As a tenant, it's your responsibility to take care of the property you're renting.
American landlords file around 3.6 million evictions each year. If you don't want to be one of them, it's important to be respectful of your rental and the other tenants surrounding you. Being a tenant doesn't give you a license to treat the property however you want.
One of the ways that landlords keep tabs on their investment is to perform rental property inspections. In today's post, we'll tell you how often you can expect to see your landlord for one of these inspections, what to expect during the inspection, and what your rights are as a tenant.
Don't get caught out by a rental inspection. Keep reading and you'll know exactly what to expect.
Move-In/Move-Out Inspections
Not all rental property inspections need to have negative connotations. In fact, the move-in/move-out inspection is as much a benefit to you as it is to your landlord.
There, you and the landlord will work through a rental property inspection checklist to make note of existing damage to the property. You can request that the landlord fix the damage if it's something that affects your day-to-day living.
Most of the time, the damage is small and manageable for the tenant. That said, if the landlord finds any new damage during the move-out inspection, they'll take it out of your damage deposit.
Rental Property Inspection Frequency
Your landlord may also make intermittent visits during your tenancy to ensure you have destroyed the place or conducted illegal activity in the rental unit. They can't just enter without notifying you, however.
In most places, rental property inspection laws state that landlords need to give the tenant at least 24 hours notice before entering the premises. This is known as a tenant's "right to privacy", which also states that there needs to be an expressed reason why the landlord needs to enter.
You can expect a landlord to perform, at most, quarterly inspections, but most landlords will do it seasonally or annually. If you feel that your landlord is overstepping your right to privacy, you can speak with the housing authority to obtain legal counsel.
Making Rental Property Repairs
When you move into a property, you'll pay a damage deposit. This acts as insurance for the landlord against things like property damage or missed rent payments. If you cause damage to the unit without fixing it, the landlord will take it out of your damage deposit.
For the most part, damage deposits will be anywhere from half a month's rent to 2 months of rent. Therefore, if you put a hole in the wall or break a window, it's in your best interest to make those repairs rather than leave it for your landlord to use the deposit.
Don't Be Scared of Rental Property Inspections
Rental property inspections are part of being a tenant, so there's nothing to fear. As long as you don't damage the property and try to cover it up, you can have a positive relationship with your landlord. If your landlord is being too intrusive, know that you've got rights as a tenant.
At PMI Puerto Rico, we treat our tenants with the proper respect. Check out our rental listings today and enjoy a landlord who cares.
