Honiton is a market town at the heart of East Devon, and much of the rental property around it is rural: cottages, farmhouses and homes in small villages along the Otter valley and up into the Blackdown Hills. Rural lets bring responsibilities and risks that a town-centre flat never does, and the inventory needs to cover them.
Heating and fuel
Many rural homes rely on oil-fired heating, LPG or solid fuel rather than mains gas. The inventory should record the location and condition of oil tanks, the fuel level at the start and end of the tenancy where the agreement covers it, and any wood burners or open fires. A carbon monoxide alarm is required in any room with a fixed solid fuel appliance, and the report should confirm it is present and working.
Private drainage and water
Properties off the mains may have septic tanks or treatment plants, and some have private water supplies. Recording what is in place and the tenant’s responsibilities, such as what should not go down the drains, helps avoid expensive problems and disputes about who caused them.
Gardens, outbuildings and boundaries
Rural lets often come with large gardens, sheds, stables or barns. Their condition at the start, and what the tenant is expected to maintain, should be recorded in the same detail as the house, with photographs of hedges, fences and gates.
Access and timing
Rural appointments take longer to reach and sometimes need directions or access arrangements. Booking early and sharing access details with the clerk keeps things running smoothly.
Independent inventories around Honiton
We cover Honiton and the surrounding East Devon villages. See our property inventory services in Honiton and our mid-term inspections, which are particularly useful for rural homes.
Work with us in East Devon
We are growing our Devon team. See our inventory clerk jobs around Exeter and East Devon.
