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What to Look for During Routine Inspections
22 Nov 2022
Routine inspections are meant to be quick and painless - for both tenants, the property manager and the landlord.
However these inspections are so crucial to maintaining a property to the highest standards, identifying potential damage and repairs, as well as ensuring all parties in the tenancy agreement are doing their part to manage their responsibilities.
For us, it's an opportunity to report to our clients on the condition of their investment properties, allowing us to provide in-depth details of the condition of the investment property. It provides our clients with peace of mind that their property is being well looked after, and all is in good working order. For those of our clients who are interstate or based internationally, these reports are particularly important.
So there are a few key things that we focus on during these routine inspections, some of which are outlined below.
Broken into a few key categories, our routine inspections focus on safety, tenant cleanliness and landlord maintenance.
Safety:
We encourage our landlords to join us at these inspections if they are able, otherwise we promptly provide all landlords with their routine inspection reports once inspections are completed.
So there are a few key things that we focus on during these routine inspections, some of which are outlined below.
Broken into a few key categories, our routine inspections focus on safety, tenant cleanliness and landlord maintenance.
Safety:
- Smoke alarms - are they working and in tact?
- Security - are all property locks working and is the property 100% secure?
- Balconies - are they structurally sound, in tact and undamaged?
- Walls - are there any cracks, damage or vandalism?
- Floors - are they undamaged, structurally sound and not cluttered?
- Electrical wires - are there any exposed wires? Are all the power points in check? Are all the electrical fittings working and in a good condition?
- External grounds and gardens - Are there any overhanging branches that may be dangerous? Are the grounds well maintained and looked? Is there any attention required by the tenants or landlord in the external grounds?
Tenant Cleanliness
The property should be clean and presentable - a few dishes won’t harm your property. We focus on things that can reduce appliance lifespan or cause property damage if they aren’t clean or well maintained, like:
- Ovens - have they been cleaned recently? Is there a build up of grime and general food splatter?
- Range hoods - have these been cleaned recently? Is there a build up of oils or grime?
- Exhaust fans - have these been cleaned recently?
- Air conditioners - are these working properly? Are the filters properly cleaned?
- Cobwebs (both inside and outside) - as these attract pests we keen an eye out for any signs of pests lurking inside and outside the home and mention this to our tenants
- Bathroom/shower floor and tiles - we look for soap scum, mould and discoloured grout and report on these both to tenants and our landlords for attention
- Lawns and gardens - tenants need to keep the gardens and externals as per the guidelines in their tenancy agreement, as well as landlords in fulfilling their responsibilities outlined in the tenancy agreement
Landlord Maintenance (Responsibility)
Tenants might choose to put up with something and never mention it, but catching cheap repairs before they become expensive ones is always on our radar. We focus on:
- Gardens - excessive maintenance or property damage
- Gutters - any leaks, rust or anything falling off
- Oven and other appliances leased with the property - do they still work? Are they in good working order?
- Air conditioners - do they need a service? Have they been serviced in the last 12 months?
- Heaters (gas appliances should be serviced every 6-12 months) - are these in good working order?
- Plumbing - Looking out for problems like leaking taps, toilets or showers
- Door handles/ knobs - are any loose? Are these in good working order?
We encourage our landlords to join us at these inspections if they are able, otherwise we promptly provide all landlords with their routine inspection reports once inspections are completed.
It's always important as a landlord to keep excellent records of your inspections, including notes with dates and pictures. Inspection reports and paperwork help you keep track of the condition of your property, and can also serve as as legal documents if anything happens to your rental.
