Are you a landlord? Do you keep a close eye on your property or do you leave your tenants to it once the rent is paid? When it comes to regular property inspections, there are benefits to both landlords and tenants! In this blog, we will be discussing the benefits to you as a landlord.
Keep Your Property in Good Order
Valuable tenants generally keep you informed of any problems you need to know about but as great as your tenant is, they might not notice the signs of a problem unless it causes some inconvenience to the way they live. By carrying out regular inspections, as well as keeping a general eye on the condition of the building for wear and tear, you can also check if any other problems may need your attention such as the start of mould or minor plumbing leaks which can quickly turn into major repair jobs.
Gently Encourage the General Upkeep of Your Property
If a tenant knows you will be regularly inspecting the property they are renting from you, they will be more obliged to take care of it respectfully and stick to the terms of their tenancy agreement more readily. If inspections are something which have been discussed from the start or written into the tenancy agreement you will have set the tone of the tenancy from the outset with no surprises.
Spot Tenancy Violations Swiftly
If you have certain regulations written into your tenancy agreements such as no pets, no smoking, or no modifications to the property, regular inspections will help you to easily spot when these rules have been breached and allow you to deal with them immediately before they become a major issue. For tenants where breaches aren’t an issue, inspections will help you to remain more engaged with and approachable to your tenant. Always allow your tenants some space to voice their own questions or concerns to build a good mutual relationship with them.
Remain Compliant
Regular inspections are a good habit to get into as they will ensure you remain compliant in your obligations as a landlord and ultimately keep your tenants safe. Regularly checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and carrying out boiler maintenance alongside general inspections will keep your compliance up to date and give you a chance to check if any of these crucial home elements are deteriorating and need replacing.
Here are some bonus quick tips on how to handle your property inspections like a pro:
- Give your tenants plenty of notice for inspections or include it in the tenancy agreement – Inspections every 3 months or 6 months etc.
- Use a checklist to ensure nothing is missed on inspection day
- Take photographs to help document fair wear and tear or damage over time
- Respect your tenants right to reasonable privacy
- Only enter the property with permission from your tenant (except in the case of emergency when reasonable effort has been made to contact the tenant.
We hope you have found this blog valuable! What are other ways in which regular inspections have helped you as a landlord? For more tips and advice around buying, selling or renting out your property, browse more topics in our blog here.