Move-in inventory: record a tap or lock defect without diagnosing it

What the inventory records — and what it does not decide

When keys are handed over for a main home in France, the move-in inventory, or état des lieux d’entrée, describes the property and its equipment. Service Public says it is drawn up together by the tenant and landlord or the landlord’s representative, in writing, and given to the parties when signed. It must allow comparison with the move-out record. A detailed description can include observations, reservations and images.

The immediate aim is not to select a replacement part. It is to leave a clear record of the condition observed at the start of the tenancy. “Worn-out tap” and “lock needs replacing” combine observation with interpretation. Instead, describe the sign and the limits of what you could check. This guide concerns that move-in record, not a technical diagnosis or a decision about the bill. Service Public’s move-in inventory guidance, in French, explains the required content.

A useful entry: location, sign, circumstances and limits

Use the same short structure for each issue: room and fitting; visible sign or difficulty already encountered; circumstances of the observation; checks not performed; linked photograph if useful; follow-up requested. Record the inventory date and, for a later discovery, its actual date. Do not present something discovered the next day as a joint observation made at the key handover.

“Good condition” is not a substitute for describing a defect that was observed. ANIL recommends detailed descriptions of equipment and explains that photographs and reservations can supplement the record. If something could not be checked, propose stating that limitation rather than inventing a result. For example: “Water unavailable during the visit; tap operation not checked.” This does not establish that the tap is faulty.

Keep to accessible observations: do not dismantle a connection or repeatedly try a resisting lock. An inventory is no reason to cause a leak or risk a lockout. An optional photograph helps describe what was visible; it cannot by itself reveal a hidden cause.

Taps: describe the sign without naming a failed part

Fictional wording example, to adapt only to what was actually observed: “Kitchen, sink tap: drops visible at the spout with the control in the closed position during the visit. Photograph R1 linked to this entry. Nothing dismantled; cause of the defect not determined. Inspection requested from the landlord or managing agent.”

If all you found was water at the bottom of the cupboard, write that instead: do not turn it into a “leaking tap”. Record existing marks on the cupboard separately from the tap’s operation. A stain, a puddle and a part assumed to be worn are different pieces of information. Avoid stating a frequency or quantity you did not record.

Do not restore the water supply for a more convincing picture or tighten a connection. If water is actively escaping, protecting people and reporting it take priority over writing. The water-leak first-steps guide covers that urgent situation; the under-sink visit preparation guide covers a technical enquiry. For the inventory, retain the record of the initial condition and any measures already taken.

Locks: separate keys supplied, observed difficulty and unknown cause

Another fictional example, not a TFK customer case: “Flat entrance door, inside: resistance felt when turning the key supplied during use at the visit. Attempt stopped without forcing; cause not determined. Inspection requested.” Use this wording only if it reflects what happened, correcting the side and action concerned.

Also record the number and type of keys or other access devices supplied: flat, letterbox, cellar or shared areas as applicable. This list is separate from observed operation. Receiving a key does not mean it was checked if it was not. Equally, resistance does not establish that the cylinder is responsible rather than the door or frame.

Do not repeatedly close the door to document the problem or lock yourself in to check it. Do not file, adjust or dismantle anything to improve the entry before signing. If safe exit or securing the home is no longer possible, tell the person responsible for the property immediately; the hard-to-close door guide explains how to request an inspection. If someone is in immediate danger, getting to safety and contacting emergency services take priority over the paperwork.

Link photographs to the record and keep a readable copy

A wider view identifies the fitting; a close view shows the sign accessible without risk. Give images simple references, such as R1 for the tap and S1 for the door, and identify the corresponding entry in the record. This referencing system is a practical suggestion, not a legally prescribed form.

Ask those present to read the wording and any limitations. Before finishing, check that your copy includes the agreed observations and associated files. Whether on paper or electronic, the inventory must be provided when signed: keep a readable version and the corresponding pictures, not just a download link you have never opened.

Do not publicly post photographs of keys, access codes, identity documents or security details. For a repair enquiry, share only useful information privately. A message to a tradesperson does not itself add a reservation to the inventory shared with the landlord.

A defect found after signing: request a dated addition

Signing does not rule out requesting an addition. According to Service Public, a tenant may ask the landlord or their representative to amend the move-in inventory within ten calendar days following its date, for any element concerning the property. These are calendar days, not ten working days. The separate first-month-of-the-heating-period rule concerns heating equipment: do not apply it to a lock or tap.

Send a written request promptly in a way that lets you retain a record of sending it: inventory date, room, fitting, discovery date, factual description and useful images. Explicitly request an addition to the document, separately from arranging any repair. Keep the reply and amended document; sending a message is not proof that the landlord accepted the change.

If the landlord or agency refuses to amend the inventory, the official guidance says the tenant can contact the departmental conciliation commission for the property’s area. For a disagreement, a missed deadline or a particular situation, ask an ADIL housing advice service for guidance; this article does not conclude that every remedy disappears after ten days. ANIL also explains additions to the inventory, in French. These are French tenancy procedures, not rules imported from another jurisdiction.

After recording: arrange follow-up without assigning the bill

Keep two separate threads: the initial condition recorded in the inventory, and the request for inspection or repair. For the latter, identify who receives the report, who arranges access and who can accept the quote. Ask the agency or landlord for a concrete next step and a named contact; do not record a visit or repair as confirmed when nobody has confirmed it.

As ANIL explains, comparison between move-in and move-out helps assess responsibility. But “resistance when turning the key” does not select the necessary work or its payer. A reservation in the inventory is not an accepted quote; a tenant being present to let a tradesperson in is not unlimited authority to spend. Clarify the order, invoice recipient and cost allocation to be examined, without promising reimbursement.

In Paris, TFK’s services for landlords, agencies and property managers provide a route for plumbing and locksmith enquiries. Describe the signs, appointment constraints and authorised quote approver. Scope and quote are confirmed before agreement; availability and arrangements must be discussed. TFK is contacted about the technical need, not to certify the inventory or decide a tenancy dispute.

Your checklist

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Useful sources

• Service Public — Move-in inventory for a French residential tenancy (French source)

  Written record, contents, copy at signature and amendment request; passages checked on 19 October 2026. French jurisdiction.

• ANIL — Move-in and move-out inventories (French source)

  Equipment descriptions, reservations and images, keys supplied and additions; checked on 19 October 2026.

• TFK — Plumbing and locksmith services for professionals in Paris

  Enquiry arrangements, authorised approver and quote before agreement; checked on 19 October 2026. This is not an inventory certification service.

Related guides — Who to call