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MAJOR INSPECTIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN A PROPERTY II

In this month’s article, we shall be looking at Routine and pre-vacation inspections having discussed Inventory in our April edition.

ROUTINE INSPECTION

While the tenancy/lease agreement has been signed and fittings properly inventorized, there is usually a clause that permits the landlord or property manager to conduct some mid-tenancy (routine) inspections having given adequate prior notice as stipulated in the tenancy/lease agreement.

Routine inspections are designed to make sure everything is being well maintained. The condition of the property and its contents are assessed and any notes to make repairs are made.

These inspections are a great opportunity for you to address any issues, such as any redecorating or DIY that’s needed. Plus, your landlord may have follow-up actions for you to carry out, which you should be given in writing.

This is all useful when you want to move out of the property as these inspections and the resulting repairs can crop up. Keep hold of any correspondence with your landlord about the inspections and repairs. Whether these are texts, emails, or letters, if they detail the steps that they want to take to address any issues or repairs, you can use this in the event of a dispute later.

PRE-VACATION INSPECTION.

When you decide to move out, another formal inventory (pre-vacation) is drawn up. This checkout report tends to be a lot more straightforward than the first one as it’s an update to the one that was drawn up when you moved in.

The inventory-creating process is repeated, meaning that the inventory clerk, landlord or letting agent notes the condition of the property. They then draw up the final report. Again, if you can be there for this inventory, it can be easier to resolve any issues then and there.

From there, the first inventory is compared with the new checkout inventory to see if there is any cause for your landlord to make deductions for damage. It’s worth taking pictures again before you move out to compare with the ones from when you moved in.

If you spent some time carefully checking through the first inventory and you’ve kept on top of communication with your landlord or letting agency about repairs and updates throughout your tenancy, it’s unlikely that there will be any unwanted surprises.

What if they find something wrong?

If some damage is flagged in the checkout report that isn’t being put down to wear and tear and deductions are being made from your deposit to cover the costs, you’ll need to decide if you agree with this decision or want to contest it.

Should you think something isn’t quite right, you’ll need to gather your copy of the initial inventory as well as this new one, plus your photographs, receipts from any repair work and anything else that could be used as proof. Next, go through the landlord’s report and respond to each claim, referring to the inventories and other details as you go.

Your landlord should drop their claim if they see you have proof that you haven’t damaged the property in anyway, then your caution deposit should be refunded to you in full.

In our next article we will look into REFUNDABLE CAUTION DEPOSIT.

Written by:

Olabisi Ojekunle, ANIVS.

Oluwafemi Olowoyeye