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Regular rental property inspection is necessary for property owners to ensure that their units are in good condition for the tenants. With all the bases landlords need to cover, it's easy to miss something that can cause bigger problems down the road. Here's a checklist you can use to ensure that you cover everything.
Landlord Inspection Checklist: Interior
Walls and Ceilings
The walls and ceilings of your rental property can be subjected to normal wear. In some instances, you might find damages that you need to address like cracks on the wall or water damage on the ceiling from leaks. Unless it was caused by the tenant, you have to fix it yourself.
Flooring
The floors of your rental unit bear the brunt of tenancy most of the time, so it should be among your priorities during rental inspection. Inspect for wear and tear, scratches, or other major damages. If your unit has a carpet and there are already stains and tears, you might need to replace it.
Windows and Doors
Since these are openings to the rental unit, these are crucial points for your rental inspection checklist. Ensure that they are working properly, have no damage, and can be locked when the tenant needs them to. Tenant safety is a priority you must put at the top of your list.
Appliances
If your unit is fully furnished with appliances, you need to conduct inspections during the renter's tenancy as well as a move-out inspection. If you find that they damaged any appliance, you can charge them for repairs or replacements or deduct it from their security deposit per your lease agreement.
Plumbing
Seeing as running water is one of the basic necessities of a rental property, you should look into it at least once every year and address any problems you might find. Your tenant would likely detect maintenance issues first and call you for repairs. If so, you must be readily available to respond or hire a property manager like Income Property Advisors for quick responses to requests.
Electrical System
Testing the outlets and switches during your rental property inspection ensures that your tenants are both safe from electrical fires and have access to a working electrical system. You can check this around the same frequency as the plumbing apart from maintenance requests.
HVAC System
A working heating and air conditioning system is a major factor in tenant satisfaction. Living in a space with an uncomfortable temperature will lead to complaints and the potential for a tenant to refuse rent payments. While plumbing and electrical systems aren't included in monthly regular inspections, you should add them to quarterly inspections or every season change.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Effective starting December 1st, 2024, San Diego rentals have to abide by new carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms laws. New standards include required locations and battery life duration. Make sure to follow them before the starting date to avoid violating local laws
Keep in mind that there are also existing laws that require landlords to install the mentioned detectors and alarms in rental properties, and your responsibility includes making sure that they are in good working condition for the safety of your tenants.
Landlord Inspection Checklist: Exterior
Roof
During your rental inspections, check the roof for damage, missing shingles, or leaks. Leaving this unaddressed can cause more serious problems like liquid leaking through the electrical system, or breaking down your ceiling and leaving stains.
Gutters and Downspouts
Clear any debris to prevent water damage, especially during the fall season when leaves tend to accumulate in these places. While it won't affect the interior of an occupied property, you are still required to monitor it for a well-maintained property.
Foundation
Inspect the rental property's condition by checking the foundation for signs of settling or cracks. The inspection process of checking the building's structural integrity can be done by the rental property owner, but the issue is beyond normal wear and tear and will require a foundation professional.
Exterior Paint
You won't even need to do regular property inspections if you live on the premises. Once you notice that the paint is starting to crack or fade, it's best to repaint as soon as you can to improve the condition of the property and attract tenants more easily when you market your listing.
Landscaping
Just like exterior paint, the landscape of your rental property contributes to the overall appeal of your real estate investment. Trim the bushes, mow the lawn, remove the weeds, or hire someone who can do the routine work for you.
Before, During, and After You Perform Inspections
Notify Tenants of the Upcoming Inspection
Before a landlord inspection is conducted, they must provide proper notice at least 24 hours prior. It can be through written notice or a digital notification like SMS or a tenant portal. Be sure to schedule rental inspections at a time that's convenient for them.
Determine Potential Issues
Identifying maintenance issues is the first step to fixing them. More often than not, you won't find any issues that you need to fix. You can deduct repair costs from the tenant's security deposit if they caused the damage.
Document Findings for the Rental Inspection Report
Documenting your findings will help create a more comprehensive inspection report. You might need it when a tenant refuses to pay for damages they cause as it could ensure compliance, depending on the terms of your lease agreement.
Address the Issue Found
Immediately address the issues you find to cultivate a positive landlord-tenant relationship and maintain the value of your property investment. Maintaining the property's condition regularly can help make the move-in inspections for new tenants, as well as move-out inspections when the tenant leaves, a little easier.
The Importance of Rental Inspections
- Maintain Property Value: When you inspect the property and conduct maintenance regularly, your investment will retain its value, if not increase.
- Ensure Tenant Compliance: Regular inspections determine whether your tenants are following lease agreements and maintaining property conditions.
- Follow Local Regulations: As paying rent is a tenant's responsibility, it is also your legal responsibility to create a habitable property for them.
Hiring Professionals for Property Management
Rental property inspections are among the many things you have to do as a landlord. Property managers have both the experience and expertise to ensure you follow rules like fair housing laws or ensure lease compliance among your tenants.
Income Property Advisors offer services that cover every aspect of running a rental business. Unsure whether or not hiring a property management company is the right move? You can contact us for a free consultation so you can make an informed decision!
