Tenancy inspections

franklee

Benji wrote: »

the automatic 'must tidy the place from top to bottom' mentality before an inspection is un-necessary. If you have pile of dirty plates in the sink,and unwashed laundry in a pile somewhere, so be it.

Perhaps you haven't considered that maybe some tenants have an "automatic 'must tidy the place from top to bottom' mentality" because they don't wish for strangers to see their laundry etc.? I do an automatic tidy up be it a neighbour, landlord, agent or any other visitor that is due. Tenants can choose for themselves what's necessary in their own home.

watsinaname

I have inspections about every 6mths. the letting agent walks round writing the repairs down on his clip board. As repairs are not done i find it a waste of time and very intrusive. My last inspection i got " its always very clean and tidy here , i dont think i'll bother doing upstairs" .... He never left the door step. The other inspections i have are the sly one's. Nextdoor neighbour will ring landlord if there is anything that he notices needs doing or if i am doing anything. plus the landlord ' walks passed ' , Again when he does see any problems they are never resolved. I feel like my whole life is under a microscope.

celyn90

Mrs_Z wrote: »

Hi there,
this is a question to all your people who are renting (from private landlords). Does your Landlord regularly come around to inspect the property? If so, how do you feel about it?

We have recently rented out our BTL property and I feel as though we ought to pop in at some point to make sure everything is ok and that the place is not in an absoulte state or anything but at the same time, I want to trust the tenant and do not wish to appear interfering with their lives. It's a difficult one.

I honestly hate having these six monthly checks; I find them invasive and irriatating. The LA lets themselves in takes photos of the place and leaves me notes saying I should tidy up more (!). Why thankyou. It's nothing to do with maintainance - as we are expected to leave a note if there is a problem with anything.

It is your house, but for the duration of the rental it is the tenants home and should be treated as such. It always reminds me of having my MiL visit, she turns up when I don't want her there, critises everything and complains that I have a full time job so don't have time to dust the cobwebs. And yes, I feel oblidged to tidy because if I don't my landlord gets a nice photo of my pants on the drying rack.

As for it being an absolute state, that shouldn't concern you. Provided it is returned in the same state as it was let if I wanted to sacrifice chickens in the lounge, I would be within my rights to do so.

As for damage to the fixtures and fittings/no care of furniture; what could you do within the period of the rental? We alwys report a fault/repair. If they smoke, there is also nothing you can do. Make up a handy advice pack at the start of tenancy with stuff in in detailing how to care for things if you are worried so they know how to deal with things, but at the end of the day it is up to them how they treat the fixtures. That is something you need to solve at the end of the tenancy; make appropriate deductions from the depoist and move on.

BitterAndTwisted

If your LA is letting themselves into your home without your permission I would change the barrels of the locks.

mchale

FATBALLZ wrote: »

Assuming the tenant has a telephone they don't need an inspection to bring repair issues to the landlords notice.

As in post 11, thats assuming the tenant can be a*sed to ring the LL to inform him/her, also you need to check tenants not growing a "crop"

LudaMusser

Once every 6 months is perfectly okay if you give them written notice beforehand, they can obviously be there at the time if they like. You need to cover your own back so you do need to check on the property. I saw a programme on TV where a rented house in Milton Keynes had been used to harvest weed, they had cut huge holes thru the floors for venting units and because of the humidity the floorboards had all rotted, cost tens of thousands to repair. They stayed away for the first 6 months and did`nt check as the tennant asked them to never check, sounds way to dodgy to me. Be careful :P

tbs624

If you're growing on that scale there's usually a pretty potent aroma in the vicinity of the property.

The vast majority of Ts do not have a sideline in indoor horticultural activity.

tbs624

G51shopaholic wrote: »

Worked in letting for over 7yrs.

Inspection details should be listed in the contract so all parties are clear on details.

If the way in which the "inspection details" are worded suggests that an LA can dictate when an inspection may take place it will not mean that an LA can do just that.

925dancer

I have a view on this from both sides, as a tenant and as a property manager.

Having had tenants who have been careless but have come up to par with a little nudging, inspections can be vital but I also respect their privacy and I never judged the general tidiness or cleanliness. It was more if I picked up holes in doors, garden getting a bit out of control etc. I was always incredibly polite, if they were home told them not to worry I'm not looking at how they lived and would ask if there's anything they wanted to bring to my attention. I have also been known to leave an inspection if the tenant claims never to have received the letter and just reschedule, it makes for an easier relationship all round.

I did however find quarterly inspections hard work, I did feel I was intruding but I had to do it as it's what the landlord asked for.

As a tenant I expect the odd inspection however my last three landlords have never done any. They have been in to see to the odd repair so I suppose that serves the same purpose but I do think they should have the odd look round.

My current landlady actually apologises and asks if it's okay to come in as she views at as my home to do what I want with. Pictures on walls the whole lot. It's lovely but I do worry about her having a tenant down the line who takes advantage of this.

LittleMissAspie

Ours were every 3 months in our last place, and the flat before that was every 6 months I think, but they seemed to do fire alarm maintenance every month!

One of the best things about having bought is knowing that no-one is coming round to look at my rooms. Doesn't matter if they aren't looking at my belongings, if they give plenty of notice, if I don't need to be there. I just don't want someone else in my personal space.