Dear Landlord Hank: Do You Conduct Rental Inspections? How Often?
How often should a landlord or property manager conduct rental inspections of their property? Veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi answers questions from other landlords and property managers around the country about their rentals.
Dear Landlord Hank,
Do you conduct rental inspections? How often?
Hello Landlady Dorothy,
How often do I conduct rental inspections? It depends.
I do a very thorough vetting process to clear a prospect to become a tenant.
The most important criteria for me is good rental history.
When I put a tenant into one of my properties, I feel very good that the tenant will take care of the property.
Sometimes I inspect rentals right away
That being said, if I have the slightest hint that something may be off or if another resident nearby says something to me about a particular unit, then I inspect right away.
The folks that we have doing pest control are in units every month.
They know to not only kill pests but to look for water leaks, drips, or unsanitary conditions and let me know right away.
Make sure your lease authorizes inspections.
The 10-month mark for rental inspections
If a tenant has great rental history then I normally conduct an inspection at the 10 month mark.
That is when we contact tenants to see if they are going to renew or leave.
If they are going to leave, I start showing right away for next tenant and want to make sure all is right with the unit.
Then when tenant leaves we do walk thru inspection for any damages.
Related post: What Are The Expectations For Landlords And Tenants On Entering Rental Property?
About the author Landlord Hank:
“I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc , in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta. “ Visit Hank’s website here.
