6 Things to Always Check During a Rental Inspection

6 Things to Always Check During a Rental Inspection

It is natural to want your rental to be in good condition and to have the urge to ensure it. Unfortunately, the only realistic way to do this is through rental inspections. It makes it all the more important you understand what to look for when doing one. Let’s go over the 6 things to always check during a rental inspection!
 

The condition of the appliances

The first of the things to always check during a rental inspection is the condition of your appliances. Of course, this applies only if you had included appliances with the rental in the first place. Most landlords are looking to attract long-term tenants since it is a massive boon not having to buy them. The tricky part is that the tenant’s handling of the appliances can significantly affect their lifespan. If you notice normal wear and tear, such as fading of coloring or slightly reduced performance, that’s fine. But, if you see clear signs of damage that everyday use could not have produced, you need to consider doing something about it. After all, it is not a viable strategy to continuously replace appliances that your tenant continues to break.
 

The condition of the roof

No matter what, the condition of the roof is a must among things to always check during a rental inspection. The roof is far too important to any building; if its condition deteriorates, it is not simply the tenant’s problem. There is a definite possibility that the rental itself can end up significantly damaged. Suppose you notice any damage to the roof or identify leads in it. In that case, as the storage experts from Verified Movers like to advise, you should immediately get a storage unit and have everything from the attic moved there. If you do not, there’s a strong possibility that either your own or the property of your tenants will get damaged, which is a complication you doubtlessly do not want to deal with. Naturally, endeavor to fix the leaks and other roofing issues as quickly as possible.
 

General cleanliness of the rental

A somewhat more mundane concern is whether your tenant is keeping the rental clean. Unlike the other maintenance issues, which can be construed as your sole responsibility depending on the lease agreement, this one’s strongly on the tenant’s head. If they neglect cleaning the rental and allow it to slowly decay, then that’s direct damage to your property and not something you want to allow. Since this is not something you can continuously check without significant sacrifices to your free time, it is best to consider hiring a property manager. They can ensure that your rental is being treated well by the tenant. And that you don’t need to constantly worry about its condition. Note that you cannot legally stipulate a tenant must hire professional cleaners regularly in a lease agreement to combat this. This would be dubbed an attempt to impose an unreasonable expense.
 

You can’t let your rental turn into a garbage heap!

Water and humidity problems

The next on the list of things to always check during a rental inspection are water and humidity problems. Now, there are two types of this to look out for. First, you need to look for leaks, signs of cracked pipes, and similar. These are typically something hard to spot when just starting to develop. Especially since they mostly happen in bathrooms or kitchens where there’s likely some water due to daily activities. The second causes high humidity in your area coupled with inadequate ventilation. It is simple condensation of the same, but it still causes many problems, such as mold. Working to solve them and their root cause can significantly improve the longevity of your rental and decrease the number of renovations needed. Or at least somewhat reduce their frequency.
 

Mold is a serious issue and to be exterminated with prejudice.

The heating system

Now, a sound heating system is one of the makings of a good apartment, which makes it great in truth. Not something inexperienced renters tend to focus on. But, as soon as you point out its importance come winter, they are sure to appreciate it, which is why it is essential to ensure that your rental’s heating system is always in tip-top shape. Depending on your heating solution, you can encounter various problems here. If you have an HVAC system, it might need maintenance, cleaning, or similar to work well. If you have a more traditional furnace, be it gas or wood-based, cleaning it and ensuring all the system’s elements throughout the rental are working properly is required. Whatever the case, endeavor to ensure that your tenant can remain warm and cozy come winter.
 

Potential lease violations

The final of the things to always check during a rental inspection are potential lease violations. These are admittedly somewhat tricky and will depend on your lease agreement. One of the major points, for example, could be to look out for the presence of pets or anything that might hint at them during your inspection if your lease prohibits them. Another example would be additional roommates not part of the lease agreement. Whatever the case, this is hard to reliably check because you can cover up most such violations for an announced inspection. And, as we mentioned, you likely do not want to spend a ton of time visiting your rental occasionally to ensure there are no issues. This can be skipped if you hire a professional property manager and let them tackle the task for you.
 

The heating system

Now, a sound heating system is one of the makings of a good apartment, which makes it great in truth. Not something inexperienced renters tend to focus on. But, as soon as you point out its importance come winter, they are sure to appreciate it, which is why it is essential to ensure that your rental’s heating system is always in tip-top shape. Depending on your heating solution, you can encounter various problems here. If you have an HVAC system, it might need maintenance, cleaning, or similar to work well. If you have a more traditional furnace, be it gas or wood-based, cleaning it and ensuring all the system’s elements throughout the rental are working properly is required. Whatever the case, endeavor to ensure that your tenant can remain warm and cozy come winter.
 

Potential lease violations

The final of the things to always check during a rental inspection are potential lease violations. These are admittedly somewhat tricky and will depend on your lease agreement. One of the major points, for example, could be to look out for the presence of pets or anything that might hint at them during your inspection if your lease prohibits them. Another example would be additional roommates not part of the lease agreement. Whatever the case, this is hard to reliably check because you can cover up most such violations for an announced inspection. And, as we mentioned, you likely do not want to spend a ton of time visiting your rental occasionally to ensure there are no issues. This can be skipped if you hire a professional property manager and let them tackle the task for you.

No matter how cute, if banned, pets can’t be allowed to stay in your rental.

Final comment

Having gone over the 6 things to always check during a rental inspection, you can ensure that things in the rental are the way they should be. Whether it be for the comfort and safety of your tenant or for the safety and maintenance of your rental, you need to make sure to be very thorough and careful with your inspections.

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