No-one enjoys tenancy inspections.
The letting agent has to
- make (and often rearrange) appointments, and sometimes out of office hours as a courtesy to the tenant
- give what may sound like patronising advice to tenants on simple domestic tasks such as drying washing outside to avoid condensation
- provide reports to landlords in a non-biased manner
- obtain estimates for work; instruct work; pay the contractor; deduct the monies from the landlord; and make sure that the job has been done to the tenant’s and landlord’s satisfaction.
The tenant
- has a stranger coming into their home, often without their presence
- receives patronising advice!
- has to wait for authorisation from the landlord before any work can be done
The landlord
- often receives a list of maintenance issues every time which ultimately costs them money
- can only make a judgement on the condition of the property and any maintenance issues from photographs & videos alone
- knows it’ll all happen again in another 6 months!
Any relationship will become fraught if tested too often, but the landlord-tenant situation has to be one of the most delicate and fragile relationships in existence.
A tenant wants everything to be fixed immediately, and the landlord wants everything looked after as if it were their own.
Bi-annual tenancy inspections are a necessary evil. Don’t bury your head in the sand and avoid the awkwardness of the task.
I have found cannabis factories, drugs, unauthorised pets, and disappearing tenants by keeping on top of inspections, so avoid them at your peril.
