The new tenant wishes to take measurements for their furnishings before the scheduled move-in. The tenancy agreement has already been agreed; however, certain agreed works are still underway in part of the flat. For the landlord there arises a concrete organisational question: what early access is actually intended and how can it be kept evident, up to the later handover appointment, what has already been done?
Clarify the purpose before handing over the keys
Describe the intended activity precisely. Is it a accompanied measurement appointment, a specific delivery or another form of use? Note the areas required for this and the intended period. A brief visit should not be communicated unclearly with a message such as you can already come in, as the parties may understand different scopes.
The legal effects on the start of the tenancy, payment, use and liability must be examined separately with reference to the contract. This guidance does not turn an early possession of the key into a complete handover nor automatically into a legally consequence-free visit. The actual content of the agreement requires appropriate classification.
Coordinate the interim phase with the ongoing works
Set the proposed appointments side by side: early access, outstanding works and the final handover appointment. Which areas do the involved contractors need, and which rooms should be accessible to the new tenant? Unresolved overlaps must be discussed before the early appointment.
In the fictional case the tenant wishes to take measurements in the living room. A delivery for the kitchen is still scheduled on the same day. The landlady agrees a limited accompanied appointment and clarifies the actual sequence with the responsible delivery contact. She does not promise the tenant a kitchen already ready for use.
Record the early procedure with its own status
Record which areas were actually entered and which keys, if any, were handed out to whom. Describe the observed condition for the points concerned. Rooms not seen do not receive a blanket condition confirmation.
In the example, the key issued is taken back after the measurement appointment. If instead another access is to be agreed, this requires its own clarified description. An unanswered query remains open and is not treated as an implicitly agreed extension.
Relate the later handover to the interim status
At the final appointment the earlier early procedure and the works actually completed in the meantime are brought together. New observations receive their own date. An old entry is not overwritten, so that the sequence is easier to follow afterwards.
Check whether any provisionally issued keys or open access points still exist. The parties receive the same comprehensible status. An earlier measurement appointment should thereby not take the place of the later planned walkthrough.
Conclude with understandable stages
The outcome describes the limited early purpose, the actual access and the subsequent handover with its remaining open points. It contains no blanket legal clearance for an early move-in or for concurrently running works. Where the parties wish to change more than the practical sequence of appointments, the appropriate contractual clarification for this is organised in advance.