Conducting regular property inspections helps landlords to check how well tenants are looking after their property and can also identify maintenance issues before a problem becomes more costly. Property inspections are also important for doing visual safety checks to keep your tenants safe and to comply with safety regulations.
If you are a landlord of property in Mayfair, Wimbledon Village or Merton Park, typical tenants applying to live in these areas may pass all the tenant screening with flying colours but that doesn’t mean there’s no risk of experiencing issues.
Regular inspections will allow you to check that tenants are not breaching the terms of the tenancy agreement and whether there are any maintenance issues that they have not reported. Bearing in mind that you can take out landlord insurance to cover damage caused by tenants, it is still recommended that landlords or letting agents conduct regular inspections.
To ensure that you cover all the important elements of a property inspection, we’ve compiled a checklist you can use for your south west London property:
A landlord property inspection involves a pre-arranged visit to the rental property, for the landlord to check the property for various purposes including safety checks, assessing the property condition and ensuring the tenant is complying with the terms of the tenancy agreement. Performing periodic checks will help protect the property value, prevent damage from escalating and can ensure compliance with several regulations.
The landlord will usually check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working, look for any wear and tear or other types of damage to the property and complete visual checks of electrical systems and appliances for any signs of potential hazards. They may also check doors and locks to ensure security isn’t compromised, assess water pipes for any signs of leaks and inspect walls, ceilings and floors for any potential issues.
Property inspections should be completed at the beginning of a tenancy, at the end of a tenancy and at periodic intervals. At the start of the tenancy, the landlord can run through the inventory with the tenant to confirm agreement on the condition of all areas of the property with the tenant signing the inventory. This can help to prevent disputes at the end of the tenancy.
Landlords may also want to arrange an inspection if they have any reason to be concerned about tenancy agreement breaches or property damage. For example, a neighbour might flag a problem with them.
It is recommended that inspections are carried out annually as a minimum, but it is a good idea to inspect properties every six months as issues could go undiscovered for some time and lead to more expensive repairs. Some landlords inspect their rental properties every three months but doing them too often could breach the tenant’s right of quiet enjoyment of the property.
Another piece of legislation to be mindful of is that landlords are required to provide tenants at least 24 hours’ notice to seek permission from the tenant to enter the property for the inspection.
If you have a long term tenant and you have conducted multiple inspections and feel satisfied that they are looking after the property and are raising any issues promptly, you might be comfortable with less frequent inspections.
By taking a checklist with you for the property inspection, you will make sure that you cover all the most important checks and don’t miss anything:
Check all rooms to see the overall condition of the property and state of repair, including any furniture provided, walls, floors and ceilings, looking for any damage such as water marks or lifted flooring (which may be a sign of subsidence). You should also check doors, windows and locks for any damage or potential security issues.
New regulations will come under force under the Renter’s Rights Bill regarding dealing with health hazards such as damp and mould within a reasonable timescale, so checking for any signs of damp or mould is essential.
If the tenant is not ventilating bathrooms and kitchens, this can cause mould and damp issues, so this could be discussed during the inspection to prevent future problems. The landlord can check for any issues effecting the ventilation, such as extractor fans not working, so that the issue can be rectified quickly.
Landlords should assess the hygiene standards, such as ensuring bins are being emptied regularly and there is no accumulation of rubbish. Look for any signs of pests including woodworm, rodents, ants and fleas from pets. Also look for excessive pet hair in carpets, as this can become a problem if the tenant is not ensuring it is removed with vacuuming.
If a leak goes unidentified it can cause significant property damage, so look for any signs of leaking pipes, radiators and boilers. Check that the sealant around baths, sinks and showers is not worn away, as water could leak through.
As well as checking the interior of the property, take a look at the exterior for potential problems such as blocked drains and gutters that could cause water ingress or damp. Inspect the whole outdoor space to see if it is being well maintained by the tenant.
There are also several important checks to complete that will help ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. These include:
Inspections are also an opportunity to identify whether the tenant is breaching the terms of the tenancy agreement. Common examples of breaches of tenancy agreements include:
Yes, it is fine for landlords to inspect a property without the tenant present as long as landlords and tenants are in agreement of the arrangement. Keep communication records that confirm you have the tenant’s permission to inspect the property while they are not home.
For end of tenancy inspections, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme recommends that tenants are present in case there are any disputes over withholding deposit for any damage or if cleaning is required.
While a tenant has the right to refuse a property inspection if the timing is inconvenient or proper notice has not been provided, continuing to refuse an inspection will usually be a breach of the tenancy agreement. In this situation, make sure that you have clearly explained the reason you require entry and keep records of communications in case you need to start eviction proceedings.
This checklist should give you a good idea of what to check during property inspections, but a letting agent can do these on your behalf as part of a full management service. If you would like to find out more about our letting services in SW London areas such as Raynes Park, Kingston or Coombe, please get in touch.
Ticking off the items on this list will help you keep track of your legal responsibilities when renting out a property.
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