Berry Blog

Expectations for your Routine Inspection

Receiving a letter or email from your property manager informing you there is an upcoming routine inspection at your property can cause a lot of stress for some tenants. Quite often you will find yourself frantically trying to clean the house from top to bottom in the time leading up to your inspection.

Although we do expect your property to be clean and well-kept, we do realise this is your home and do not expect you to clean every inch of the property to ensure there is not a speck of dust in sight.

The main purpose of a routine inspection is to identify any issues which require maintenance or repair and to ensure the property is being looked after and is a safe environment for tenants.

Routine inspections give tenants the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns they have with the property. Leading up to the inspection it is a good idea to write these down so you do not forget to mention anything and to ensure any repairs or upkeep to the property can be actioned quickly.

The main areas property managers are looking for during a routine inspection are:

• General cleanliness – ensure the floors have been vacuumed and mopped; kitchen and bathrooms have been cleaned; furniture, skirting boards and windowsills have been dusted; ensure there are no large piles of laundry to be stepped over.
• Lawns and gardens – be sure to mow the lawns, weed the gardens and ensure plants/shrubs are not overgrown and out of control.
• Any damages to the property – cracks in tiles, walls or ceilings, stains or damage to carpets and flooring, dents. Holes, or large marks on walls.
• General upkeep and preventative maintenance are required to keep the property in good condition.
• Rubbish is not being left outside the property.
• Ensuring smoke alarms are in position and not tampered with and encouraging tenants to test these on a regular basis.