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Rented property inspections

27 replies

georgybaby · 26/08/2021 13:43

Me and my family have been renting in the same house for the last 5 years. We have inspections every 3 months which we've got used to but still fills me with dread everytime. We spend all week cleaning, putting toys away we have alot of clutter but try keep it as tidy as possible. Our latest inspection was today, usual lady came to do it who is quite friendly. The report has been sent saying carpets have marks and kitchen cupboards bit tired looking. The house could do with a general tidy up. Bit annoyed as everything has been cleaned, the carpets the standard rental property cheap one so does have a few marks. Thought they were just checking for any problems not that it's a show home 🙈😩 Not easy to keep it spotless with 3 kids

OP posts:
Thenose · 26/08/2021 14:15

I haven't checked the legislation pertaining to this, but it sounds absurd, so the likelihood is that they shouldn't be doing it.

What do they say that the overall aim of the inspection is? Surely they should only be visiting when the reason to do so can be shown to outweigh your right to peaceful enjoyment of the property, e.g. for necessary (electricity, gas) checks and repairs?

georgybaby · 26/08/2021 14:41

I think it varies with agents, at our last rented property only visited once in almost 2 years. This one says to identify any potential problems or repairs. I don't mind too much but just feel house has to be spotless, we've only had a few things done since we've been here just wondered if other people had inspections so often

OP posts:
ItsSnowJokes · 26/08/2021 14:45

Years ago when I was renting I had an agency like this. Literally anything and everything they could pick up on they would. One comment was "water marks on draining board" well yes as I had just washed up my breakfast things and left for work! They came every 3 months as well. I feel for you OP, it was like a military inspection every time.

maofteens · 26/08/2021 14:52

Every six months is more the norm, that's what the agents did for two of my flats that I didn't manage myself, and one expects normal wear and tear.
If the managing agents notes that kitchen cupboards are a bit tired looking, then maybe it's for the landlord to change them!

Blerg · 26/08/2021 15:00

I’ve rented various places and for those managed by agencies inspections every 3 months have been the norm unfortunately! They really vary - one made me feel crap because they picked up on any little thing. The current ones seem more relaxed but I think that’s because we clean more than the neighbours (sharers they also manage).

Sorry they made you feel rubbish. I think sometimes the person doing them gets ideas about inspecting like the military but actually it is to check for real issues / damage.

Useful to mentally reframe it as getting damage logged / problems sorted for you.

georgybaby · 26/08/2021 15:11

Thank you, the house wasn't perfect when we moved in and fix any damage the kids have done we try to look after it :-) The things they've pointed out aren't likely to get fixed while we're here I can't see the landlord replacing the carpets and cupboards could be done but unlikely. The joys of renting :-(

OP posts:
Mydogisagentleman · 26/08/2021 20:52

We are landlords.
As long as you haven’t completely destroyed my property, we are happy

lawofdistraction · 26/08/2021 21:06

Every 3 months after 5 years is excessive. I think lettings agencies do this to try and justify their fees, it's really not necessary.
Are you in contact with the actual LL? We had quarterly inspections for the first year of our tenancy but then spoke to our LL and said we thought it was excessive moving forward. They agreed and instructed the lettings agency to just conduct them annually after that.

lawofdistraction · 26/08/2021 21:08

Not that it solves the problem of your agency nitpicking, but at least you'd only have to deal with it once a year!

LeaveHomeNow · 26/08/2021 21:11

Every three months?! I've rented for years! Normally once a year, if that.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 26/08/2021 21:12

Please don't worry about making it spotless. It makes no sense and it's your home!!
Every three months is crazily excessive. I had to rent out my house and I would be annoyed on behalf of the occupant if the agent went in there more than once every 6 months. It's their home. Bloody hell. I'm annoyed for you. Really.

purpleme12 · 26/08/2021 21:18

Oh god I completely get you
I absolutely hate them
And yes 3 months is too much. Should be no more than every 6 months
I have had some shitty rude inspections from letting agents before. And some ones which were fine. It must depend who you get. But when you get the rude ones it makes me so angry.
One reported back that there was a stain from cat sick on the carpet (he hadn't said anything when he looked round). He assumed it was cat sick he didn't know that at all. I went back to rub it off and lo and behold it came off fine. This is for a carpet that's so rubbish that it comes up every time you hoover.
Personally, I'd rather have the landlord do the inspections. Cos the landlord might have completely different expectations to the letting agent as per pp's comment above. But that's not possible when you're going through the letting agent

GreenTortoise · 26/08/2021 21:31

Yes we have them every 3 months and it's a pain in the arse.
Due one next week actually and I will point out the rusted old radiators AGAIN.

FOUR times I've had the gas people out because of the radiators and the LL's only changed one over. They all need replacing! They're old and corroded. I'm not putting up with it when two have already had to be completely switched off because they leak and make the boiler shut off!

georgybaby · 26/08/2021 22:16

We've never had any contact with the LL always been the agent although we've had tradesman turn up or ring us with no notification from the agent on occasions. I guess they need to report back something make it look like they're doing some work. The only issues are kitchen floor lino has holes in places which would say is wear and tear and carpet wearing but it's cheap crappy stuff to be expected. Considering we have 3 destructive kids it's not in too bad of a state. Unfortunately haven't got the LLs contact details so can't bypass the agent. The only time we have less inspections was over lockdown so escaped a couple of them 😊

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 26/08/2021 22:18

Yes I bloody loved not having inspections in lockdown
Absolutely hate this aspect of renting with a passion
And cant stand these letting agents

LawnFever · 26/08/2021 22:23

Surely both those things are general wear and tear, especially after five years - neither are damage as such, and every three months is ridiculous

Makinganewthinghappen · 26/08/2021 22:26

We had a house like this a while ago.
One of the reports said “a bowl was left on the counter” it was lunchtime Confused.
Another said our house was “very busy” as though this was a major negative - what does that even mean!

In the end we moved I just couldnt cope without the stress of the inspections.

SeasonFinale · 26/08/2021 22:29

Perhaps the agent meant a bit of a tidy up in the sense that the landlord should be replacing carpets etc and redecorating for you?

Blerg · 28/08/2021 12:04

Bowl on the counter! Wtaf.

OP you might find the landlords contact details on the actual contract if that’s something you want to try.

I personally prefer dealing with an agency as landlords themselves can be variable! Though so can agencies.

georgybaby · 28/08/2021 14:07

They do pick up the stupidest things, we decorated when we moved in which the landlord gave us a contribution towards, we keep on top of any painting that needs doing and clear any marks the kids have made. I have a feeling they'll try and blame us for the carpet when we eventually move and hold our deposit. Apart from the inspections we're pretty much left alone so I guess it could be worse

OP posts:
hollyhocksarenotmessy · 28/08/2021 15:50

Been private renting in 3 properties over the last 6 years and never had an inspection, thank god. I think our current one normally inspects annually but that seems to have been forgotten.

WombatChocolate · 28/08/2021 16:03

It is usual to have an early inspection when a tenancy starts and then they become twice yearly and often yearly after that. Every 3 months after 5 years is intrusive and totally unnecessary.

The reports are as much for the LLs to know jobs that need doing. Agents hope the inspection report will encourage maintenance as needed. So in my view, comments about kitchen or kitchen cupboard are really for LLs to take note of….not necessarily to arrange work on immediately, but so they can plan ahead at change if tenancy to probably need to do the work.

Professional property checks don’t comment on things like ‘bowl on counter’ - that’s more likely to be someone from the letting agency who is less familiar with the processes and not a profesional.

I can see though that it isn’t pleasant and likely to make tenants feel uncomfortable. I’d want to tidy round before it and possibly feel a bit worried about any minor marks or damage. A lot depends on the relationship with the letting agent or landlord. Good ones won’t be picking tenants up on minor wear and tear issues. Good ones will respond to reports which show work needs to be done and take responsibility and do it. Bad ones make. A big deal of things like ‘bowl on sink’ or minor scuff on wall.

Sometimes the reports aren’t making a big deal of these things but are merely factual with no suggestion of blame. However, tenants can often feel blamed and worrried their deposit will have deductions when they leave….this is because some agents or LLs in the past will have done this.

It’s difficult. Inspections are needed, especially in early stages of tenancies, because there are bad tenants whose treatment of property does need picking up on. There are sometimes damages beyond wear and tear which will need charging for. But most tenants are good tenants and after initial early checks, especially in longer tenancies really only need 1 or possibly 2 checks a year, and to be treated decently whilst they are being done.

Loocheeyar · 28/08/2021 23:45

We have these every three months and have been here nearly seven years they drive me nuts
Oh are you going to replace the heating system this winter then ? Err no well sod off then. I’m sure yet again I’ll have to wait in for days for engineers to come out for the same old problems .
Can we ask them to stop this regular inspections ? I’m poorly and sleep a lot I’m sick of them

purpleme12 · 28/08/2021 23:58

I would think you're well within your rights to request them to be less often than 3 months.
But a lot of let property insurance requires for it to be inspected every 6 months

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 28/08/2021 23:58

I think you could refuse to let the inspectors in, on the grounds that you are entitled to "quiet enjoyment" of your home.

We rented out a flat. I wanted to do an inspection before the very first tenants moved out. They wouldn't agree a date. When I posted on here for help, the consensus was "yay! A young woman who knows her housing rights and won't be bullied by her LL". Turns out that yes, the law was indeed on her side, and the law trumped anything written in the tenancy agreement.

Basically you can refuse to let anyone in, ever, except in a proper emergency such as fire or flood.