What rental owners should look for in a routine inspection
If you own a rental property, one of the most important services a property manager provides is a routine inspection of the property in their care.
So, what exactly is a routine inspection, how often should they occur and what should rental owners be looking for?
What is a routine inspection?
Conducted up to four times a year, a routine inspection sees the property manager attend the property to gauge its condition.
This regular inspection is designed to ensure the property is being properly cared for by the rental occupier, that it remains in good condition and also sees the property manager check to see if there are any repair, maintenance or health and safety issues.
Under most state and territory laws, routine inspections must be at least three months apart and they require sufficient written notice of intended entry from the property manager.
Why are they important?
As a rental owner, routine inspections of your investment property are one of the most important services provided by a good property manager.
Basically, they help prevent small issues from becoming major problems – whether that’s identifying repairs that need to be made, ensuring the rental occupier is looking after your property properly, or flagging something that might be in breach of the rental agreement.
What does a property manager do during a routine inspection?
During a routine inspection, the property manager will look at both the exterior and interior of the house, assessing each room for its condition and any damage.
A good property manager will also take images during the inspection, while noting potential repairs or items that aren’t working as they should.
Once complete, the property manager will send you a copy of their routine inspection report, including suggestions for any improvements or repairs that need to be made.
They will also give feedback to the rental occupier about their care for the property, including any improvements that are required.
What a routine inspection isn’t
While a routine inspection is designed to gauge the condition of the property and how well it is being cared for, but it is not a housework inspection.
Although the property manager will expect the property to be clean and well cared for, they are not there to assess the way the rental occupier lives, unless they are doing something in breach of the rental agreement.
What rental owners should look for
When you receive a routine inspection report, you should work through each section, view the photos and read the comments made by the property manager.
If there are any repairs or maintenance issues to be tended to, it pays to have these dealt with as quickly as possible in the interests of both the property and the welfare of the rental occupier.
If you see something out of the norm in the routine inspection, such as damage that hasn’t been noted, you should flag this with the property manager so they can have it dealt with.
All parties working together
A routine inspection is a great opportunity for property owners, rental occupiers and property managers to work together in the interests of the investment property and for the comfort of those living there.
For the rental owner, routine inspections offer the peace of mind that your property is being looked after, is maintained properly, and there are no major issues likely to arise.
How we can help
Our experienced property managers pride themselves on establishing great relationships with both rental occupiers and owners.
We manage every property as if it were our own and you can learn more about our property management services here.
Alternatively, if you are looking to rent a property, you can view the properties we currently have available here.
