Renting & estate agent coming round for routine check - what to expect ?

lovebugfamilly

Okay we are renting atm and the estate agent we rent through has advised he is coming round to do a routine check , we have never had one of these before in the previous house we rented. What should I expect ? Im so nervous as Im very OCD about housework anyway but Im expecting him going round with a white glove checking for dust lol , will he go through our cupboards , wardrobes etc. The thing is Im 8 weeks from giving birth so heavily pregnant and have a 14 month old so I wanna know if I need to start scrubbing all my cupboards out etc and generally what to expect

Thanks in advance for any replies

Gwhiz

lovebugfamilly wrote: »

Okay we are renting atm and the estate agent we rent through has advised he is coming round to do a routine check , we have never had one of these before in the previous house we rented. What should I expect ? Im so nervous as Im very OCD about housework anyway but Im expecting him going round with a white glove checking for dust lol , will he go through our cupboards , wardrobes etc. The thing is Im 8 weeks from giving birth so heavily pregnant and have a 14 month old so I wanna know if I need to start scrubbing all my cupboards out etc and generally what to expect

Thanks in advance for any replies

Mine is normally just to check no maintenance work needs doing. Nothing more!

lovebugfamilly

thanks hope that is what it is for us then , I swear Im so OCD about cleaning this pregnancy I think I would have worn myself out scrubbing every inch Im so house proud lol and obviously I only get certain opportunities to have a really deep clean as have a young lo and work pt too ( though am on maternity leave soon )

PasturesNew

He's basically checking it's not been turned into a drugs farm, that you haven't punched holes in the door and don't have a dog weeing and pooing everywhere.

If it's tidy and clean and without structural damage he should be fine.

IF ... IF ... he mentions anything about your lifestyle (e.g. washing up's not been done, linen box is empty, bed's not made), that is NONE of his business and you should be sharp with him. Some become god-like. But all they are really checking is that you haven't trashed the place, that you're keeping it ventilated/water tight/habitable.

Jowo_2

Nothing more than a check to see how you are settling in and assurance that its not been turned into a cannabis farm or sublet out to dozens of subtenants.

andrew09

Please don't worry - we have 2 young children and I used to dread the visits, but really it was just to see that there had been no major damage etc. etc. as the other posters have said. We are now letting out a house and thinking about doing our first inspection in a couple of months. I just want to check that everything's still in tact - and I'm more worried about the tenants using it as an opportunity to give me a list of things that might be wrong with the property...!

lovebugfamilly

thanks again all , you have really put my mind at ease as we are tidy tenants anyway

tbs624

lovebugfamilly wrote: »

thanks again all , you have really put my mind at ease as we are tidy tenants anyway

Make use of the visit - it's a two way process. It's also a T's time to raise any issues with the property that may need the LL/LA's attention. It has nothing to do with tenant tidyness - how you live is your concern provided that you are not committing criminal acts and/or damaging the property.

You may also like to know that the LL/LA has to give at least 24 hours notice in writing to you that s/he would like to "inspect": if the suggested time/date is not convenient for you, you can ask for alternative to be agreed. Should the LL/LA suggest to you that if the date/time is no good for you they will instead access the property in your absence using their set of keys, you will need to be firm with them.

(This is not about looking for difficulties but about being aware for future reference)

Jowo_2

andrew09 wrote: »

... and I'm more worried about the tenants using it as an opportunity to give me a list of things that might be wrong with the property...!

In which case you must diplomatically and firmly remind them of their obligation to report defects in a timely way and ensure that you aren't given a list of improvements, such as new furnishings and requests for decoration, and decline any requests relating to simple maintenance activities, such as changing bulbs and fuses, which are out of scope for a landlord to undertake.

I've had problems before with tenants who only report maintenance issues when it directly affects them but won't report them if it doesn't inconvenience them. Unfortunately, small ignored defects can have horrible consequences (perished bathroom sealant, for starters).

It's great if you've got experienced renters but terrible if you've got a bunch of fresh grads that have never rented privately before who don't even know how to turn radiators on and actually believe that a landlord is responsible for changing their bulbs and fitting their pictures.

tbs624

Jowo wrote: »

In which case you must diplomatically and firmly remind them of their obligation to report defects in a timely way and ensure that you aren't given a list of improvements, such as new furnishings and requests for decoration, and decline any requests relating to simple maintenance activities, such as changing bulbs and fuses, which are out of scope for a landlord to undertake.

Whilst I agree that changing bulbs etc is the responsibility of the T, "reporting defects in a timely way" may very well co-incide with the "inspection" and there is no earthly reason why a T should not ask for re-decoration then if the property needs it.

Jowo wrote: »

I've had problems before with tenants who only report maintenance issues when it directly affects them but won't report them if it doesn't inconvenience them. Unfortunately, small ignored defects can have horrible consequences (perished bathroom sealant, for starters)

If you are inspecting on a regular basis ( as in quarterly) then it is *your* responsibility as a LL/LA to pick up on those things: bathroom sealant does not degenerate overnight and, although the T has to behave in "a tenant like manner", most experienced LLs recognise that a T will not generally care for your property in the same way as you would

Jowo wrote: »

It's great if you've got experienced renters but terrible if you've got a bunch of fresh grads that have never rented privately before who don't even know how to turn radiators on and actually believe that a landlord is responsible for changing their bulbs and fitting their pictures.

But hey, that bunch of "fresh grads" will be paying you more for the property than you'd get renting to a family.Incidentally, most graduates will have already been renting privately for the second and third year of their degree.

The LL should always provide written instructions for heating systems etc, yes, including how to adjust radiator settings and, as for fitting their pictures, many Ts are scared of losing their deposit if they hang picture hooks etc so it would probably seem reasonable to many to actually ask the LL to do the job.

Guitar

I get inspected twice a year, it takes less than 5 minutes. The letting agent just checks there are no serious problems, I always tidy up first but it's nothing to do with the lifestyle I choose.