Do’s of Landlord Inspections:
Give Proper Notice of Any and All Inspections (24-48 hours)
Also keep in mind that, even after giving notice, you can only enter a
tenant’s unit during "reasonable hours.” Typically, though this varies by state,
a time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. is considered to be within the scope of
"reasonable hours.”
It’s even better to give even earlier notice than the recommended time
frame. That’s the case especially in cases of routine inspections that you’ve
scheduled in advance.
There are real legal consequences for failing to give notice. Those
include arrest, fines, and legal action being taken against you.
Avoid this by giving written notice, leaving a note on the door or in
the mailbox, or sending notice via email. Those methods are sufficient and
serve as proof that you adhered to the law.
Schedule Property Inspections a Few Times Throughout the Lease Term
There’s no magic number for this. It’ll depend on the length of the
lease (we recommend no more than quarterly for a year lease).
What’s the rationale behind scheduled, incremental inspections
throughout the duration of a lease? Well, it ensures that maintenance and
safety standards are up to date without being excessive.
Remember: Purpose, Professionalism, and Tenant Privacy
If you must enter a tenant’s home to perform an inspection, consider
purpose, professionalism, and tenant privacy. State your purpose upon your
arrival, give proper notice as a professional courtesy, and respect your
tenant’s privacy by ensuring that you don’t overstep.
Document All Routine Inspections in the Lease Agreement
If you have a policy that allows for inspections over a set interval of
time, then you need to document that in the lease agreement.
It’s imperative to discuss these provisions when you’re face-to-face
with the tenant at signing. This way, everyone knows what to expect ahead of
time. It’s much better than having tenants, who haven’t read through the lease,
be caught off guard by your routine inspections.
Be Smart and Reasonable
Just because the law is on your side, doesn’t mean you should completely
disregard the importance of a good tenant-landlord relationship. If you’re
continuously notifying your tenant that you’ll be stopping by, it’s likely to
frustrate your tenant over time. If you’d like to increase your rate of renewed
leases, limit your inspections.
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Jason Gwerder
Monday, 27 September 2021