Regular property inspections are an important part of managing a rental property, allowing landlords and letting agents to check its condition and identify maintenance issues before they become more serious.
So, how often should an inspection take place?
There is no legal requirement for a property to be inspected at a specific interval. In practice, a common approach is an initial inspection after around three months, followed by inspections every six months.
However, the appropriate frequency depends on the individual property and tenancy. A property with ongoing maintenance issues may require more frequent inspections, while a well-maintained property with a long-standing tenancy may require less frequent visits.
What is checked during an inspection?
A routine inspection is primarily a visual check of the property’s condition. This can include furniture, décor, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, kitchen and bathroom fittings, gardens and external areas.
The inspection is also an opportunity to identify any cleanliness or housekeeping issues that could affect the condition of the property, such as excessive waste, damage caused by poor cleaning or issues that could contribute to damp, mould or pest problems.
With the introduction of Awaab’s Law, it is particularly important to check for signs of damp and mould and ensure that any issues identified are dealt with appropriately.
Furniture and possessions would not normally be moved during a routine inspection unless there is a specific maintenance reason to access an area.
Letting agents should be clear in their inspection policies about exactly what will be and won’t be inspected. This gives landlords and tenants a clear understanding of what to expect and helps ensure inspections remain focused on the condition of the property.
How often is too often?
Regular inspections are useful, but more frequent does not necessarily mean better.
An inspection every two months may be appropriate where there is a particular concern or ongoing maintenance issue. However, where a property is in good condition and there are no known problems, inspections every two months could be considered unnecessarily frequent and may interfere with a tenant’s quiet enjoyment of their home.
Equally, leaving a property uninspected for a prolonged period can mean that problems such as damp, leaks or deterioration go unnoticed.
The key is to adopt a proportionate approach.
For landlords and letting agents, inspections should provide sufficient oversight of the property without becoming unnecessarily intrusive. For tenants, understanding what an inspection involves and how often it is likely to happen provides clarity.
A three-month initial inspection followed by six-monthly inspections provides a practical framework, but the condition and circumstances of each property should ultimately determine whether inspections need to be more or less frequent.
For further information on rental property inspections and practical guidance, landlords and letting agents may wish to speak to a specialist lettings consultant for advice tailored to their individual circumstances.
