To ask what to expect from a house inspection?

[worriedupstairsneighbour]

Sorry not AIBU but posting here for traffic in a last minute panic! Moved into my house 4 months ago, we've got an inspection tomorrow morning and I've never had one before in any rented property.

Our agency are really difficult and rude so I'm wondering what to expect. Will they just have a quick look to make sure we've not painted walls and trashed the place or will they be looking in all our cupboards etc
Is there anything they're not allowed to do?

It feels like a massive invasion of privacy even if it is necessary so I want to know where I stand with what they can and can't do and what to expect.

Thank you!

Hello! My partner and j rent out a house after we moved in together and couldn't sell it (negative equity)
I come do an inspection once or twice a year And literally glance around to check everything looks clean and looked after. I've never looked in cupboards etc so I hope it doesn't feel like too much of an invasion to our lovely tenants. You can get a feel for how it's kept the minute you walk in the door and I imagine that will influence how closely they look.
It's a good opportunity for you to point out any repairs too!

Is it the landlord or an agency coming? Troy not to worry they're usually very short

Maybe double check your contract? That might set out exactly what they will do

Mine was basically just a look around to make sure we hadn't trashed it and to check that the smoke alarms etc were working and there was no significant damp/mould and nothing we were concerned about. Even if your agents aren't nice, they often contract out the inspections to a separate company, so I'm sure the person who actually comes will be friendly enough!

Read you contract and make sure you are not in breach of anything listed (i.e. evidence of smoking, pets, sub letting etc) and just make sure the place is clean and tidy. They should not be poking around cupboards and if they do you have every right to call them out. So long as you have not made any structural changes, put up one direction wallpaper or got rid of any furnishings (if it was a furbished flat) you should be fine.

They are checking to see how you are looking after the house/garden but not how you choose to live in it unless your life choices affect the property. However clean and tidy is the way to go otherwise they may have concerns. They should not open cupboards/drawers etc unless say they want to check the boiler which is in a cupboard. Don't forget (and many do), it is also your chance to raise any concerns you have as to items that need attention, problems you have noted that if handled soon will be a quick/inexpensive job to solve. Show them you care and they will appreciate it as will the ll, common sense really.

Thank you that's eased me a bit!

I'm giving the house a deep clean today and we're very clean and tidy anyway.

We do have a cat that the agency wouldn't allow but we are putting the cat things inside one of our suitcases, not the cat though.
( I know it's bad and a breach of contract but I've had him 13 years I couldn't get rid of him! )

Just wanted to know where I stood about them routing through cupboards or wardrobes or anything. I'm glad to know it's probably an outside company doing the inspection as all the property management team are so rude!

Thanks for quick replies

Our ones do a really quick look round. Our lawn was a bit overgrown last winter and thats the only time they ever mentioned anything. I'd say they're in the house less than 2 minutes.

( I know it's bad and a breach of contract but I've had him 13 years I couldn't get rid of him! )

Good for you. I hate the standard "no-pets allowed" BS.

@PeckhamPauline me too, it's so unfair. I did explain he was old and I couldn't just give him to someone else, he's perfectly well behaved, litter trained etc just sleeps all day but they said no.

They will just have a quick look round to make sure that the place is being reasonably well looked after - no evidence of pets, extra people, mice or cockroach infestations, excessive stuff that might be a fire hazard blocking exits, no damage etc. Make sure you hide all evidence of the cat!

No need for it to be particularly clean though - as long as it's within a kind of 'normal living standard' that's all that's needed. Never had them open any cupboards, unless containing relevant things such as the boiler. I guess if the place looks a mess they may inspect more carefully?

Make sure all cat hair etc is cleaned up. Litter tray not evident then.

Sadly some bad pet owners have ruined it for others. You would not believe the filth some owners leave behind after their "well behaved" but not allowed on tenancy pets

I have no experience of this but just wanted to say good on your for keeping the cat!!

Ours looked in the cupboard. I was well peed at them.