As a landlord, you should be familiar with property inspections. We’ve already written a blog about why they are important for tenants, but in this blog, we’re letting you know why landlords need to complete inspections.
While property inspections are not a legal requirement in the UK, they are extremely helpful and enable landlords to fulfil their legal duties.
How often should you complete property inspections?
It’s totally up to the landlord and letting agents to decide how often they should complete property inspections. In most cases, they are completed every six months, however they can be completed every three months if required.
Inspections should not be too frequent, as tenants have the right to live in their home without unnecessary disturbance. You also need to gain the tenant’s consent in writing before a property visit.
How much notice do landlords need to give when completing property inspections?
Landlords are legally required to give at least 24 hours notice before they enter a property for inspection or for another reason. They must ensure that the visit is at a reasonable time and there is no requirement for tenants to be present, unless they would prefer to be.
If there is an emergency, landlords have a legal right to enter the property immediately.
What are the different types of inspections in the private rented sector?
- Check in inspection: Photos are taken of the property as evidence before a tenancy begins.
- Periodic inspection/mid term inspection: Checking for maintenance and ensuring tenants are looking after the property.
- Check out report & inspection: Photos are taken of the property as evidence when the tenancy ends.
- Compliance checks: Ensuring that gas, electrical safety standards and fire safety regulations are met. Homes must have in date gas safety certificates as well as electrical installation condition reports.
Landlords also need to ensure that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are checked throughout the tenancy.
Why do landlords need to complete regular property inspections?
There are so many important reasons why landlords must complete inspections for rented properties. Here are just some of them.
The introduction of Awaab’s Law
Awaab’s Law means that landlords have a legal duty to respond to reports of damp and mould within strict timeframes. While the law applies directly to social landlords, it has set a new national expectation for how all landlords should manage health‑related hazards.
Organising regular inspections allows landlords to identify damp, mould and other health risks early, ensuring they don’t become worse. Completing inspections regularly also shows landlords taking a proactive approach to tenant safety and maintaining healthy living conditions, which is becoming increasingly important in light of Awaab’s Law.
Reduce the risk of costly repairs
Occasionally, items may break in the home, or other damage may occur. It’s vital that landlords know when these things occur, so that they can rectify the issue and hopefully reduce costly repairs.
Tenants should have access to an easy way of reporting damage or other issues in the home.
Protect your asset
An investment property needs to be looked after, which means ensuring cleanliness and also monitoring the structural integrity of the home. Similar to the above, landlords should be able to rectify issues in a timely manner.
Ensuring tenant safety, compliance and legal obligations are met
Landlords must ensure that their rental properties are safe and compliant for tenants. This means ensuring that all gas and electrical certificates are up to date and ensuring that all furniture and equipment is safe.
Ensuring tenancy agreement adherence
Tenancies may outline different rules and regulations that the tenants must follow. By having a property manager visit the home for inspections, you can ensure that these rules are being followed correctly, which will in turn help to protect your rental investment.
Prevent illegal activity
Unfortunately, illegal activities can sometimes occur, and it’s vital that these are identified and rectified quickly.
How can Intus Lettings help with inspections?
Intus Lettings can support landlords with a wide range of property management services, including property inspections. We arrange inspections at a convenient time with your tenants, so you don’t need to worry about a thing.
We carefully assess your rental property’s condition, ensuring that any damage is accounted for and that you are made aware if any issues need to be rectified.
Are you a landlord looking for trusted property management support? Then you should contact us. We are a nationwide letting agency with a local touch and we have many years of experience supporting landlords and tenants.
