So you want to rent out your property to a new tenant and are working on your rental agreement, but keep tripping up over the inspections...
As it turns out, there isn't really one set amount of times you should inspect your rental property to make sure the tenant is taking proper care of it. At a minimum, there should be an inspection once a year. This is often scheduled prior to when a lease ends, as it can determine whether or not you renew the lease for that specific tenant depending on how well they have taken care of the place.
If you decide you want to be more proactive to better protect your investment, there are several things to keep in mind.
The rental laws vary from state to state. Make sure you know them so you know your rights as a landlord, including how much notice you have to give prior to an inspection, and if that notice must be given in writing.
Make sure the procedure for inspections is clearly explained in your rental agreement: what the tenant can expect, what kinds of upkeep need to be done, and the procedure for any necessary maintenance work.
If the inspection has anything to do with maintenance, do not allow a contractor or other maintenance person to enter the property alone, especially if the tenant is not present.
Inspections twice a year, every four months or every three months are more frequent and give you a better chance to catch any issues before they become massive money pits, but are not so frequent that they might strain the relationship you have with your tenant. As long as this information is included in the rental agreement and as long as all local laws are observed, inspecting more than once a year is perfectly fine.
There are various things to keep an eye out for when doing an inspection but the big four for an indoor inspection are neglect, signs of a pet that isn't part of the rental agreement, anything that would indicate illegal activity, and anything that needs maintenance, from the appliances to the plumbing. Tenants would normally reach out for maintenance depending on the rental agreement, but if they have anything to hide, such as the pets or illegal activities, they may put off maintenance requests that could cause significant damage.
There are a handful of other reasons why a landlord might inspect a property, such as an emergency, requested maintenance, request by the tenant, or if there is reason to suspect the tenant may have left the property without breaking the lease. As long as all procedures and applicable laws are followed in such instances, there should be no issue for the landlord or tenant.
Property inspections are a relatively easy way to make sure your investment isn't being damaged or destroyed by a careless tenant, and can also determine if you want to renew the lease of that tenant when their current one is up. They can mean the difference between catching a small leak or finding that the floor has rotted and warped due to water damage. One is a relatively easy fix, while the other could cost thousands of dollars and might render the property uninhabitable while the repairs are being done. It is in your best interest to do at least one yearly inspection, but more frequent inspections are advised to keep on top of things.
Feel free to reach out to us (using the form below) if you have any questions about rental inspections, as we have years of experience to draw from.