Record private rooms separately
Each housemate should photograph their own room at move-in, including walls, carpet, windows, blinds, wardrobe, door, lights, power points, and any included furniture. If the room has pre-existing marks, list them before moving furniture in.
A private room record helps prevent one housemate being blamed for damage that existed before they arrived, or for damage caused after they left.
Do shared areas together
Kitchen, bathroom, laundry, living room, hallway, balcony, yard, garage, and storage areas should be recorded in a shared folder or report. Everyone should know where the record is stored.
Shared areas need special care because use is collective. If there is a stain on the lounge carpet at entry, a broken bathroom shelf, or a cracked kitchen tile, record it once in a way every housemate can access.
Track keys and access items
List which keys, fobs, remotes, access cards, parking permits, and mailbox keys each person receives. Photograph the full set at move-in and whenever a housemate leaves.
Key and remote replacement can become a bond issue. A shared record helps work out whether an item was missing before the current group or lost during the tenancy.
Agree on repair reporting
Choose one person to send repair requests, but keep the whole house copied or updated. If everyone assumes someone else reported a leak, mould patch, broken lock, or appliance issue, the timeline becomes weak.
A short shared note after each issue helps: what happened, when it was noticed, who reported it, and what response came back.
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Article written 2026-06-26