Periodic inspections are a vital part of being a landlord and running a successful enterprise. By performing regular inspections, you can maintain high standards throughout your properties and ensure you maintain happy tenants for the duration of their tenancy agreement.
What are periodic inspections?
The primary purpose of this inspection is to assess the overall condition of the interior and exterior of the property. Throughout the tenancy agreement, periodic inspections should occur at regular intervals. These are performed by the landlord or letting agent to assess the property’s legality, standards, and whether the tenant is meeting their responsibilities.
Landlords have a duty of care that must be met, so periodic inspections are important. They deliver a high standard of living and maintain healthy, happy relationships with tenants. These inspections enable the identification and resolution of minor issues before they escalate into more significant ones. Maintaining these inspections on a regular basis allows you to avoid strain on your landlord-tenant relationship.
How often should periodic inspections be completed?
As well as performing inspections at the beginning and end of the tenancy, you also need to perform regular periodic inspections throughout the rental period. Periodic property inspections should be carried out at three to four monthly intervals, as this allows the change of seasons to occur, which can help reveal maintenance issues.
When you have a new tenant, it’s important to begin the tenancy the right way by performing the first periodic inspection as little as one month after they move in. This will help you identify what your new tenant is like and allow you to build a good landlord-tenant relationship.
Following this inspection, you should be performing periodic inspections at three-month intervals; otherwise, this could be seen as invasive. Your landlord's insurance guidelines will help advise you on how often you are expected to perform these regular inspections for insurance purposes.
Giving your tenants notice
To maintain a healthy landlord-tenant relationship, it’s important to have periodic inspections scheduled ahead of time. This shows the tenants that you have their best interests at heart and that you don’t want to catch them out when these inspections occur.
When attempting these periodic inspections, it’s vital that you give your tenants notice. The ‘1988 Housing Act’ states that you must give your tenants at least 24 hours’ notice prior to an inspection, scheduled or not.
What you should look out for during the inspection
Once you have agreed on the time and date of the inspection with 24 hours’ notice, it’s important to know what to look out for. As a landlord, you need to ensure everything in the property is legally compliant and is a safe space for people to live. This inspection also allows you to check that the tenant isn’t breaching their agreement, make sure they are happy, and resolve any issues or queries they may have.
Statutory inspection checks
You must check the property's gas safety and ensure that there is a gas safety certificate in place. Every gas appliance should be assessed by a gas safe registered engineer annually.
Fire safety is another important factor. You must legally install smoke alarms and ensure they are continuously in working order. You can also supply fire blankets and extinguishers in the property, but they are not a legal requirement.
Electrical safety is another important part of checking the property’s legality, and you should have a registered electrician carry out a professional check every five years to get an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report).
All these certificates and reports should be available for the tenant to access.
Tenancy breaches
Tenants should take care of the property and are responsible for what occurs there. When performing these regular, periodic property inspections, this is your time to carefully inspect and see if any unwanted activity has been occurring in your property. This could range from subletting rooms to potentially smoking inside.
Property condition
Recording the condition of the property is a crucial part of periodic property inspections, as it allows you to arrange any maintenance or improvements that need to be carried out. By maintaining these regular periodic inspections, you are protecting your investment, and you can ensure the property is always safe.
The benefits of using a letting agent
Whether you are a landlord with one buy-to-let property or a large portfolio, periodic inspections are a vital part of property management. These can be difficult to carry out periodically without the help of a letting agent.
By using a property management service, you can ensure positive relationships and high standards within your properties are maintained. This could reduce your overall stress as a landlord and allow you to focus on growing your property portfolio.
