Here is a question to the blog clinic from Peter who is a tenant
Does an agent have to issue a receipt when a tenant surrenders their keys at the end of their tenancy? Is this a legal requirement?
Answer
The short answer to this is ‘no, they are not a legal requirement’. However, this does not mean it is not a good idea and something that should be done.
In fact, if an agent refuses to give a receipt for keys (or for anything else) that would be very odd.
If this ever happens, I would make two recommendations.
The first is to ensure that you have proof that you have handed the keys over. A signed receipt is not the only way you can do that. Another would be to take an independent witness along with you when you hand over the keys and get them to sign a short statement confirming this.
Even if you don’t want to do this, you should always keep a record anyway of the day you handed back the keys – for example in your diary.
The second is to make a complaint to the agents’ Property Redress Scheme.
So in summary, ‘no’ it is not an actual legal requirement (in that failure to provide a receipt is not a breach of any legislation), but ‘yes’ it is something that should be done and which you are entitled to ask for.