If you rent and have a property inspection booked, you might be stressed and not know what to expect or how much you need to prepare. We have put together tips to help you get ready and to help you relax during the property inspection.
Don’t leave it until the last minute
In the UK, landlords need to give you a minimum of 24 hours' notice before any planned visit. If you have a good relationship with your landlord, they are likely to provide you with more notice; on some occasions, one or two weeks' notice will be given. The more time you have to prepare the property, the better you can do jobs over several days rather than rushing around to do them all at once.
Clean the property
If you like living in the property and want to stay there, this is a good moment to show you are the perfect tenant that the property owner should keep in place. Take extra steps to ensure that the jobs you’ve put off are complete and that the site looks clean and well maintained when the landlord comes for the inspection. Things like removing mould from the corners of the bathroom, cleaning the windows and scrubbing the oven will all help to show your landlord that you are the ideal tenant. If you have any stains or spillages on the carpet, make sure they are cleaned up properly and any discolouration has been fixed. The property should look as clean and well kept as you would want it to be if you were moving in or viewing as a potential new tenant.
Gardening
One issue many landlords have with tenants is the upkeep of the garden. Tennants may not have the time or the right tools to maintain a garden up to the landlord's standards. However, the garden is part of the property you are responsible for, and you should make sure the garden is kept clean and tidy. The grass should be kept short and any weeds periodically removed from borders and between patio slabs. If you don’t have the equipment, you can pay local gardeners to come and tidy the property's garden for a small fee; this might be worth the occasional investment if you want to remain on the property and are worried the garden maintenance will become an issue.
Pets
Ideally, your pet should be removed from your house during the inspection; they may be frightened or get in the way of the landlord's tasks. It can be very stressful for an animal to have someone invade their space if you cannot be present during the inspection. Before the landlord visits, you should use a pet stain and odour remover on any areas where your dog or cat sits or has had accidents in the past. A pet odour remover uses enzymes to eliminate the harmful bacteria that cause unpleasant pet odours. If your landlord has allowed you to have a pet as part of your agreement, you should respect this and use the right cleaning products to eliminate pet smells and stains effectively.
List out any issues
If you can be home for the visit, it will help your relationship with your landlord. Landlords are responsible for the structure and general workings of the property. A landlord should fix issues such as dampness, heating issues, electrical issues and issues with gas appliances or sanitary fittings. You might want to bring up any unresolved issues with the property that your landlord is responsible for fixing. If you’re unsure if you or your landlord is responsible for the problem, you can show them during the visit and ask if they can fix it or if it is your responsibility.
Don’t worry too much about a property inspection; just do your best to get the property as clean and tidy as possible within the time frame given. If your landlord has any issues with the inspection, they may request a repeat inspection, listing the problems they want you to fix before the follow-up. As long as you comply with your landlord's request within a reasonable time, you should not have any issues.