Routine Inspections

As part of a tenancy it is a regular practice for our property managers to do routine inspections of each property.

Why do we do routine inspections?

Routine inspections protect a property and help us flag any potential maintenance needs before they become problems.

The biggest benefit of a routine inspection is that it allows our property managers to check that a tenant is maintaining an owner’s investment appropriately. Even though we may be communicating with the tenant about repairs and maintenance issues as they arise, a routine inspection gives our property managers a chance to see for themselves and document any maintenance, damages or repairs required on a property to ensure that the owner does not end up paying for costs that aren’t their responsibility.

It’s our job as property managers to be proactive and we can’t always rely on tenants to report maintenance and damages on the property and sometimes they don’t know what to look for. When we do routine inspections, we always keep a keen eye out for any potential issues.

Another major benefit is that a routine inspection allows a tenant to be feel like they have a chance to be heard and to make sure they are happy with things. Its an opportunity to check in with them face to face and keep open good lines of communication throughout the tenancy which helps with keeping tenants who pay rent on time, cause minimal damage and are happy to renew their lease multiple times.

Regular routine inspections are also the best way to ensure that an owner’s home is handed over to a tenant in a good condition and standard. They leave the tenant with clear expectations on how to live in the property and how to leave the property when they vacate.

What do we look for in a routine inspection?

During a routine inspection our property managers not only assess the condition the tenants are keeping a property but also the overall state of the property including:

Wear and tear

Cracks, marks or chips in the ceiling or walls

Lights and appliances are in working order

Leaking taps, spouts, shower heads

Mould and mildew growth

Visible water damage or water marks in bathrooms and on ceilings and walls

Lawns and gardens maintained

Also, any unlawful behaviour including drug lab indicators

How often do we do routine inspections?

It is our practice to do a routine inspection 8 weeks after a new tenant has moved into a property to check that they are maintaining the home properly and then every 6 months after that. By law we are able to do up to 4 inspections per year so if we feel there is a problem that needs attention, we can schedule a further inspection if necessary.

Routine inspections can be stressful for tenants and we feel that twice a year is a reasonable number of visits to keep tenants happy and for our property managers to ensure that an investment is being properly cared for.

Can an owner attend a routine inspection?

Absolutely! We encourage an owner to attend, at least once per year, if possible. This gives them an opportunity to check on their investment and view any wear and tear. It gives them an opportunity to be aware of problems as they arise. We arrange a suitable time with the owner, tenant and property manager and let the tenant know the owner will be attending as well.

What happens if the place is a mess?

If there is anything that needs to be rectified by a tenant, we provide them with a list of what needs to be rectified and provide a timeline for the work to be completed. We will organise to re-inspect the property, usually 14 days later, to allow them time to have the rectification work done.

If a tenant fails to rectify the situation by the time of the re-inspection then what happens next will depend upon how severe the situation may be and we recommend that owners discuss this with the property manager who can advise and make recommendations as to what the best way forward may be. That’s what we are here for!

How do we communicate the results with the owner?

During the inspection we note all maintenance, wear and tear and/or damages in a report and if applicable will include photo evidence. A copy of our report and any photos will be sent to an owner together with details of anything the tenant needs to rectify for re-inspection.

If you would like more information on routine inspections, please don’t hesitate to give our property management team a call.