Renting - key handover protocol?

[ScentsyIndConsultant]

My daughter is moving 2 hours away and renting a flat on her own. It's her 1st time renting, and she explained to the agent that she has no clue what the procedure is, and what needs to be done when. So far, she's had to be very proactive, and the agent has had to be chased at all stages. She gets the keys tomorrow (13th), and had heard nothing from them regarding what time to meet at the flat etc. She called them this morning, and was told that she needed to collect them from the office. We assumed that she'd be met at the flat for reasons of handover / inventory purposes etc.... She has emailed them to clarify, and will call them back later if she doesn't hear back, but she's feeling like a right nag bag at the moment as she's had to chase so much already. So what is the correct / normal procedure please? Thanks!

Perfectly normal to get the keys at the agents. There should be an inventory that she can check once she’s in.

Normal to collect at the agency. Sometimes they will also ask you to bring your passport so they can see it in person and photocopy it in the office too.

Sorry to say their lack of comms is perfectly standard behaviour with most agencies.

All very normal.

Once she has collected the keys from the office they should e-mail a copy of the inventory form. (Worth confirming with them when this will be received).

She will then need to check everything, take photo's and dispute anything that she believes is incorrect with the inventory form. So, if there is a mark on a wall which hasn't been recorded - get it recorded. It's a pain, but so worth doing for any check out disputes.

Also, worth confirming if the office holds a set of keys (most do). Your daughter will need to decide how she feels about that. She is entitled to change the locks, but she would have to retain the original barrel to have refitted when she leaves.
If she's happy for them to hold onto a key, it can make life easier if there is a need for any trades person to enter the property while she is at work.

There will likely be annual home visits and they have to complete an annual gas safety inspection. As a renter you don't get much say over when these visits happen - they just have to give you sufficient notice.

Normal to collect at the agency. When I last rented it was a third party inventory clerk who met me at the property before I moved in to confirm the state of the property.

We did a walk round and took pictures before my belongings moved in

Lovely, thanks for confirming everyone... the agent has been bone idol so far, so we were thinking it was him wanting a lazy day!