For a tenancy to work, you and your tenants need to build mutual trust.
There are millions of evictions each year in this country, many of which are due to a tenant violating a lease agreement for one reason or another. Evicting a tenant can be incredibly uncomfortable for everybody involved, but sometimes it's a measure you have to take to protect your property.
One of the ways you can avoid such measures is with regular rental property inspections. When you make a point to inspect your rental, your tenants are more likely to stay in line and you'll protect your investment.
Today, we're going to tell you how often you should perform inspections, so keep reading and learn how to manage your rental unit the right way.
Rental Property Inspections Explained
When it comes to rental property inspections, you've got two types. The first is the standard move-in/move-out inspection that you do with your tenant at the beginning and end of a tenancy.
During this inspection, you walk through the unit with a rental property inspection checklist, making note of any existing damage. At the end of the tenancy, you'll do the same walkthrough and if there's any new damage, the cost of repairs will come out of the tenant's damage deposit.
You can also inspect your rental property during a tenancy. There are numerous reasons why you'd want to do this, ranging from unauthorized pets in the apartment to dealing with maintenance issues.
Rental Property Inspection Timeline
The most important thing to consider when doing intermittent rental unit inspections is the law. Maryland rental property inspection laws state that you must give your tenant a full day's notice before entering the premises. So long as you do that, you're allowed to enter your property as you see fit.
That being said, your tenant has the right to privacy and quiet enjoyment. If you make too many appearances, they can report you to the local housing authority and you could end up in hot water.
It's important to take landlord duties seriously, but unless you suspect nefarious activity in the unit, you don't need to overdo inspections. If you end up finding that your tenant has caused new damage, you'll have to deal with them accordingly.
Often, this means giving them the chance to fix the damage or pay someone to do it. If they won't do it, you're within your right to initiate the eviction process. Evicting a tenant is a long, drawn-out process, so this should be your very last resort with a poor tenant.
How PMI Potomac Can Help with Rental Property Inspections
Rental property inspections are an important part of doing business for landlords. They help you protect your investment, but they also protect your tenant's rights. Conducting regular inspections is a must, but it's a lot of work as well.
If you're finding yourself more distant from your rental property, hiring a property manager might be a great idea. PMI Potomac is Rockville's top residential property management company.
Contact us today and we'll tell you how we can help with everything from inspections to tenant screening.
