If you’re renting a property, chances are you are faced with fairly regular property inspections by either your landlord or property manager. Sure, these inspections can sometimes be a hassle, but there are steps you can take to minimise the stress on you and make sure the inspection goes smoothly.
Let your property manager know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend the inspection
Your property manager will do their best to visit at a time that will suit you (generally between 8am and 6pm), but in the event you can’t attend it’s best to let the property manager know early so alternative arrangements can be made, such as agreeing to have the property inspected while you’re away or at a more convenient time.
Make sure the home is clean and tidy
Usual wear and tear is expected during a routine inspection, and is largely out of your control, but keeping the home clean and tidy will ensure a positive property report, will make it easier to properly inspect the home and will show your property manager that you are respecting the property. That being said, no one expects the home to look like a display house, and your property manager does understand this is your home.
Make sure you report any maintenance issues or accidental damage
Reporting maintenance issues as soon as they occur will help your property manager to attend to them as soon as possible. Accidental damage too should be reported early on so it can be fixed, especially if it causes a health and safety issue. If the damage is something that you will need to fix, your property manager will issue you with a Notice to Remedy, generally giving you until the next inspection to complete.
Note: you don't need to wait until a property inspection to report maintenance issues -- the sooner your property manager knows about them, the sooner they can be resolved.
Take the opportunity to bring up requests or general concerns
If you’re unable to attend the inspection, take the time to send your property manager a quick email beforehand of what you would like to discuss. If you wanted to discuss the possibility of a pet for example, or the addition of an air conditioner, let the property manager know so they can bring this up with the landlord when reporting back.
At the end of the day, your property manager understands that this is where you live, and doesn’t expect perfection. Having a good relationship with your property manager will go a long way to having a happy tenancy and will ensure they act as an advocate on your behalf as well. Keep the lines of communication open.