Before June 2019 it was common for tenants to be charged for the check-in or check-out report. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 changed that in England. For assured shorthold tenancies, landlords and letting agents can no longer charge tenants for inventories, check-ins or check-outs.
What tenants can still be charged for
The Act limits payments from tenants to a short list: rent, a capped tenancy deposit, a capped holding deposit, certain changes to the tenancy at the tenant's request, early termination when the tenant asks to leave, utilities, council tax, communication services, TV licence and some default fees such as replacing lost keys. Inventory reports are not on the list, so the cost sits with the landlord or the agent.
Why it is still worth paying for
The inventory protects the landlord far more than anyone else. When a deposit is disputed, it is for the landlord to show what changed during the tenancy, and the inventory and check-out are the evidence for that. A thorough independent report usually costs much less than a single deduction lost for lack of evidence.
How agents usually handle it
Most letting agents include the inventory and check-in in their letting fee, or pass the cost to the landlord as a separate charge. Either way, it should be booked before the tenant moves in so the starting condition is recorded properly.
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