How often for landlords inspection

[Lavender14]

Not sure if this is the best board for this but I'm renting a property and they have called to the property (with advance notice) twice in the past 4 months to carry out an inspection to see how I'm maintaining the place.

The house is in excellent condition and I look after it really well so I know they have no concerns about it. In fact they only go away with a repeat list of what the landlord needs to repair which he then doesn't repair.

How often would you expect an estate agent to carry this out as it feels a bit intrusive to be done so regularly and I've never had this before with anywhere I've rented in the past. They also can only carry it out on one day when I have to be office based meaning they are letting themselves into my home unsupervised to do it. They all seem lovely enough but it just doesn't feel great.

That’s odd. My experience is once a year.
You can refuse if you aren’t able to be there.

It does seem excessive to me 😕 but I have always rented direct from landlord not via estate agents so....
Maybe they had trouble with the previous tenants and are being more vigilant this time around?

I’ve had two inspections. In just over a year. I’m very embarrassed because the house was untidy and garden an absolute tip after not being used in winter. I was very unwell and couldn’t get up the stairs or do any tidying and I’m embarrassed every time I think of it. The landlord was sent photos and I hadn’t expected this.
I was given adequate notice it’s just that I didn’t realise it was a thorough inspection with photos of everything.
if the place had looked nice I wouldn’t have minded. I’m just ashamed and worried about how I’ll be perceived now

This I completely get, I actually have done tenancy support work in the past so I know what they're up against and the responsibility of managing it. I just still felt like if its going to be every 3 months that's quite often. The house was not in good shape when I took it on (renting is in demand in this area) and I've done a lot to get it looking really well that to be honest the landlord really should have done.

I don't think I can refuse @Tortephant it's in my contract that I will allow them to do inspections as needed. The staff member only works one day a week and its one of my required office based days. For me to have to take that day off every 3 months would look really unreliable to my employer.

@dogpootoo I imagine they are looking for major issues/health and safety problems rather than general untidiness. So I wouldn't stress, we all can get ill and behind so I'd imagine if you're a good tenant otherwise they'll have accepted that as the reason.

@Lavender14 I still think its excessive inspections 🤷

My landlord license stipulates every three months. But I've literally just read that the interlinked alarms should be tested every month. Heavens!

That contract can't be enforced. And those inspections are very excessive.

I'm a LL and I inspect after 6 months. If everything is fine I leave them to quiet enjoyment of the property. In the past I have popped around once a year for tenants to renew contract. Now no 1 year contracts I will probably have to inform them I need to check once a year. I'm sure my Gas fitter who I have used for over 15 years would inform me if there was any major issues when he does the annual boiler service and gas certificate.

Were you referring to my post? It's not my contract, these are the licence conditions imposed on landlords by the council.

Is this for an HMO? That amount of inspections are very intrusive if its private tenants and checking alarms once a month doesn’t sound right at all.

In Newham it's specifies 3 monthly inspections and hard wired, interlinked alarms for all properties. HMOs have more rules still. And I've just read that interlinked alarms should be tested monthly in rental properties, but I'm going to try to get confirmation of that as it seems way OTT.

Yeah that also seems very invasive. I totally get the need to upkeep a property and make sure its health and safety compliant etc but I feel like if you have a decent tenant who is looking after it they are also paying enough they should be able to enjoy the property peacefully.

It's usually on the tenants to test alarms @thecatneuterer
LL only has to test at start of tenancy.
Also, just had a look at Newham Council's website and the 3 monthly inspections are just a suggestion.
Can't find anything on alarms.

Sorry to derail @Lavender14 but yeah, twice in four months is a excessive

You can refuse if you are able to be there too…

I have been observing this since covid, when someone tried to get me to sign a lease for an inspection after 6 weeks and then 3 monthly, and I said no.

Imo, it's an insurance company stipulation. Possibly the cheaper the LL insurance, the more hoops they have to agree to jump through.

I would tell them that after 6 months you expect no more than bi annual inspections, which is standard.

Well that's a relief. I think I'm going to ask them to confirm in writing though.

My agents inspect once a year on the flat I own. They do take lots of pics.

I've had mixed experiences, some rentals were inspected quarterly, others annually, two were never inspected. Then there were random safety inspections for the boiler, smoke alarms and electrics etc that didn't coincide with a general inspection.

On the whole, when I was renting through a letting agent the inspections were more frequent, I suspect they were just earning their fees.

My neighbour has inspections every 3 months and the agent spend a while taking numerous photos of inside and outside of the property.

I think this is massively evasive, especially considering she has lived there for nearly 6 years with no issues. No need for it at all.

Seems excessive. My current landlord seems laid back, and only came once to do an inspection this year, I think as he said he had to complete paperwork. He did say i’m his best tenant so maybe he checks other properties more, but he knows I keep the flat in good condition.

It’s excessive. Once a year is normal or on vacating.

I’m an ex-landlady,

I used to pop around to my rental about twice a year for a catch up. Sort out any issues kinda visit.

In my opinion it maybe my bricks & mortar but it’s their home. I always remembered that.

My tenants were untidy & the house was aromatic but given it was their home I left them to it. There was no serious damage.

I always gave a lot of notice and worked with them for a convenient date.

Anything more than I’ve outlined above is very intrusive. Look up the Shelter web site for possible guidance and regs.