Inventories could soon be carried out through virtual and augmented reality.

The prediction has come from the Association for Independent Inventory Clerks.

Its chair, Danny Zane, said that augmented reality in particular will revolutionise the inventory process in the near future.

He thinks it will allow tenants and landlords to ‘walk’ around their properties, while damage is found and assessed against a schedule of conditions.

Zane said: “Right now we rely on labelled photos for accurate, impartial documentation of a property’s condition.

“Imagine if you could experience walking around a room, zooming in on damage and compare it to the condition before the tenancy began.

“Augmented reality is the obvious next step forward for independent, impartial inventory reports.”

Zane’s own business My Property Inventories is to trial virtual reports shortly.

He said: “I am hoping that by investing in the technology to start compiling VR and then AR inventory reports, we will stay ahead of the expectations of consumers and keep impartial inventories relevant.”