Re: Entering Rental Property - Landlord Forum thread

Re: Entering Rental Property by OK-LL on November 5, 2009 @08:12

Yes, it's fine. Be sure the tenant is provided the proper 24-hour notice (or whatever time is required by your state) and that you let the PM know also.

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Re: Entering Rental Property by Anonymous on November 5, 2009 @10:22

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It would help if you would not just walk in and act like the lord of the manner surveying your estate. Tell the tenants that the insurance company requires you to complete a safety inspection every two months. Have a check list already printed that looks official. Look at things that will bring you into every room of the house like a safety inspection of every electrical outlet. Check the air condition filters, look at the hot water heater, open the oven and lift the top of the stove to inspect the burners. If they are all cruddy, explain they represent a fire hazard and need to be clean. Go out to the garage and look for other fire hazards like improperly stored boxes that are all stacked up in a haphazard manner. Look for oil spills and see how gasoline containers are being stored. Under each item on your checklist leave a some of blank lines that reveal your finding and the correction you want made. Explain that a copy will be mailed to them soon. Keep a history. You may also check for water leaks like under the sink and in the bathroom. Flush the commode and check for proper function. Look at outside water outlets. In general, inspect the whole place, make a record of things that need correcting and keep a history of your visits. Complain the whole time that you wish the insurance company would leave you alone about the inspections but they are strict about them and expect a report. If it is not in your lease, make minor repairs the responsibility of the tenant.

Re: Entering Rental Property by Susan on November 7, 2009 @14:04	[ Reply ]
LOVE THIS!!!!! I've always wanted a way to inspect without giving "the lord of the manor" appearance, and also being able to inspect all areas of the unit. You are BRILLIANT! :-)

Re: Entering Rental Property by Anonymous on November 5, 2009 @13:55	[ Reply ]
In California the tenant can just refuse to allow you to enter except under specific circumstances, and random inspection is not one of those circumstances.

Re: Entering Rental Property by P-Bone in WNY (NY) on November 5, 2009 @15:49

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I would think that an average judge would rule against inspections every other month. On a personal note, I would be interested in implementing a 6 month inspection. Once in the fall so that we can check the heating systems to avoid problems during the cold weather and maybe again in the spring to be aure that when heavy rains and/or snow melting doesn't cause any leaks or water damage. Beyond that, I would only consider going into a unit for emergencies, or if a repair was identified in another similar unit that I want to get a jump start on.

For example, I live in the property and I once had a leak on the supply hose to the kitchen faucet. I don't think it was due to frozen pipes, but it was in the winter, so I made sure I checked everyone's pipes for the same issue.

Re: Entering Rental Property by bayoupots (TX) on November 5, 2009 @22:45	[ Reply ]
something else to add to the "insurance" safety checklist would be checking for functional batteries in the smoke detectors. I do this on a quarterly basis in my apt. units and duplexes and houses at least every 6 mos. Thanks for the helpful idea-anonymous!