Have you chosen a tenant, signed contract and now you only need to hand the keys over and your tenant can move in? Hold on, do not forget to write down a transfer protocol.
Transfer protocol: protection of both parties
Transfer protocol serves as a protection of you and also your tenant. The flat you are handing over is in a certain state and any difference from this state is later guaranteed by your tenant.
Therefore if you write down a transfer protocol in which you describe in detail the state of the property and both sides agree, you will minimize possibility of problems later on.
Issue the protocol before handing the flat over
The protocol should be written before the handover of the property, before the tenant starts living there. Write down everything you want to mention and then present it in the protocol. It has to include exact and specific identification of the property – address, number of the flat, number of rooms and the area of the flat. Also do not forget to mention identification of the owner and the tenant.
One section of the protocol should mention keys from the property. Write down the number of keys from the property that exist and all those who posses their copies. It should also include all the kinds of keys – how many keys are there from the postbox, entrance etc.
Describe furnishing and its state
Next part of the transfer protocol should contain information regarding furnishing of each room of the flat. Also the state should be mentioned including possible damages. This is important to avoid arguments about who damaged what and how much.
The last section of the protocol includes data from meters. You can write down figures from electricity meter, gasometer, hot and cold water consumption and consumption of heat. These numbers will be also stated in original copies of protocols and energy transfers.
State of water and heat can also serve to divide the energy that can not be transferred to the tenant.