As a landlord, placing quality tenants in your rental property is not enough. You also have to ensure that they are actively looking after the property and take care of regular maintenance. Plus, you need to check if there are any repairs or improvements required in the house and take care of them at the right time. The best way to do this is by conducting thorough rental property inspections.
According to the
California Civil Code, every landlord must provide habitable and safe premises for their renters to live in. Conducting regular rental property inspections helps you to identify
maintenance issues and resolve them on time, thus saving you from staggering expenses in the long run. Here are some types of rental inspections that landlords ought to conduct.
Types of Rental Property Inspections
Rental inspections are conducted routinely, roughly every quarter, as well as when the tenant moves in or out, to minimize the risk of tenant dissatisfaction, property damage, tenant injury, or liability. Here are the four main types of assessments that can be beneficial in the long run.
A move-in inspection is conducted when a new tenant moves into your property. It includes a walkthrough where you showcase all the features of the unit to the tenant. During this process, you need to document the house's current condition by creating a comprehensive inspection checklist. It can help you keep track of the existing appearance of the property. This inspection serves as a baseline for you to later compare with the move-out inspection, to identify if your tenants have caused any intentional damage.
A routine inspection requires you to check if there are any issues in the unit while the renters are staying. It focuses on detecting problems that the tenant may have missed reporting or damages that have occurred due to their negligence. Routine inspections also play a massive role in ensuring that issues affecting day-to-day living are resolved promptly.
In a drive-by inspection, you, as the landlord, can cruise by the rental and see if the property is in good hands. Since this inspection requires you to do a quick drive-by, you only need to focus on the external aspects of the property, such as its landscaping, yard maintenance, color, and presence of unauthorized pets on the property.
The move-out inspection is to ensure that your tenant is leaving the house in as good a condition as it was before. You can use your inspection checklist, and compare notes, images, and video recordings of the house's condition to your observations during the move-in inspection. Even though normal wear and tear of the property are expected with constant use of the house, you need to verify whether the tenant has caused extensive damage on purpose.
Note that for every type of inspection you decide to conduct, you must get permission from the tenant to
access the property.
What To Look for During Rental Property Inspections in California City?
If you are a California landlord, there are a few particulars that you need to consider before conducting an inspection. It is advisable to have a comprehensive inspection checklist that allows you to check for all signs of potential damages. You can consult a
professional property manager to know more about what an ideal property inspection checklist should include. To give you an overview, it documents the following aspects.
- Damage to the Interior of Your California City Home
Inspecting the interior condition of the property refers to checking the appliances, utilities, their functions, and repairs to make in your rental home for the tenants. Be wary of any unusual odors, clutters, or signs which indicate that your tenant is not looking after the property.
- Upcoming Maintenance Needs
Not all tenants may give you a call when they see the first sign of a breakdown of the features in the house. They might think that the damage is too insignificant and it might go unnoticed. However, if such minor issues are neglected, they can cause a massive malfunction down the line. Therefore, you need to check any prevailing maintenance problems that may arise in the house. It includes issues related to appliances or checking for leaks, clogged gutters, and unpaved entryways, among other concerns.
- Adherence to Health and Safety Requirements
It is also essential to inspect the property for any health and safety-related hazards. The gas lines in the house should be secure, which can be confirmed by carrying out annual gas safety checks. You can also ensure electrical safety for your tenants and make sure that all the electrical installations and appliances in the house are safe to use. Additionally, you need to check and replace the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and see that the fire escape routes are unhindered.
- Potential Plumbing and Water Damage
While inspecting the interiors, it is also essential to check for plumbing issues. Unchecked leaks can lead to extensive water damage that can later cause cracks in the walls, water seepage, and mold. If water damage is detected early during a
rental property inspection, it can be fixed immediately to avoid any further damage.
- The integrity of Flooring and Walls
The flooring of your house needs to be as clean as it was when the tenant initially moved into the place. Flooring is the most used part of the house and suffers from scuff marks, stains, and regular wear and tear. If you notice that the flooring is damaged, you can take it up with your tenants. Similarly, some landlords do not allow the tenant to repaint or modify the colors of the walls. It is, therefore, essential to check if your tenant has painted the walls of the house without authorization.
We also recommend keeping a strict eye out on the tenants' behavior regarding lease violations. If you haven't allowed your tenants to keep a pet within the unit, they should not have one. If they do, it is considered as breaking the lease. Furthermore, the pet can create a nuisance, destroy the house's landscape, or even chew on the electric wires, which can be an issue. Additionally, ensure that your tenant carries out all of their duties specified in the lease, such as yard maintenance, regular disposal of garbage, maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, and so on.
- Replacement of Air Filters
The HVAC systems in every house are one of the most consistently used functions, which can get damaged due to overuse. They may also malfunction due to dust accumulation. Therefore, ensure that you replace the dirty air filters with new ones during your inspection.
- Presence of Pests on the Property
Many times, pests like ants, mice, termites, or rodents can go unnoticed for a long time. Make sure you check for pests while inspecting a house. If you find some of these pests, you can easily do a spray treatment to prevent them from spreading.
- Damage to the Exterior of Your California City Rental
Along with ensuring that the interiors of the house are safe and habitable, it is also essential to check if the tenant has maintained the property's exterior condition. The home's exterior is the first thing people notice and can be a major attraction for potential renters if it is well maintained. Therefore, there are several aspects of the exterior condition of the house that need to be thoroughly checked.
If the roof of a house is poorly installed or has cracks or damage, it could cause water from the rain to enter the home. It is also a safety hazard as it may cause significant injury to your tenants. Also, check for loose or lost shingles, and get the roof fixed.
- The Backyard and Front Yard
The yard of your rental property is one of the most appealing areas to the tenant, and it should be maintained accordingly. During routine property inspections, ensure that you check if the tenants maintain the yard properly by mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and beautifying its overall appearance.
- Security of Doors and Windows
While inspecting the doors and windows of the rental property, check if they are secure enough to prevent intruders from entering the house. Ensure that all the house's entrances, exits, and windows have strong, high-quality locks. You can also add adequate lighting near each of these to enhance safety. Further, you can think of installing security cameras at crucial locations like the front and back entrances, in the driveway, and in common areas, if required.
- Overall State of the Property
Finally, you need to determine the overall state of the property, to ensure that the structural and aesthetic integrity of the property is being maintained properly. If there are any additional inspection or maintenance-related issues with tenants, you must address them right away.
How Can a California City Property Manager Help with Rental Property Inspections?
