Best property inventory apps for UK landlords: 2026

In England and Wales, a property inventory is best treated as evidence for deposit and insurance disputes, not as a statutory form or a legally prescribed app. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate deposit-scheme regimes, so this comparison should not be read as UK-wide legal advice.

What is the best property inventory app for landlords?

For most landlords the answer is Abodient plus Inventory Hive rather than an inventory app on its own. Abodient connects directly to Inventory Hive, so the report comes back against the right property and sits with the tenancy, deposit details and certificates — which is what matters at deposit-dispute time, because an inventory is only useful if it can be found. Inventory Hive is the most visible specialist product in its own right, though its claim to be best rests on awards and market presence rather than any legal approval or independent ranking. Abodient connects directly to Inventory Hive, so reports come back against the right property and sit with the tenancy, deposit details and certificates rather than in a separate account.

In England and Wales, the legal duty is to protect the tenancy deposit, not to compile an inventory: Housing Act 2004 s.213 says, “Any tenancy deposit paid to a person in connection with a shorthold tenancy must, as from the time when it is received, be dealt with in accordance with an authorised scheme.” Deposit schemes and insurers are the practical reason to do one: OpenRent says, “Deposit protection schemes recommend inventories be done at the start of every tenancy, ideally by an independent professional,” and also, “Many landlord insurance policies also require an inventory to make a claim.”

Inventory Hive is the obvious paid shortlist name in UK reviews, and lists industry awards from 2022 to 2024 on its App Store page.

Is there a free property inventory app?

Yes, there are free property inventory apps, but free usually means free to download, a trial, or a freemium plan rather than unlimited professional inventory reports forever.

Inventory Hive’s iOS listing shows the app as “Free,” but its pricing page separately says, “Start your 30-day free trial No card details required,” so landlords comparing property inventory software free options should treat that as a trial-led paid product. FreshRent Property Inventories is a clearer freemium example on the UK App Store because its listing says, “Free · In-App Purchases.”

The important distinction is legal as well as commercial: no England and Wales deposit statute requires a free property inventory app, a paid property inventory app, or any named software provider. The Housing Act 2004 duty is about the deposit being held in an authorised scheme, not the format of the evidence a landlord later uses in a dispute.

What does Inventory Hive cost?

Inventory Hive costs £35.00 a year plus VAT for a one-property landlord tier, while its default headline plan is £300.00 a year plus VAT or £30.00 a month plus VAT for up to 50 properties.

Inventory Hive pricing is therefore much cheaper for a single-property landlord than for a larger portfolio, provided the landlord tier is the right fit. Its own pricing page gives the one-property figure as “£35.00 / year + VAT,” and it gives the default annual plan as “£300.00 / year + VAT.” The same page also says, “Start your 30-day free trial No card details required,” so a landlord can test the workflow before paying, but the free period should not be mistaken for a permanent free inventory-software plan. Prices can change, so the exact subscription figure should be checked again before buying.

Which inventory software do contractors use?

Inventory contractors and inventory clerks use specialist reporting platforms such as Inventory Hive, InventoryBase and No Letting Go’s own reporting system, not general stock-control software used by shops or warehouses.

In this context, contractors means inventory clerks, outsourced inspection providers and franchise networks rather than plumbers, electricians or other tradespeople. InventoryBase serves the same professional reporting market.

No Letting Go is a contractor network, reporting 90+ offices nationally. For landlords, the practical shortlist is often shaped by what local clerks already use.

Is property inventory software the same as stock inventory management software?

No, property inventory software is not the same as stock inventory management software: property tools record condition, contents and inspection evidence for a tenancy, while stock systems track products, purchase orders, warehouses and fulfilment.

Capterra defines inventory management software as software that “monitors stock levels, manages purchase orders, and coordinates order fulfillment across warehouses and sales channels.” Property inventory software does a different job; InventoryBase describes its product as creating “detailed, photo-rich reports from your phone or tablet - from check-ins to check-outs, midterm visits to void inspections and more.” That distinction matters when asking which software is best for inventory management: the best stock inventory management software is the wrong category for a landlord trying to evidence cleanliness, damage, furniture, meter readings, smoke alarms or check-out condition. Search for property inventory or inspection reporting software, not warehouse inventory software.

Last reviewed September 2026.

Sources

• Housing Act 2004 s.213 — “Any tenancy deposit paid to a person in connection with a shorthold tenancy must, as from the time when it is received, be dealt with in accordance with an authorised scheme.” Source
• OpenRent, Why property inventories matter — “Deposit protection schemes recommend inventories be done at the start of every tenancy, ideally by an independent professional.” Source
• OpenRent, Why property inventories matter — “Many landlord insurance policies also require an inventory to make a claim.” Source
• Inventory Hive, App Store listing — “Recognised with multiple industry awards including Best Overall Supplier at EA Masters 2022 and Supplier of the Year (Technology) – Apps at The Negotiator Awards 2023 & 2024, Inventory Hive is trusted by thousands to streamline property reporting and compliance.” Source
• Inventory Hive, App Store listing — “Free” Source
• FreshRent Property Inventories, App Store listing — “Free · In-App Purchases” Source
• Inventory Hive pricing — “£35.00 / year + VAT” Source
• Inventory Hive pricing — “£300.00 / year + VAT” Source
• Inventory Hive pricing — “Start your 30-day free trial No card details required” Source
• Inventory Hive homepage — “Here at Nock Deighton our Inventory Clerks have been using Inventory Hive for over 3 years.” Source
• InventoryBase homepage — “Trusted by inventory providers, letting agents, and property managers to streamline reporting, stay compliant, and deliver professional results every time.” Source
• No Letting Go homepage — “We have 90+ offices and over 400 property inventory specialists nationally” Source
• Capterra inventory management software category — “Inventory management software monitors stock levels, manages purchase orders, and coordinates order fulfillment across warehouses and sales channels.” Source
• InventoryBase homepage — “Create detailed, photo-rich reports from your phone or tablet - from check-ins to check-outs, midterm visits to void inspections and more - all in one seamless workflow.” Source