Before letting out a property to tenants, an inspection of the premises must be undertaken. This is to ensure everything is in full working order and is safe for occupants. If you’re not sure what a property inspection entails, then you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading our helpful guide for your very own rental property inspection checklist for landlords.
Property inspections
The person responsible for a property, whether it’s a landlord or property manager, like an estate agent, must undertake an inspection of the premises. This is to ensure that the risk of fire is low, and is required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Anyone in charge of a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) has an ongoing obligation to ensure the fire safety of the property. As part of regular property maintenance, all fire safety systems must be checked. This includes emergency lighting systems, smoke alarms and more.
As well as regular property inspections, HMO fire risk assessments can be completed on the premises to check the level of fire safety.
How often can a landlord inspect a property in the UK?
Landlords invariably differ in terms of how regularly they perform property inspections. However, a property inspection should be completed at three, four or six-monthly intervals as a rule of thumb. Many property managers may carry out their inspections once yearly, but they are typically performed at least twice a year.
This gives the landlord the opportunity to ensure the property is still in a good condition and is being looked after. It also allows them to stay on top of fire safety standards to make sure their tenants are safe.
Landlords and property managers cannot just turn up uninvited, though. They must give tenants at least 24 hours notice that they intend to inspect the property. However, at least a week’s notice should, ideally, be given to allow tenants time to plan their schedule, such as taking time off work to fit the inspection in.
If tenants are happy, some landlords may agree to enter the property while the occupants are out.
Property inspection checklist for landlords
Failure to carry out a property inspection can lead to injury and liability, so if you’re a property manager, ensure you stick by our checklist. Here’s what you need to look out for during a property inspection:
- Smoke alarms
- Heating and hot water
- Electrics
- Appliances
- Fire escapes and routes
- Damp and mould
- Tenancy breaches
Smoke alarms
A basic check of any property inspection is to ensure all smoke detectors and fire alarms are working. This also applies to carbon monoxide detectors. A simple check to see if they’re working can spot issues and save lives.
Heating and hot water
Be sure to check that the property is receiving hot water and that the central heating works properly. Give the boiler a visual examination and check your records to see when it was last serviced. If it requires a service, book one in as soon as possible.
Electrics
Check light fixtures and switches to see if there are any exposed wires and if lights switch on. Do a general inspection of other plug sockets too to ensure they’re safe. Make a note of any issues that need attention.
Also, check the tenants are not overloading power sockets with multiple surge protectors. This can become a fire risk, putting them in danger.
Appliances
At the same time as checking plug sockets and general electrics, take a look at appliances in the kitchen. Do they work and are they in good condition? If not, do they need to be replaced or will a simple fix do the job?
Fire escapes and routes
Check for obstructions in fire escapes and bring them to the attention of tenants. The tenants must be aware that blocking fire escapes is a danger to their lives in the event of a fire.
You must also check that fire escapes, like upstairs windows and downstairs fire doors, are all working properly.
Damp and mould
Look out for flaking paint and peeling wallpaper in the property. This is an indication of damp and mould building up and can not only create issues with the property, but also health problems for tenants. Poorly ventilated homes are a common cause for damp build-up, and it can often be spotted by smell.
Tenancy breaches
The final part of our property inspection checklist for landlords is to check for any tenancy breaches. This includes stipulations that were placed in their tenancy agreement and can include things such as a ban on smoking indoors, pets and sub-letting.
Look out for any of the above as well as property damage. If the property is not being well maintained then there’s a possibility of damage that can incur a cost to you in the long run.
Property inspections at NW Fire Solutions
If you manage a property and would like a professional inspection performed, you can get exactly that from NW Fire Solutions. We perform monthly inspections on properties to ascertain any damage and take note of any safety issues on the premises, giving you the peace of mind that your property is in good hands.
During our inspections, we cover all of the required fire safety checks that must be carried out. However, our property inspection service does extend far beyond fire safety.
If you’d like to speak to NW Fire Solutions about property inspections, don’t hesitate to contact us today on 0151 665 0124, or email us at info@nwfiresolutions.co.uk.