As a home owner, conducting a property inspection is an important part of your job. Even if you have a great tenant, routine inspections can help prevent major problems in the future. They also indicate to the tenant that you are waiting and interested in the return of the property.
What is Property Inspection?
Owning a home can be an extremely rewarding job, but it can also be challenging. There are many things you need to do before marketing the property, as well as all the legal responsibilities you need to keep up to date. When the property is rented, you should also consider the duty of care you owe your tenant.
A good landlord-tenant relationship, i.e. tenant relations, involves collaboration and communication, and this is especially true for rental property inspections. A rental property inspection is a good way to monitor the condition of your property. After the tenant moves into your property, the best way to make sure they are looking after the property and meeting all their responsibilities is to conduct regular property inspections.
Property inspection involves the landlord or property manager periodically inspecting the property inside and out to assess the condition of the property. A rental property inspection is usually done while the tenant is present so they are notified of any issues or concerns that arise.
Why Is Regular Property Inspection Vital?
The primary purpose of a property inspection is to assess the general condition of the property, both internal and external, and record any repairs or maintenance that may be required. It's also a useful reminder to tenants of how they should look after the property and a way to maintain a good relationship between landlords and tenants.
Property inspections are an opportunity for all parties to ask questions and discuss any problems tenants may have with the property. It is important to run regular checks as this will highlight necessary maintenance and safety issues that can be addressed as soon as possible later on.
If any problems arise, it's time to remind tenants of their responsibility to report problems as soon as they arise to prevent the problem from getting worse.
What Are the Benefits of Property Inspection?
Conducting periodic inspections of your properties allows you to:
Considering that the tenant lives in the property, you can check and record the current condition and cleanliness of the property.
You can ensure that the necessary maintenance or repairs are made.
You can make sure that the tenant is interested in the property and give advice on the issues you deem necessary.
How Often Should Inspections Be Made?
Regular checks throughout the year are beneficial for all tenants and landlords, new and old, as well as inspection (in and out) at the beginning and end of the tenancy.
Some landlords only perform the initial inspection a month later to make sure everything is in order, and this can also help improve the landlord-tenant relationship.
However, in order to prevent harassment in the future, experts recommend periodic inspections, usually at three, four or six month intervals.
