Landlord Inspection...What to expect?

lufcgirl

Me and a friend currently rent a two bedroomed apartment from a lettings agency. We recieved a letter saying they were coming to do their quarterly inspection tomorrow.

Now were a little worried, obviously the place is always tidy, clean and everything is in it's place. However on one of the walls (everyone is painted cream and it's a new build with VERY thin walls) there are marks which show the removal of paint. It's not deliberate but is there and noticeable.

Are they likely to say anything about it or ask us to pay anything...or even worse, ask us to move out? Were both going to be at work tomorrow too, so don't like the idea of them being in there with all our things at their disposal.

tbs624

lufcgirl wrote: »

......Were both going to be at work tomorrow too, so don't like the idea of them being in there with all our things at their disposal.

So why didn't you ask to re-arrange an appointment for when you can be there - it is acceptable to do just that. They should always give you a minimum of 24 hours notice but you can change it to a mutually convenient time.

Use any inspection visit as a two-way process - highlight anything that you think needs attention and ask them to note it down.If you can arrange to be there keep a note yourself on what is said and who attends, & keep it with your tenancy agreement.If you can't be there leave a note listing any problems and asking them to check the wall. Do you have a friend or relative who'd be available to attend?


You won't be "asked to move out" because of marks on the wall unless you talking about foot high graffiti in purple spray paint and even then they've got to follow the legal procedures.

Do you mean the sort of mark where you may say brush against it when passing each other,ie in a hallway or where furniture has been moved against the wall? Just discuss it with them/bring it to their attention via a note and see what they say - many newbuilds are painted with the cheapest emulsion which will mark easily.

Btw you don't have to "tidy" for these inspections - it's your home and you live how you please, provided you aren't damaging the property.

rsykes2000

My opinion - they would have no grounds to ask you to move out, please don't worry about this. They may mention it in any report they give back to you (if they do such a thing) but personally I wouldn't fret. I also don't think they can ask you to repaint the wall in mid-term of a tenancy.

lufcgirl

The marks are from brushing up against the wall (precisely from a belt I own) and are just across it the wall in horizontal lines.

We didn't know we could rearrange the appointment (wish we did!). Theres nothing else wrong in the house other than that, and one wall which has cracked but they are aware of that from when we first moved in.

skintandscared_2

We have regular inspections and they often let themselves in. If they are professional letting agents you don't have anything to worry about - they are not there to go through your things - just to check that everything in the property is in order. They certainly won't worry about a couple of scuffs on the wall until it's time to move out, by which time you can have sorted it out anyway. Those magic eraser things are brilliant at getting scuffs like that off, by the way

redcar_2

If you have only just received the letter today about an appointment tomorrow I would ring them first thing in the morning and say it is not convenient and rearrange for a time you can be there. If you have had the letter a while though I would probably think it was too short notice to cancel but they have to realise that reasonable (not minimum) notice goes both ways.

stevetodd

lufcgirl wrote: »

Me and a friend currently rent a two bedroomed apartment from a lettings agency. We recieved a letter saying they were coming to do their quarterly inspection tomorrow.

Now were a little worried, obviously the place is always tidy, clean and everything is in it's place. However on one of the walls (everyone is painted cream and it's a new build with VERY thin walls) there are marks which show the removal of paint. It's not deliberate but is there and noticeable.

Are they likely to say anything about it or ask us to pay anything...or even worse, ask us to move out? Were both going to be at work tomorrow too, so don't like the idea of them being in there with all our things at their disposal.

Hi,

I'm a landlord. If I was aware about this mark I would simply say it needs to be put right, it's not a big deal, so relax. Any landlord that would try and kick you out over something so trivial, is a lunatic that you better being not involved with. So my opinion is stop worrying about it.

You could always leave a note for the agent saying something like:

"Hi, sorry about the mark on the wall, obvioulsy we aware that we need to get it put right, please don't think that we have ignored it"

happyfox_2

You sound like very reasonable tenants - the fact you are concerned about some marks on the wall would be welcomed by any sensible landlord or letting agency. From what you say the marks are not serious in any case, and would not require expensive repair work. I think you do not have to worry. Even if the marks are commented on, there does not sound like any grounds for asking you to leave.

bobothebear

We have inspections in our house every 3 months and have never had any feedback from ours. But a friend up the road gets a printed report of the condition of their property and an assessment on the cleanliness.

We noticed some extra marks on the wall on our stairs recently from taking our new babies chair and other bits up and down the stairs. There was a lot of marks already mentioned on the inventory but I just popped to B&Q and got some matching paint and touched over all of them. Clearly no one noticed anything and it looks really good now.

neverdespairgirl

Our LL pops round by mutual agreement every 9 months or so. We all sit in the living room, and say whether anything's not working. LL doesn't actually look at the rest of hte place. But we've been here ages, so there is mutual trust.

pinkshoes

Where does quarterly inspections fit in with the entitlement to quiet enjoyment of the property? I thought you only HAD to let them in to carry out emergency repairs?

I certainly wouldn't let them in whilst I wasn't there!!