the Client or Instructing Principal to read a meter.

6.14 The Instructing Principal and/or Client is responsible for the security, heating, plumbing and meter usage of the property both pre and post Service.

7      Keys

Hounslow Property Inventories cannot accept responsibility for any lost or unaccounted keys. 

8      Dilapidations

On termination of the tenancy the Report is rechecked, any discrepancies and/or variations will be reported to the Instructing Principal or Client. The check-out report will indicate, in Hounslow Property Inventories opinion, as to whether there is any liability on the tenant, or whether such deterioration could be assessed as fair wear and tear. Fair wear and tear is assessed on the length of the tenancy and the type of occupancy, noting that certain items receive higher usage, we acknowledge that the contractual terms listed in the tenancy agreement may overrule the opinion of the assessor. 

9      Regulations

9.1  All regulations published by the Department of Trade and Industry / Trading Standards and/or similar bodies are the ultimate responsibility of the Instructing Principal or the Landlord.

9.2  The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994, amended by Statutory 1996, and The Regulations Re-enact 1998, where the Report notes that the certificate has been seen, this should not be interpreted to mean any records can be authenticated by Swift Inventories. It is not a statement that the item can be considered to comply with the required regulations, merely a documented note that the certificate existed on date of the inventory make. 

9.3  The Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 and The Plugs & Sockets etc Safety Regulations 1994, where the Report notes that the certificate has been seen, this should not be interpreted to mean any records can be authenticated by Swift Inventories. It is not a statement that the item can be considered to comply with the required regulations, merely a documented note that the certificate existed on date of the inventory make.

9.4  Where the Report notes ‘FFR label seen’, this should not be interpreted to mean that the item complies with the Furniture & Furnishings (Fire, Safety and Amendments) 1993. It is a record that the item had a label as described or similar to that detailed in Guides published by said bodies at the time of the inventory make. It is not a statement that the item can be considered to comply with the regulations. 

10    Exclusions of Liability and Indemnity

In the event that the Instructing Principal or Client give Hounslow Property Inventories instructions which are followed in good faith and which turn out to be unlawful or to result in an unlawful act or otherwise give rise to any kind of claim you will provide Hounslow Property Inventories with full indemnity for all penalties, damages, costs and legal expenses whatsoever which may occur as the result of following the instructions. 

11    Law and Jurisdiction 

12.1 This Contract shall be governed by English Law in every particular including formation and interpretation and shall be deemed to have been made in England.

12.2 Any proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Contract may be bought in any Court of competent jurisdiction in England whose Courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

12    Contract

No variation to these terms will be effective unless agreed in writing by an authorized signature of Hounslow Property Inventories.

13    Modifications of these Conditions of Use

Hounslow Property Inventories reserves the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately upon posting of such changes. You are therefore responsible for regularly reviewing these Terms and Conditions and additional terms or notices posted on this website. Your continued access of this website shall be deemed your conclusive acceptance of the modified agreement.

14    Disclaimer of Warranty/Limitation of Liability 

THIS WEBSITE AND RELATED INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY Hounslow Property Inventories, ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. Hounslow Property Inventories, MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR ENDORSEMENTS OF ANY KIND, OR AS TO THE OPERATION OF THIS WEBSITE OR THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS, OR PRODUCTS INCLUDED ON THIS WEBSITE. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THIS WEBSITE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.
TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, Hounslow Property Inventories, DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Hounslow Property Inventories DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THIS WEBSITE, ITS SERVERS, OR E-MAIL SENT FROM Hounslow Property Inventories ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. Hounslow Property Inventories STUDIOS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS SITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
Hounslow Property Inventories USES REASONABLE EFFORTS TO INCLUDE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE. Hounslow Property Inventories ASSUMES NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY TYPOGRAPHICAL OR OTHER ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE. IN THE EVENT THAT A PRODUCT IS LISTED AT AN INCORRECT PRICE OR WITH OTHER INCORRECT INFORMATION, Hounslow Property Inventories SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE OR CANCEL ANY ORDERS PLACED FOR THE PRODUCT LISTED INCORRECTLY. IF A PRODUCT OFFERED BY Hounslow Property Inventories IS NOT AS DESCRIBED, YOUR SOLE REMEDY IS TO RETURN IT TO Hounslow Property Inventories FOR A REFUND. ALL POSTAGE REQUIRED TO RETURN A PRODUCT WILL BE AT THE BUYER'S EXPENSE.

1. DEFINITIONS


Property: A rented dwelling as defined by an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement.

Company: Hounslow Property Inventories or their approved sub-contractors.

Agent: A Letting Agent, Landlord, or instructing representative issuing an Assignment

Tenant: A person or their representative renting a Property from an Agent

Assignment: Any instruction to complete an inspection and its corresponding report as received by the Company from the Agent

Inventory: An Assignment defining the general condition of a Property and its contents prior to a Tenant occupying the Property

Check-in: An Inventory's verification by a Tenant and an Agent, Company or Clerk prior to the occupation of the Property

Check-out: An Assignment - with or without the Tenant or Agent - defining differences between that indicated by the Inventory and that seen within the Property at the end of a tenancy

Update: A re-compiled Inventory completed at the time of a Check-out or Check-in using an existing hard and soft copy of a current existing Inventory

Interim: An Assignment defining the general condition of a Property and its contents at a point during the currency of a tenancy 

Clerk: A person or persons representing the Company completing an Assignment

Guidance/Disclaimer: A document containing useful information for Agents and Tenants as included with an Assignment or as published on the Company's web site

Price List: A published relevant fee structure available on request to the Agent from the Company for an Assignment

2. ORDERS / INSTRUCTIONS / CONDITIONS

The Company can accept an instruction for an Assignment via the online calendar, e-mail, telephone, fax or post. Once an instruction is received, an Agreement is deemed to exist between the Company and the Agent under these Terms and Conditions. Confirmation of an Assignment made via the online calendar or e-mail will be confirmed by return e-mail. Any other instruction will be confirmed verbally via telephone. Confirmation will define the Assignment to which the Company and any assigned Clerk will work. Any errors contained within any confirmation not corrected by an Agent upon receipt will be at the liability of the Agent

3. CANCELLATIONS /ABORTED / WAITING TIME

The Company reserves the right to make a full charge to the Agent for the cancellation of an Assignment within 24 hours of the intended date and time. A nominal fee of £30 may be levied should the Assignment be aborted, for whatever reason, including mis-instruction, after the Clerk has arrived at the Property. This nominal fee is subject to the assignment being rebooked with the Company. In the event the assignment is not rebooked with the Company the full fee for the assignment may be charged. A charge of £10 per quarter hour may be made for waiting time at the Property beyond the confirmed time for the Assignment due to late arrival of a Tenant or Agent, incorrect notified location of keys or documentation, or any delay in gaining access to the Property beyond the control of the Clerk or the Company, or where a property is unfit or unsafe for entry. Duties carried out by either the Clerk or Company outside the definition of the Assignment may be chargeable by separate negotiation. Assignments may be carried out outside of normal office hours, and confirmed by the Company, may attract a premium fee by separate negotiation.
The Company's normal office hours are: Monday - Friday 09.00 to 17.00 (Weekends and Public Holiday Assignments may be considered by separate negotiation).

4. PRICE & PAYMENT TERMS


It is assumed that the size and furnishings of the assigned Property shall be of reasonable proportions relating to the information given to the Company at the time of booking. The Company reserves the right to deviate from any Price List for any Property not of reasonable proportions, quoting custom prices at the time of booking, or agreed fee by negotiation either before or after completion of an Assignment. The Company reserves the right to make a charge of £1 per mile for an assigned Property located further than 7 miles from an assigning Agent's premises.

Payment for Assignments becomes due upon receipt of an Invoice issued by the Company or the Clerk, which may accompany delivery of a documented Assignment. The Company or the Clerk, reserves the right to make a charge for any additional expenses incurred by the Company or the Clerk, as a result of Agent error (including incorrect keys supplied). 

By accepting these terms and conditions the Agent authorises the Company or the Clerk, to carry out approved credit checks as it sees fit. Upon approval of a credit account the Company or the Clerk, may write and advise the Agent of the credit limit available to them. 

The Company or the Clerk, reserves the right to reduce credit limits or withdraw them totally in the future, in which case 7 days written notice will be given. In the event of a credit limit being completely withdrawn the Agent will be required to immediately pay any outstanding monies owed to the Company or the Clerk. 

Should the Agent no longer require a credit account with the Company or Clerk, the Agent can cancel the agreement at any time by giving 7 days written notice and clearing all outstanding sums due to the Company or Clerk, by the end of the 7 day notice period. 

The due date for payment is 21 days from the date the invoice was issued unless otherwise stated. 

New agents unable to supply credit references may be serviced on a cash-on-assignment basis only. This will be reviewed regularly and credit facilities may be offered in due course under our normal terms and conditions.

If payment is not made by the due date the Company or Clerk, reserves the right to:- 


  • charge interest at 3 % above base rate from the due date of the payment to the date payment is received.

  • recoup reasonable administration costs incurred recovering late payments in accordance with Table A below.

  • take legal action or appoint debt collection agents to obtain payments. In that event, all of the costs incurred to the Company or the Clerk, will be payable by the Agent on an indemnity basis.

Table A
Amount of debt outstanding Administration charge
Less than £1,000 = £40
Between £1,001 & £10,000 = £70
Exceeds £10,000 = £100

5. SAFETY AND SECURITY

It is understood by the Company or Clerk that the Property related to any Assignment is in sound and safe condition, posing no risk whatsoever to the health or safety of any assigned Clerk.

Landlords/Agents must ensure that properties booked for inventories are not occupied by tenants or landlords and or their possessions unless the possessions are to be included within the report. Clerks have the right to abort the visit should they discover that a property is either occupied or full of items that are not to be included within the inventory.

6. INSURANCE

The Company and all Clerks carry appropriate Public Liability insurance and Legal Expenses Cover. Details are available to view in their original format by an Agent within the Company or Clerk online calendar profile.

7. LIABILITY 

According to the company's Public Liability Insurance details as well as the inspection Disclaimer

8. DELIVERY / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Company aims to carry out Assignments with reasonable care and skill. If any part of the Assignment is performed negligently or in breach of the provisions of these Terms, then, on request, the Company will re-perform the relevant part of the Assignment. The Company will not be liable to re-perform any part of the Assignment unless you notify us in writing of any negligence or breach.

The Company or Clerk, will endeavour to deliver to the issuing Agent by agreed means Assignment documentation within 2 working days of the agreed Assignment date or time. All Assignments commissioned from the Company or Clerk, and delivered by electronic means remain the intellectual property of the Company. Required hard copies may be printed, copied, or retained, but may not be electronically copied, altered, or retained without the express permission of the Company. The Agent is responsible for checking the assignment on delivery. Any dispute over content or description must be registered with the Company or Clerk, within 7 working days.

9. FORCE MAJEURE

The Company or Clerk, is not liable for delays in performance (incl. delivery of documentation) caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control

10. CONFIDENTIALITY & NON-COMPETITION

Each party must treat all information received from the other marked 'confidential' or reasonably obvious to be confidential as it would treat its own confidential information.

The Agent must not directly or indirectly approach any Clerk or other Sub-Contractor of the Company for a period of at least one year following any booking with the aim of negotiating fees or bookings directly for Inventory Services. 

Any provisions of these Terms and Conditions which seeks to exclude or limit the liability of the company for breach of the terms implied by the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 shall not apply in the case of a consumer contract.