Regular inspections paired with a healthy relationship with your tenants can give property owners peace of mind knowing that their investment is being taken care of.
Not only are inspections a good opportunity to have your property manager ensure that the tenants are taking care of your investment and keeping an eye on any pre-existing conditions, but it also gives tenants a chance to talk through any grievances with the property. If you want to keep long term tenants happy then it's important you and your property manager stay on top of these issues.
How often should a property be inspected?
The legislation on frequency of property inspections differs from state to state. However, in QLD we are allowed to inspect the property on behalf of the landlord, up to 4 times every 12 months.
When inspecting, we don't just walk through and take some photos. Instead, we actively compare the condition with the last report, using our proprietary inspection process.
What if there are issues?
Detailed photos and a written description should be provided to you as part of the entry condition report. Images can then be compared to previous inspections and changes can be tracked.
If any serious or costly issues arise, often the landlord will request to inspect those areas personally. Property managers can request a further inspection ahead of works with the tenant.
If the tenant has caused more than the normal wear and tear damage, your property manager may need to issue them with a breach or notice to remedy. If no changes happen, the matter may need to be taken to the tribunal and you might find yourself needing to proceed to issuing the tenants with a notice to vacate.
Follow up actions
Any urgent repairs or maintenance, such as broken windows or a hot water system not working identified during an inspection, should be fixed as soon as possible. These are basic amenities that the tenant can expect.
Any minor or non urgent repairs can be planned and budgeted for. The property manager can source multiple quotes for any work over a predetermined value. Here at Century 21 on Duporth this minimum amount will be agreed upon with the landlord before any commitment to tradespeople is made.
Overall, the property inspection report should give the landlord a clear and accurate view of the state of their investment property, the condition in which the tenants are keeping it and advice on any urgent or non urgent repairs and also on things that your property manager may identify that could become an issue down the track.
Your inspection reports along with any maintenance requests and historical data can be accessed directly via the online owner portal. You can access this info 24/7 without having to pick up a phone or send an email, we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone.