Are you aware of the current condition of your rental properties? Even though you may not live on these properties, the landlord is responsible for their investments. Inspections hold themselves accountable as well as the people you're renting out to.
You may wonder how often you need to perform rental property inspections. After all, you don't want to show up too much and violate your tenants' privacy. You also don't want to let them perform illegal actions on your property without your knowledge.
Here are some property management tips for inspecting and maintaining your rental property.
Oregon Property Laws
First of all, Oregon landlords need to understand tenant inspection guidelines and laws in their area.
For example, landlords must notify their tenants at least 24 hours before coming into their rental for any reason other than an emergency. The inspection must take place at a reasonable time of day and for a legitimate reason.
Tenants can only refuse if they are sick or out of town on the inspection date. Disobeying these laws can put landlords in an unfavorable legal situation.
Why Inspections Matter
Landlords will want to inspect their property routinely for a few different reasons, including for real estate compliance and to monitor tenant compliance.
The law requires landlords to keep their properties in good condition for their tenants. That means keeping it structurally sound and maintaining access to various utilities. Failure to comply makes them liable for a lawsuit.
As for tenants, inspections are the only way to make sure they're holding up their side of the bargain. You don't want to wait until the end of their lease to find out a tenant has violated it on multiple occasions.
Different Types of Inspections
You want to perform rental property inspections multiple times throughout the year. The frequency will depend on the length of each lease, the specific tenants, and personal preferences.
The first and most critical inspection occurs before the tenant moves in. You want to inspect the property alongside the tenant to make sure you both understand the condition it should be left in when their lease ends.
Routine rental property maintenance happens throughout the year. Most commonly, you'll want to do this every season and year. A home watch service can help if you can't perform drive-by inspections.
Finally, there's the move-out inspection. This happens to confirm that the tenant has left the property in an acceptable state as per their lease. Landlords will also determine how much of the tenant's security deposit they'll need to use to restore the unit.
Streamline Your Rental Property Inspections
Rental property inspections are some of the most important parts of being a landlord. It's essential that you keep an eye on your property, even when you're renting it out to another person. However, you may find it difficult to do so as your property count increases.
PMI Stumptown provides property management services throughout Oregon City and its surrounding communities. We're part of a nearly 20-year-old franchise with expertise in the industry. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.
