Keep your eyes open! 2.7 million households face eviction every year. One reason why is landlord inspections.
Many landlords perform inspections, notice something wrong, and start the eviction process. A landlord inspection is your best tool for keeping your property and yourself safe. Yet you shouldn't perform an inspection until you know what exactly you should be looking for.
What should be on your landlord inspection checklist? What should prompt you to start the eviction process? How can you improve the property after an inspection?
Answer these questions and you can be a responsible and attentive landlord for years to come. Here is your quick guide.
Illegal Substances
You can start the eviction process if your tenant has illegal drugs, firearms, or other things in their apartment. Keep your eye out for any suspicious packages or signs of drugs, including unusual odors in the air.
If you spot an illegal substance, you should be calm and ask the tenant to remove it from the property. If they refuse, you should contact the authorities.
Start the eviction process immediately. Read a guide on evictions and tenant's rights in Texas so you know how exactly to remove your tenant.
Lease Violations
Your tenant may violate your lease in a few different ways. They may sublet their apartment to someone else. They may hang flammable decorations on the wall or make tweaks to your electrical system, which can cause a fire.
Ask your tenant to correct the violations as you are leaving. If this is their first time violating the lease, you can keep them in the apartment as long as they fix things. But if the violation is significant or if they have a habit of violating the lease, you should evict them.
Items You Can Repair
If your tenant asks you to repair something for them, you should inspect their property. This lets you see for yourself what the problem is, and it lets you determine other issues. If your tenant complains about water leaks, you should inspect all of the piping to see what needs to be fixed.
You should also give suggestions to your tenant about what they can fix. If you notice a piece of furniture is crooked or broken, you can suggest that they replace it.
Alterations
As a landlord, you can make any alteration you want to the rental property. You can add paint to the walls, install new features, and renovate the property.
Before you make the alterations, you should talk to your tenant. Most tenants will agree to small things like adding fire extinguishers.
But for large projects, you should negotiate with them. You may need to relocate them for a few days or give them a discount on their rent to cover the inconvenience.
Performing a Landlord Inspection
A landlord inspection is more important than you think. It lets you determine if someone has illegal substances or is disrespecting your lease.
However, you can also use an inspection to increase the value and comfort of your property. You can spot things that must be repaired, and you can decide if you need renovations. Talk to your tenant and make sure they are comfortable with these changes.
If you need help with inspections, turn to intelligent property managers. HomeRiver Group Austin helps landlords in the Austin area. Contact us today.
