Find out what you should be looking for as a landlord during a property inspection of your rental, and help keep it in tip top condition to protect your investment.
Unless using a property manager, landlords have the responsibility of performing a regular property inspection of their rental. While it’s not compulsory, a property inspection will allow you to check that there is no damage, identify any maintenance required and that your property is clean and tidy. By law you can only inspect once in any four week period and must give your tenant at least 48 hours notice, but no more than 14 days ahead. Any inspection must also occur between 8am and 7pm and although the tenant doesn’t need to be present, they or you may request to be. If during the inspection you have found that the tenant has breached their responsibilities, you can give them a 14 day period to fix the problem and return to inspect it again.
The question then becomes, what specifics should you use a property inspection to check?
What to Check During a Property Inspection
During the comprehensive initial property inspection, a landlord should have walked through with the tenant, recording the condition of each part of the property in both words and photos. This is then your guide for future inspections, helping you identify any changes which have been made. One regular inspections, you are permitted to take photographs to help you document the condition of your property.
The objects and items you will want to take note of when performing any inspection include:
- Walls, ceilings and doors in every room are free of damage and mould free
- Lights and power points are in good working order
- Windows are mould free and open and shut correctly
- Blinds and curtains are clean and tidy
- Cupboards are clean and vermin free
- Floor coverings are clean and damage/stain free
- Sinks and benches are clean and damage free
- Any appliances are clean and in working order, including ovens
- Toilet is clean and in working order
- Rubbish bins are emptied regularly
- Door locks remain unchanged and in working order
- Grounds are tidy and rubbish is removed
- Smoke alarms are in working order
- Shower and bath are clean and in good working order
The Tenancy Tribunal has created a generic checklist for performing property inspections, which can be downloaded from their website. Or you can make life easier and hire us to undertake regular inspections of your rental for you. If your property is located within the Auckland areas of the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast, Dairy Flat, Remuera or Central Auckland, get in touch with our experienced property management team today!
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