Phase 3 · Integration and Market Launch

Initial Inventory

The joint inspection report serves as the record that will later be used to prove that the damage did not exist previously.

With short-term rentals, the question isn’t whether an item will eventually be damaged, but how you’ll prove that it was undamaged beforehand. The answer lies in a single document: the joint condition report and inventory, completed by both parties at the start of the lease. This is the cornerstone of any future claims, whether filed with rental platforms or insurers.

Drawn up in the presence of both parties, dated, and signed, it forms an integral part of the contract. Ten minutes of thoroughness at the outset can save hours of discussion when the first incident arises.

Landmark

The inventory must be prepared within fifteen days of the signing of the lease, and in any event before the property is first rented out.

What's Inside

An inventory of equipment and furniture, room by room.
Their condition and wear and tear, assessed neither too leniently nor too harshly.
Photographs taken in the presence of both parties.
The maximum number of passengers that can be accommodated at one time.

Why He Matters So Much

This serves as the baseline for assessing any subsequent damage. Without it, a claim filed with a platform or an insurer comes down to your word against the traveler’s, and such situations rarely end in your favor.

Good to Know

The document’s strength lies in its contradictory nature: photos taken by both parties, cross-signed, and a certified date. This is what makes it legally enforceable, whereas a unilateral inventory is subject to dispute.

The Mistake to Avoid

Don't just photograph new items. An inventory that only lists what looks brand-new will come back to haunt you the first time there's a dispute over a pre-existing scratch. Be sure to photograph any existing damage as well—it's your protection.

Points to Watch For

Update the inventory after each significant replacement. A three-year-old inventory no longer has probative value for replaced furniture.
If you are unable to attend in person, appoint a representative. The adversarial nature of the process is what gives the document its strength: it requires your presence.
The maximum capacity is listed there and is binding. It must correspond to the actual sleeping arrangements described on page 3.3.

Warning

List your valuables, or remove them. A short-term rental is not the place for irreplaceable mementos: items that are priceless have no place in a vacation rental.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you skip this step?

In the initial dispute, it is one person's word against another's. All the remedies described on page 5.1—whether involving platforms or insurers—are based on this baseline.

Who takes the photographs?

They are taken in the presence of both parties during the hearing. It is this joint presence that gives them their value.

Do we have to take inventory of everything, right down to the teaspoon?

The inventory covers equipment and furniture, including their condition and level of wear and tear. The more valuable an item is, the more detailed its description and photographs should be.

How do I update it?

Please notify us of any significant replacements: an amendment to the inventory restores the document’s probative value with respect to the replaced items.