New Tenancy? Do These Five Things in Your First Week

The first week of a tenancy is the best moment to protect your deposit. What you record now is what the property is compared with when you leave.

By the Ample Cleaners team · 1 October 2026 · 3 min read

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The five things

  1. Read the check-in inventory carefully and note anything missing or wrong, in writing
  2. Take dated photos and videos of every room, including inside cupboards and appliances
  3. Check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work
  4. Take meter readings with a dated photo
  5. Find out which deposit scheme holds your deposit and keep the details

Why it matters

Disputes at the end of a tenancy usually come down to evidence of the original condition. A good record from week one makes them easy to resolve.

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Ample Cleaners cleans homes and offices across Barking, Dagenham, Romford, Ilford and surrounding areas, with DBS-checked cleaners and a fixed price.

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