Being responsible for a rental property is a lot of work. Keeping up with regular maintenance and figuring out when repairs are needed is time-consuming. If you fail to do this, you could end up with costly repairs.
Regular rental property inspections can help you maintain a successful rental business. If you are a Beaufort landlord, you might be wondering how often you should conduct property inspections.
Keep reading to find out what you need to know.
How Often Should I Perform Rental Property Inspections?
As a landlord, the amount of times you will perform rental property inspections may vary.
For instance, if you have tenants with different lease durations, you'll inspect the units at different times. A tenant with a one-year lease won't need inspections as often as someone with a longer lease.
Some landlords prefer to complete a 6-month lease inspection or quarterly inspection. No matter what you decide works for you, always keep a regular schedule.
If you are an out-of-town landlord, hiring a property manager can help you out.
What to Inspect
During a property inspection, there are things you can't afford to miss. When inspecting an occupied unit, check the following:
- Fire extinguishers
- Bugs/pests
- Smoke batteries
- Furnace filters
- Water leaks
- Water damage
- Appliances
Inspect the overall cleanliness and condition of a property. Property inspections should be used as a preventative care method.
Move-in inspections and move-out inspections are customary. Maintenance and safety inspections can be handled bi-annually or quarterly.
Notice to Inspect
Handling property maintenance, repairs, and inspections can be tricky with occupied properties. You'll need to provide tenants with a notice to inspect before entering a unit.
Landlord responsibilities include following laws on tenants' rights. By law, you can include in a lease that you are allowed to enter the property for repairs or inspections if you provide the proper notice.
Some landlords specify inspection dates in the lease to provide tenants with a heads-up. Most landlords give tenants at least a 24-48 hour notice if not specified beforehand.
A property management company can help you send friendly reminders to tenants about inspections.
Privacy and Quiet Enjoyment
Residents in Beaufort should understand that the unit doesn't belong to them. They must allow the landlord access to the unit. Tenants cannot refuse entry or change the locks without asking the landlord.
Still, tenants have a right to privacy and quiet enjoyment. Landlords can break this right by disturbing the renter.
Tenants may feel that multiple inspections are excessive, so it's best to stick to the necessary ones. Be mindful of tenants' rights to avoid legal issues.
How Can a Property Management Company Help?
Conducting regular rental property inspections is a lot of work. If you don't have time to maintain your property adequately, hire a property management company in Beaufort.
Stinger Home Management is a full-service property management company with local experience. Our mission is to provide owners with unparalleled service through expert knowledge.
With combined decades of experience from our team, we are equipped to handle property inspections, among other services. Connect with us today to learn how we can help.
