4 Types of Property Inspections for Your Rental Home

Whether you hire a professional or conduct the inspections yourself, it’s critical to regularly assess and track the condition of your rental property. Inspection reports can also serve as proof of condition if anything happens to your rental home. Used in both tribunal by yourself, and your insurance company.

There are few different inspections you can perform at your property-

Move in inspection

Within 48 hours of your new tenant moving in, complete an ingoing condition report.  This is to protect you and the tenant from any legal disputes concerning the condition of the property or wrongfully shouldering the cost or responsibility for damages.

Move out inspection

When a tenant decides to move out, you need to schedule a move-out inspection. Performing a move-out inspection allows you to see if there is any damage to the property beyond normal wear and tear.

Compare your findings to the move-in inspection report to fairly assess whether the property is being returned in the same condition. If repairs will be needed, it’s important to document the cost of any repairs and then deduct the amount from the renter’s bond.

Routine inspection

Once your new resident moves in, don’t just leave everything in their hands for the duration of the lease. You should complete periodic inspections of the property to make sure everything is in good working order and up to code: plumbing, fire detectors, furnace filters, gutters and anything else that could cause costly damage if left without maintenance.

Inspection and maintenance on your rental property should be done every few months. Additionally, use this as a chance to identify any violations of the lease or illegal activity occurring on your property. Just be sure to give the tenant proper notice before entering the property.

Drive by inspection

You don’t need to give notice to visit the outside of your property, just take care to not interfere with their quiet enjoyment of the property.

Looking at the property from across the street, can you see any need for maintenance or repair? Are there hazardous items left outside, such as garbage or cans of paint, or an unkempt yard? Take your camera and make sure any photos are date- and time-stamped for your records.

Inspections are one of the most important tasks of a landlord or property manager. They help ensure that the home is being maintained, that problems are resolved before they escalate, and that your rental investment remains profitable for years to come.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is exclusively for promotional purposes and is not to be relied upon for legal or contractual dealings. Tenant Source recommends you seek independent legal advice, and that you may need to seek technical or other advice and information prior to making any actions in regards to tenancies in your investment properties. Tenant Source Ltd including its staff and directors accepts no responsibility for any issues arising as a result of taking advice from this publication.