WHY PROPERTY INSPECTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT
There are many reasons why landlords should carry out property inspections. Sal goes into detail as to why these are beneficial for not only the Landlord of a rental property, but also how they can aid the tenant renting from them.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
If you have ever been a Tenant in a rented property you will know exactly what I mean when the dreaded, “it's time for your periodic inspection“ call is received from your Letting agent or Landlord. The initial panic of what if they throw me out because I haven’t washed up or mowed the lawn! Some Tenants don’t seem to care but for others it’s a real cause of concern.
Inspections can feel intrusive and unnecessary and remind Tenants that their ‘home’ doesn’t actually belong to them. So why do they need to be done? Surely it would be easier for everyone if we just let the Tenants get on with it...
Well… Inspections are fundamental, not just for you as the Landlord/owner of the property but also for the Tenant. A good inspection shouldn’t be rushed, it's a chance for you and your Tenant to get to know each other, to build a relationship which will help build a foundation of trust that is so important in case something unexpectedly go wrong further down the line.
'Why do inspections', and 'why so often', is a question we as Letting Agents are often asked. Well let’s be honest, on the first few inspections we are checking that the tenants are suitable, that they are looking after the property and ultimately were the right choice of Tenant.
Subsequent inspections are there to check the property and to identify any upcoming issues that you as a Landlord may need to set aside money for. It's better to be prepared for something costly that needs repairing/replacing, rather than having it sprung on you from out of nowhere, to simplify, lets oil that squeak before the wheels come off!
As a letting agent/Landlord it helps to know the property inside out, the changes a property sees as the seasons pass by. The works a property may or may not require in the upcoming weeks, months or years can only be gauged by a thorough inspection undertaken on a regular basis. This in turn is better for your Tenant if these jobs are highlighted before they become a major issue.
A lot of Tenants are under the misconception that every Landlord has lots of money to spare and are receiving the rent as full profit every month ('I wish', I can hear you all say), we know that this is not the case. We tend to find that a large number of Landlords have mortgages and do not have spare income (especially in the current economic climate) and the rent received pays the mortgage and the fees of the agents and that’s about it, so forward planning is essential when it comes to costly repairs.
It is also easier to nip unwanted behaviour in the bud if inspections are undertaken regularly. We do appreciate that sometimes conversations with your Tenant over damages and repairs etc can be uncomfortable and that’s when having a Property Manager is beneficial. We are experienced in liaising with tenants and the conflict that it unfortunately sometimes brings.
Love Property carry out inspections every four months and produce a detailed report, making sure that all aspects of the property are checked and that you as a Landlord are covered under HHSRS regulations. We are also able to carry out “ad-hoc” inspections for landlords who self-manage.
Call Sal on 01748 834373 (option 1) or 07521 505114 or email me sal@lovepropertyuk.co.uk to see how we can make your life easier?
