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In California, landlords have the right to charge tenants for damages beyond wear and tear. To do this, landlords must provide an itemized list of associated costs and damages within 21 days of the renter moving out.
How do you get this list of damages? Rental property inspections are key.
Even though you own a property, you must restrict how much you inspect the property. Keep reading to learn more.
How Often Can a Landlord Inspect Property?
Rental property inspections are necessary, but how often can a landlord legally complete them? A property manager can help you figure this out.
Owners may assume they can conduct inspections whenever because they own the property, but this is not the case. There are usually state and local regulations limiting the number of times a landlord can inspect a property.
To determine how often you can check properties, learn more about California's state and local laws.
After reading through the laws, it might be hard to come up with a solid number. This is because there are various factors you must take into account first.
Purpose of Entry
The main thing controlling the number of times you can inspect a property is the purpose of entry. For example, you would complete a move-in inspection only once when a tenant moves in and a move-out inspection when they move out.
These are guaranteed inspections that benefit landlords who want a complete idea of how the tenant took care of a property.
Landlords can also do seasonal or quarterly inspections but these inspections should be outlined in the lease agreement.
Avoid excessive property inspections that interrupt the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment and privacy. Drive-by inspections are allowed but don't bother tenants by completing them too often.
A property management company can help you notify tenants when an inspection is necessary.
Quiet Enjoyment
Tenants have the universal right to privacy and quiet enjoyment. Excess property inspections can interfere with this right.
There is a fine line between landlord rights and tenant rights. Tenants don't own the property so they cannot deny entry or change the locks. Equally as important, landlords can't walk into the property without notice.
The most important thing to look for when deciding the frequency of inspections is whether or not tenants are following lease agreements. Finding something wrong with a bad tenant gives you the right to check up on them again.
Rental Property Inspections: Frequency Matters
Inspecting a property is necessary to ensure your units stay in good condition. Rental property inspections are great when a tenant moves in, moves out, and periodically throughout the year.
It's important to respect tenants' rights during the inspection process. You need a purpose for entry and you can't get in the way of a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment.
A property management company can help you complete rental property inspections while following the law. When you work with PMI Coachella Valley, you get years of experience in return.
Contact us today to learn how property managers can help.
