Denver saw over 10,000 eviction cases in 2023.
If you're a landlord trying to avoid poor tenants, there are specific measures you can take to protect your property. One is to take special care when screening your tenants and the other other big one is to perform regular rental property inspections.
Today, we'll discuss rental property inspections and tell you how often you should perform them. An inspection can help you identify issues that need to be addressed in your property, but it can also tell you if your tenant is putting your property at risk. Keep reading and learn how to do them correctly.
What Do Rental Property Inspections Entail?
The most important rental property inspection that you'll perform as a landlord is the move-in/move-out inspection. During these, you'll walk through the apartment with a new tenant, looking for any existing damage to the rental. It's important to understand the difference between damage and regular wear and tear when performing these.
At the end of a tenancy, you'll do the same thing with the same rental property inspection checklist. If you find any damage that wasn't there during the initial inspection, it was caused by the tenant, who will have the cost of damages deducted from their security deposit.
The other type of rental property inspection is the one you perform during a tenancy. Typically, you'll only do these if you suspect your tenant is breaking the lease or if they request maintenance. That doesn't mean they aren't important, however.
Rental Property Inspection Timeline
When it comes to pop-in property inspections, it's important to understand the rental property inspection laws here in Denver. The most important aspect of the law has to do with rental property inspection frequency.
While there's no limit on the number of times you can enter your rental property, you shouldn't overdo it. If your tenant's right to privacy is breached, they could end their tenancy. In worse circumstances, they could report you to the housing authority and your reputation may be tarnished.
It's also important to give your tenants notice before entering the premises. In Denver, as in many other places, you need to provide 24 hours of notice before conducting an inspection. However, this doesn't stop you from doing drive-by inspections.
Rental Property Inspection Checklist
What should you be looking for during an inspection?
If you suspect your tenant is breaking the lease, look for things that may corroborate that. Keep an eye out for signs of unauthorized pets or tenants. Look for obvious damage, such as holes in the walls, cigarette smells, or damaged carpet.
You can also do drive-by inspections to get a sense of the tenant's activity in your rental. If they're housing an unauthorized tenant, you may see a car in the driveway that shouldn't be there, for example.
Finding the Right Property Management Company to Help
Conducting rental property inspections regularly can be a lot of work. They can also be awkward for everyone involved, which is why it's beneficial to hire property management to help.
PMI Cedarboldt is one of Denver's top property managers, offering comprehensive services that help you care for your investment. To learn more about what we do and how we protect your property, contact us today.
