What is the recommended interval for property inspections? Some sites say to inspect the property on an annual basis and others recommend an inspection every 6 months?
An annual safety and maintenance inspection is generally considered an acceptable standard. Semi-annual inspections may have more value to help reduce risk and contain costs by identifying a problem early on. The longer interval between inspections creates greater potential for property damage and loss, including increased exposure to claims of liability.
Depending upon the type and age of the property, the condition of the property at the time of the last tenant move-in, the landlord may want to schedule periodic, detailed inspections of the property. Some landlords schedule these inspections to coincide with seasonal maintenance tasks.
Periodic inspections will allow the landlord to inspect the property for a variety of maintenance issues, including those that may not be reported by the tenant but would be costly for the landlord if not taken care of. Some landlords rely upon the tenant to notify the landlord of any maintenance or repair issue. However if the tenant ignores issues that should be corrected before they become an emergency repair or cause collateral damage, a landlord could incur liability for habitability issues or claims for damages to tenant health and safety.
In most states, property inspections may be a statutory requirement for rental housing compliances. It is important for a landlord to know the specific standards under his state’s law and to use those standards as a minimum standard for his properties in order to fulfill his legal responsibilities and protect his financial interests.
Some municipalities have implemented rental housing inspection and registration programs to help ensure rental units meet basic housing code standards. These programs require properties to be inspected by qualified rental housing inspectors to help identify and correct habitability issues of health, safety, and security. Landlords may be required to certify their properties meet quality of housing standards before they can register their properties with the municipality.
Landlord-tenant statutes of most states require specific advance notification to the tenant before a landlord can enter the rental unit to conduct an inspection. There may be different requirements regarding landlord entry in the event of an emergency or other need to access the rental unit. By giving the proper legal notification, a landlord will usually receive the tenant’s cooperation in scheduling a mutually agreeable time for inspection.
Regular maintenance inspections can extend the useful line of the property’s structures, systems, and equipment helping to reduce long-term expense of property maintenance.
Be aware though that “too frequent” property inspections by a landlord may be considered a violation of the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the rental premises.