Property Inspections
This is a subject which often divides Property Investors…
Some of the comments we hear around inspections and the “reasons” for not doing them, which come from self-managing Landlords range from:
“I just don’t find the time to do them”
to
“It’s a bit of a waste of everyone’s time really”
and, my personal favourite:
“I have a good relationship with my tenants and trust that they will let me know if something is wrong.”
In our experience property inspections are a must – not carrying them out is a false economy and, worse, storing up potential, expensive problems for the future.
Here’s the thing about inspections – if done correctly and carried out regularly, not only do they allow you to ensure that any issues with your property (and there will be issues from time to time, this is part and parcel of property management) are found in a timely manner and can be sorted before they escalate, but in addition, in doing so, it helps to maintain good relations with your tenants and fosters an environment where issues do not get ignored when they arise or swept under the carpet – but dealt with, quickly and timely, as and when they are spotted and before they grow into big and expensive problems!
The protection of your biggest asset shouldn’t be left to chance, abandoned because you “simply don’t have the time” or hinge on a relationship that you believe you have with your tenants. Inspections allow you the opportunity to catch issues before they become big problems and to get a feel for what is happening inside your property and how it is being looked after.
We often notice things before tenants do and we always encourage them to be present at inspections – they live in the property, so they will know if something is wrong and working together with them to put it right, is the cornerstone of good property and tenant management.
During inspections, some of the things we look for are:
- Safety and compliance (for example – alarms, sockets, fire safety and any obvious HHSRS issues);
- Fabric of the building (boiler, radiators &trvs, guttering, fences etc);
- A stitch in time issues (silicone, mould, drains etc);
- Are tenants looking after the property;
- Is the garden (if applicable) in a good condition and being looked after;
- Who and how many are living there (different sized shoes, additional toothbrushes, too many beds etc);
- Whether there are any illegal substances visible (remember sight and smell here);
- Whether there are any candles being used or other infringements to the contract;
- Whether there is evidence of any pest infestations;
- An opportunity to take meter reads and to talk with your tenants.
And, last but not least, my top tip – always have a look in the loft and any garage – this can be a wealth of information and a real eye opener!
If you have any questions about inspections, or we can help in any way, then give us a call on 0117 440 6789 or email us here
