Grand Rapids may have the second most competitive rental market in the nation, but that doesn't spell out smooth sailing for landlords. In a crowded market, you're still bound to encounter tenants who wreak havoc on your property.
How can you prevent tenants from damaging your property? Better tenant screening and a clear security deposit policy are great starts. However, they're not as effective without rental property inspections.
Read on to learn how often you should conduct rental property inspections, how they can help, and what laws to abide by in the process.
How Often Should You Inspect Your Rentals?
When you're looking to find and keep great tenants, taking extra precautions can help. The occasional check-in shows that you care about your properties and gives you a chance to build strong tenant relations.
Make sure you're using a landlord inspection checklist to organize your inspections. The goal is to assess:
- Structural elements like floors and walls
- Plumbing and electrical outlets
- Landlord-owned appliances
To build a solid rental inspection schedule, consider the length of your lease. We recommend inspecting the property at least once per leasing term. Given that most leases last one year, that typically means inspecting your property once a year, about halfway through the lease.
Why Are Rental Property Inspections Important?
Rental property inspections serve two purposes. The first is enhancing tenant safety by assessing areas that need maintenance.
Tenants are often the best partners when it comes to rental property upkeep. However, they may not notice early signs of damage, like warped floorboards or water stains. Rental inspections allow an expert to take a look around and catch anything tenants may overlook.
The second purpose of rental property inspections is to monitor lease adherence. While it's expected that tenants will cause a bit of wear and tear, they shouldn't cause significant damage. Inspections allow you to intervene and, if necessary, build an eviction case against reckless tenants.
What Laws Impact Rental Property Inspections?
As a Michigan landlord, you need to abide by Michigan landlord and tenant laws. Inspections require you to enter an occupied unit, and that means giving tenants appropriate notice.
In the state of Michigan, you must give tenants 24 hours' notice before coming in for something like an inspection. They also need to provide their consent, and you need to offer reasonable timeframes. In other words, don't expect tenants to let you in at night or early on a weekend morning.
Unless there is a maintenance emergency, don't enter a tenant's unit without proper notice. This can result in legal action and fines.
Boost Your Rental Strategy with PMI West Michigan
Owning an investment property in Grand Rapids can come with challenges regardless of how competitive our market is. Rental property inspections are an important line of defense against property degradation and troublesome tenants.
At PMI West Michigan, we fill in the gaps to help landlords maximize their profits. You can customize your property management services to ensure you get exactly what you need. Contact us to get help with inspections, maintenance, and more.
