Synergy Surveyoyrs, BUSINESS BOX, 3 Oswin Road, Leicester LE3 1HR

What We Do

We provide independent inventory reports, check-ins, mid-term inspections, checkout reports, viewing services and video walkthroughs to Landlords, Letting Agents, Investors, Portfolio clients and Estate Agents.

We also assist Overseas Investors with “unseen” Property Checks, New Home House Builders with Pre-handover Quality Control and Part Exchange Providers with Clean & Tidy Retention Reports including ongoing Secure Condition Inspections.

WHY ARE INSPECTIONS NECESSARY?

For various reasons it is vital for you or your letting agent to carry out periodic inspections for each tenancy.

What should you be looking out for?

One of the main reasons for a periodic inspection is you can notice any obvious maintenance issues. It is also the perfect opportunity for your tenants to report any minor repairs or problems, before they spiral out of control and become major issues. It is always easier and much more cost effective to repair problems at their early stages.  Something simple, like a small drip could turn into a huge leak if it is not attended too.

Please Note: You should not just rely on your tenants to report issues to ensure that everything is in working order. While the majority of tenants will report serious issues, many won’t report the small ones until before it becomes too late.

Sometimes, through no fault of their own, your tenants will be completely unaware of potential problems. They might have become accustomed to the smell of damp, but you will notice it as soon as you walk through the door. It is always helps to have a fresh pair of eyes (and a nose) to look over the property.

Your investment property might be in a good condition; however, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your tenants are looking after it. You might not be able to evict them based on the way they live, but it may aid your decision as to whether you wish to renew the tenancy agreement at the end of the tenancy.

You are unable to tell your tenant how to live if they are untidy, but if you find there is cleaning required, you can inform them that this could resort in damage to the property if they do not do anything about it. If they leave clothes hanging around, that is their lifestyle choice and not detrimental to the property, but if they do not clean the bathrooms, this could result in staining of the fixtures and fittings.

You may think that you have good tenants because they are consistently paying the rent on time, however, the reality is that some of the worst tenants are the best payers. They want to keep you away from the property and therefore hide their illegal activities.

There have been reports that an increasing number of tenants turn their homes into cannabis farms. Therefore, it’s important that you don’t assume your tenants are good renters because they pay the rent on time.

Having clear communication and a good rapport are key to a stress-free relationship with your tenant, which can even make your investment more profitable. If you don’t have a good relationship with your tenant, you could be making a big mistake and causing you a lot of hassle.

Having a good relationship will make it easier for you, especially when arranging inspections and repairs, as well as making your tenants more likely to want to renew the tenancy agreement at the end of the fixed term. This will ultimately lead to long-term, reliable tenants for you.

What to look for

Some landlords will conduct a more thorough inspection than others, but there are certain areas that you must always check:

A lot of tenants are not aware of what condensation mould is, they usually see the mould and automatically think there is either a leak or the property has damp. Condensation mould is one of the most popular types of mould to appear and it is one of the most important issues to look out for. Many tenants simply don’t realise how dangerous and serious mould infestations can be, but you must be aware of them.

Always look around the windows, ceilings, corners of rooms particularly outside walls and wardrobes, pay special attention to rooms prone to moisture, such as the bathroom and kitchen. Don’t forget to check the pipework hidden away in kitchen units, and ensure that all extractor fans work – this will help to prevent mould infestations.

Run all the taps in the property and check for any signs of leaks from the pipe work.  Leaks can be one of the main causes of mould and rot.  This can have a devastating effect on the health of your tenants and condition of the property.

Check the drains outside for blockages and to ensure that water is not overflowing and check the overflow pipes as this can lead to much bigger problems.

Check to make sure that all the fixtures and fittings as well as any other items you have provided are in a good condition and in a good working order.

You should have a clause in your tenancy agreement that specifies the tenants must maintain the garden, you should check that it is neat and not overgrown.

If you find that the garden is not being well kept, you can advise the tenant that it needs attention, otherwise it could cost them a lot of money to have it put back as it was when they moved in.

Pay attention to the loft, have a look around with a torch to check for any leaks, holes, rodents or any illegal farms.

There is often a fine line between fair wear and tear and actual damage.  You can only make your tenants liable for damage and not for fair wear and tear.  Look around the property and decide which issues are caused by reasonable use of the property on a daily basis – such as scuff marks on the walls.

If you use a letting agent to manage your property, it is common for them to conduct periodic inspections on your behalf.  You must make sure that they do visit the property and supply you with a report afterwards. Most agents record the condition of the property and note down any problems.

Make sure that your tenancy agreement has a clause for periodic inspections.  By having this in the tenancy agreement it specifies that the landlord has permission to access the property to conduct an inspection and ensures your tenants are aware of your duties.

It is the law that landlords must keep the property in a good state of repair and tenants might not be aware of your rights to check the condition of the property on a regular basis.

At the check-in, it would also be worth mentioning to your tenants that you or your agent will be conducting periodic inspections of the interior and exterior of the property, and a report will be compiled.

Your tenant might not feel comfortable having people in their home, especially if they are not present and this might result in them not allowing entry.  Be aware that some might be refusing access due to illegal activities.

All tenants are entitled to live in “quiet enjoyment”, meaning that you or your agent must seek their permission before entering the property.  What can you do if permission is refused?

Try and speak to your tenants and find out why they are not allowing access, if it is because they want to be present arrange a time suitable to them.

Even though you have the right to inspect the condition of your property, you can only do this by entering a formal application for a court order.  You or your agent cannot enter the property without consent and if you do, it could be considered as trespassing or harassment.

The only exception to this is if there is an emergency.  In these cases, you can enter the property without permission from the tenant.

You might wish to consider serving notice on the tenant so that they must vacate the property at the end of the tenancy.

Should the tenant refuse entry and, the property is in a worse state of repair at the end of the tenancy, you may be able to claim against their deposit.

Most tenants will be happy to allow you access to carry out the property inspection.  The best way to arrange this is by writing to them and giving them at least a weeks’ notice stating the date and time and asking them to contact you if it is inconvenient to them and to be able to arrange a mutually convenient time.