Initially when you let a property out you should always make sure
that it looks in the best condition so that you will attract the best
tenant for your property. However, over time the appearance of the
property can deteriorate and this could lead to your tenant being
unhappy with the property and deciding to move out.
When your tenant moves in initially you should come to some agreement about when you should carry out an inspection in order to maintain the property in its optimum condition, this in general should be carried out on an annual basis if not every six months. This type of inspection should be used as a preventive measure to ensure that roofing and building components are adequately maintained as well as corrective measure to prevent damage to the property. It is obvious that it is best to tackle a small problem before it turns into a much larger and more expensive one.
When your tenant moves in initially you should come to some agreement about when you should carry out an inspection in order to maintain the property in its optimum condition, this in general should be carried out on an annual basis if not every six months. This type of inspection should be used as a preventive measure to ensure that roofing and building components are adequately maintained as well as corrective measure to prevent damage to the property. It is obvious that it is best to tackle a small problem before it turns into a much larger and more expensive one.
As well as maintaining the general décor
of your property you will also need to ensure that structurally your property
is safe and well maintained. It is worth hiring a local builder to carry out
general external maintenance for the property such as checking that the drains
are clear and that guttering is not blocked with leaves. You might want to
consider hiring a property manager to carry out this inspection as well as
recommending local tradesmen to carry out any remedial works.
Legally you have to make sure that your property is safe for your tenant and specifically you will need to comply with safety standards with regards your gas and electricity supply. You will need to organise an annual inspection of these two supplies and make sure that your property and its tenants are safe. Without the safety inspection certificate you might find that your insurance will not be valid in the event of making a claim against your insurance policy.
When your tenant moves in, it is best to be clear as to what
alterations that they are allowed to make to the property and its décor
as this could lead to many problems further down the line. For example
you do not really want to allow the tenant to paint all the doors black
and the walls purple but if you can maybe approve the scheme before they
carry out any work then you might have a great tenant who might improve
your property.
Photo courtesy of Clagett Property
Source: Property Maintenance is One Element of Property Management
Source: Property Maintenance is One Element of Property Management
