Do you know how to be diligent without being overbearing to your tenants? Rental property inspections are an important way to make sure everything runs smoothly in your business, but do it too much and your tenants will feel you're invading their privacy.
Striking the right balance is crucial to success, which is why we're here to help.
Listed below are the top things to consider before scheduling your next rental property inspection timeline. Continue reading to learn more!
Know Florida Law
Before you ever enter a tenant's rental, you must understand Florida's rental property inspection laws. This will give you clear guidelines to follow to make certain you're doing everything legally.
It'll also give you rules to fall back upon in case there's ever a dispute between you and a tenant. Keep records of each inspection, as well as copies of notices and failures to comply. These things will all help to protect you when problems arise.
Intended Purpose
You aren't allowed to enter a tenant's rented home without a justifiable rental inspection purpose. Repairs, maintenance, and check-ins need to have a written cause to be accepted.
Whether you need to repair the rental due to a pet accident or need to do routine maintenance, make sure your tenant knows all about it before the day of the inspection.
Reasonable Notice
Whenever you do need to perform an inspection, you must give your tenant a notice beforehand. This notice should be at least 24 hours ahead of time.
If you want to continue building a strong relationship with your tenants, it's better to give them a larger notice than that. Let your tenants know about your intentions a week before the inspection. This will give them ample time to prepare their schedules to make the inspection as easy as possible for everyone.
Special Circumstances
As a general rule, you should never enter a tenant's rental without their consent.
This helps keep interactions respectful for both parties and ensures you won't upset your tenant. It doesn't matter what you may have found during their screening. Each tenant needs to be approached with the same kind of respect.
However, there are certain circumstances in which you're allowed to enter without the tenant's expressed consent. These situations include:
- Emergencies
- Unreasonable withholding of consent from the tenant
- Tenant has been absent from the property, without notice, for an unreasonable time
If these circumstances are met, then you have the right to enter the rental to secure the premises even without the tenant's consent.
Professional Rental Property Inspections
Understanding the laws and being able to follow them can be a tricky task that adds a lot of stress to your job. That's why it's often worthwhile to offload rental property inspections to a professional management company. They can juggle all the legalities with experience and class.
Here at PMI Stingray Homes, we know how vital inspections can be for a thriving business. That's why we use our years of experience to ensure each inspection meets your standards all while relieving your workload. We also offer other key services to aid your business, so make sure to check them out!
