One of your fundamental responsibilities as a private sector landlord is to keep any property you let safe and free of any kind of health hazard. Regular inspections of your property provide a way of ensuring that safety.
Regular inspections also let you spot any need for repairs or maintenance. That helps you maintain the value of your property investment. Inspection checks are a win-win result for both you and your tenants.
Just remember that you must agree access to the let property with your tenants to make any inspection checks at least 24 hours in advance – and preferably, in writing, at least a week in advance:
Legal requirements
- the law makes clear that those property inspection checks must be done, some which are on a regular basis and some which need to happen each time you take on a new tenant;
- top of that list is an annual inspection by a Gas Safe engineer of the gas supply and appliances – with a copy of the latest inspection certificate given to tenants within 28 days;
- the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 make it a legal obligation for the electrical installation to be checked by a suitably qualified person at least once every five years;
- the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Regulations were last updated in October 2022 and make landlords responsible for installing, inspecting, and checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in all privately let accommodation;
- landlords are also legally required to have done everything reasonably possible to protect the property and its tenants from smoke damage and fire – please read our brief guide Landlords: Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and the Law;
- remember that HMO’s have further legal requirements, such as the installation of fire doors – please read: A Landlords Guide to HMOs;
- our Landlord Legislation Guide also provides further information:
The landlord-tenant relationship
- property inspection checks also provide you with a valuable opportunity to develop your relationship with your tenants and to learn just how they are treating the accommodation;
- if the tenancy agreement allows them to keep a pet or pets, for example, this is a time to make sure that no undue or lasting damage is caused;
- you might also want to verify that a tenancy agreement’s ban on smoking within the let property is being maintained;
- you’ll be able to assess not only any damage caused by the tenant but also listen to any requests for necessary repairs – a two-way exchange that may help develop the healthy relationship you want with your tenants;
- our Landlords Guide to Health & Safety has further information:
Repairs and maintenance
- it’s not only the tenant, of course, who will identify any needs for repairs and maintenance;
- be on the lookout for anything that might compromise the health or safety of your tenants, of course, but also use regular property inspection checks to gauge the whole range of possible tasks;
- even though there have been no visible signs of mould or damp, now is a time to stamp down on any early signs of a potentially serious problem – so watch for areas that feel soft to the tread or touch, dark stains on the walls, or flaky paint or wallpaper. Our Guide to Condensation provides useful information;
- check that there are no leaky pipes or taps – and call in the plumber before any problem becomes noticeable;
- you – and your tenants – will be glad you eradicated all signs of any pests before an infestation developed;
- once established, infestations by pests such as bedbugs, fleas, and cockroaches can be difficult to control – so timely intervention is called for.
Regular property inspection checks can help you maintain your legal responsibilities and obligations as a landlord. But they can also serve to strengthen your relationship with your tenants – painting you as a caring and responsible landlord.
Regular inspection checks are also an essential part of keeping your property in a good state of repair – a sure way to protect your investment and a precaution about which your landlord insurance provider is certain to insist.
Further reading: Landlord Checklist.
Please note that this article is for guidance purposes only and should not be deemed legal advice. Legislation can change. For further clarification, contact your local authority or lettings agent.
