Unit inspections during a tenancy
Recently I was communicating with a person who was criticising a property manager for the poor work they were doing. They indicated the property manager hadn’t inspected the rental property in the many years they were managing the property, and there were a number of issues with the property.
Cartref Properties includes two inspections with each property within a twelve month period. We find this helps us manage the tenants and the property more effectively. When we discuss this with potential clients they often fail to see the importance of inspecting the unit while it is tenanted and request a reduced cost of management in exchange for no inspections. Cartref Properties won’t manage a property unless we are able to perform inspections every six months. We find there is a significant increase to the landlord having a positive experience when regular inspections are performed.
When tenants are applying and viewing the unit for rent we are open with all potential tenants regarding the inspections and their frequency. We find this increases the quality of tenants applying and reduces the possibility of selecting a poor tenant. Tenants who are okay with the regular inspections have proven to be better quality tenants. We even tell the applicants the reasons for the inspections, which includes ensuring they are doing nothing illegal, investigating if the unit needs repairs before they become out of control and ensuring the people on the tenancy agreement are the only ones residing at the unit. Our tenancy agreement has 38 addendum clauses, many of which we are unable to confirm by the tenant paying rent. We have found again explaining these issues to potential applicants doesn’t scare quality people from applying for the rental unit. We have also found performing the inspections creates better communication with the tenants.
Many landlords and property managers think or believe property management is simple, easy and doesn't require much effort. Finding the tenant is the beginning of the process of owning and or managing a rental property. It is equally important to know what is happening at the property during the tenancy, and this can only be done by visiting the unit regularly. If you hire a property manager, request they perform at least two inspections annually and provide you with a report of their findings. Some insurance providers are demanding this and even more frequent inspections to keep the insurance valid.
Need assistance managing your rental property, Cartref Properties can assist you, call today to discuss your needs. You can find more information about us at: www.cartrefproperties.com
