The Complete Guide to Property Inspections 

01.11.21 10:42 AM Comment(s) By Assetsoft

The Complete Guide to Property Inspections

Property Hunting is undoubtedly a difficult task when there are so many options to choose from. But no matter how much time passes by, they’ll always be expensive. And to make a decision where you’ll be spending a lot of your money, some expert advice is needed. 

 

Property inspections play an essential role to determine, if needful maintenance of a place is carried out. Our brief guide to property inspection will help you better understand the concept and the considerations to be taken into account while arranging for a property inspection. 

Importance Of A Property Inspection Report 

Before buying a house, you must get hold of a property inspection report from the seller. The purpose of this report is to allow buyers to make rational decisions regarding the purchase.  

 

A property inspection report consists of all that you should know about a house or property. It contains vital pieces of information about the place.  This report can inform you whether the property or building is in a good condition and also if it is safe to be used. A property inspection report can tell you if there is any problem with the property which needs to be resolved. 

When Should Tenants Ideally Be Notified About The Inspection? 

According to the laws, a landlord must give their tenants a notice of at least 24 hours if they want any property inspection carried out. But it's better to notify the tenants at least a week before the examination since the idea may seem quite daunting to them. The inspection must be conducted at a time that both the tenant and the landlord may deem fit.  

In What Way Should Landlords Request Permission For A Property Inspection? 

According to the legal standards, the landlord should request permission for a property inspection in writing. They may ask for a handwritten note, an email, or even a text message. The document must include the following points: 

 

●The address of the property to be inspected 

 

●Who will be carrying out the inspection  

 

●Date and time of the inspection 

 

In some tenancy agreements, clauses scheduling in-house inspections throughout the year can be found. 

Can A Landlord Enter A Property Without The Permission Of Its Tenants? 

A landlord can enter a property without permission in the event of an emergency only. Emergencies of this kind may include gas leaks, ruptured water pipes, and similar instances. In all other situations, entering a house or property without permission can be regarded as trespassing. If a landlord enters the property without the tenant accompanying them, they must have the tenants' permission to do so.  

What Happens If A Tenant Does Not Allow The Property Inspector To Enter? 

Most tenants will likely have no problem with a property inspection as long as the landlord has followed all the rules. Sometimes, however, a tenant may simply not allow either the landlord or the property inspector to enter. That is why it is important to properly understand a landlord's right to gain access to the property. 

 

But a landlord may issue an eviction notice in the event of a complete lack of cooperation of the tenants. In this notice, a landholder formally requests the tenants to leave the property when their fixed term comes to an end. But to issue this notice correctly, some procedures have to be followed. Otherwise, the statement will be treated as invalid.  

A Property Inspection Checklist For Landlords 

If property inspection is conducted thoroughly, it might detect problems that might turn out to be a major issue later. But a timely detection of these problems would ensure their timely resolution, and the process will not involve a lot of expenses if detected in its earlier stages. But a landlord must be watchful enough for these problems to remain unnoticed. 

 

To find out if every nook and cranny of the property is maintained properly and is in good condition, it is important to follow a checklist. Both the interiors and the exteriors of a house must be carefully examined to check if they need to be repaired or not. 

As far as the exterior portions of a property are concerned, the landlord must ensure: 

  • If the gutters are overflowing  
  • If the paving slabs are loose or not 
  • If the fencing is in a damaged condition or not 
  • If the outdoor area is maintained or not 
  • Whether a lot of garbage is not being left outside  
  • If the outbuildings, like the shed doors and garages, are safe or not 

For the interiors, the landlords must be on the lookout for the following: 

  • Damp and mold 
  • Leaky faucets or pipes 
  • Whether smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are functional or not 
  • Conditions of items such as electrical, furniture, and so on. 
  • Condition of permanent fixtures and fittings such as bathroom suites, carpets, flooring, and light fittings. 

Normal wear and tear should, however, be expected. There might be scratches and other marks on the furniture. Carpets might appear to be shabby as well. Even some electrical items might not be working anymore and will have to be replaced. 

 

Property inspection thus helps landlords find out if their property is in a proper condition. It also helps buyers decide if they should invest in the property or not. Therefore, property owners need to carry out an inspection of their property before they consider putting it up for sale.  

 

If any part of the property is found to be in a bad or poorly maintained condition, necessary steps may be adopted in time to counter the problems caused by it. However, for a property inspection to be carried out expressively, the tenants’ permission must be sought in the right way following the right procedure. 


Have property management needs? We can help you find the right property management software, from Yardi to MRI Software. We can also help you automate common tasks easily through robotic process automation. Talk to the Assetsoft team today. 

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