If you’re new to renting, you might be surprised to see that your new home will be inspected by one of our property managers every three to six months. But don’t worry – the visit is mainly about keeping communication open, as well as protecting landlords and tenants alike.

Let’s take a closer look.

What is a property inspection for?

We carry out property inspections to make sure that everything is OK in your rental property.

In rare cases, a tenant might be breaking their contract and abusing the trust between them and the landlord. A property inspection would quickly reveal subletting or illegal activities. 

Fortunately, most tenants are good tenants. Most of our property inspections are opportunities to check in with you and your housemates, make sure everything is working properly and spot anything in need of repair. It’s also a chance for you to see someone from Cobbles face to face - you can ask questions or raise concerns while the inspector is visiting.

Property inspections protect landlords and tenants from problems that might arise through miscommunication. For example, if you had reported a leaking tap and we spotted that it was still leaking when we visited, we would know that it wasn’t your fault because you had reported it promptly. The onus would be on us or the landlord to follow up with the plumber. Equally, if the landlord had asked you to tidy the garden but not provided the right tools, the property inspection is a good time to raise it with us and check who is responsible for what. 

Reviewing problems on a regular basis can save you from nasty surprises or loss of deposit at the end of your tenancy. 

What happens during a property inspection?

Before the property inspection, we will notify you in writing that we are coming to visit. It is a good idea for you to be at home during the inspection, as it means we can talk to you and you can highlight any issues in person. If you can’t be there but there is something you’d like us to look at, please let us know in advance.

Most people would tidy up for guests coming and tidy up for the property inspection too! It also helps to be prepared – write down anything you want to raise so you don’t forget about it. This is particularly important if the problem is not obvious; for example, a leaking roof won’t show itself unless it rains during the inspection.

The inspector arrives and tours the property room by room. They check the property for wear and tear and take photographs of anything that needs repairing. The inspection usually takes about ten minutes.

Afterwards, the inspector will write a report send a copy to the landlord. The report confirms what you and the inspector discussed, and outlines what steps (if any) should be taken next. 

Rent Guildford property with Cobbles

Property inspections are nothing to worry about. We love catching up with tenants, and we hope you’ll take the opportunity to talk to us about your rental home too. We hope we’ve answered all your questions about property inspections in this blog, but if we haven’t, please give us a call on 01483 457 000.