The tenant’s presence can add extra pressure to the process, or they may make an effort to conceal some damage. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, you might not want to encourage it. Many state laws require the tenants to be notified of the inspection, and they may be allowed to accompany you. Inviting the Tenant to Do the Final Walkthrough With You Making a promise like that, even a verbal one, can create problems later on if you need to withhold some of the security deposit. Don’t assume that your good relationship means there will be no damage when the lease ends. Promising the Tenant You’ll Return the Full Security DepositĮven great tenants who communicate with you about issues and pay rent on time may still inflict damage on a rental property. However, there are a couple of pitfalls to watch out for during an inspection, too: The mid adult woman stands and looks around the living room of her new house as she makes plans. If you return the tenant’s security deposit before checking for damage, you may be stuck with hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair costs that should have been the renter’s responsibility. Potential Inspection Mistakes to Watch Out Forįailing to perform a pre-move out inspection is definitely a mistake. In Maryland, inspections are required and must occur within five days before or after the tenant moves out. In Virginia, the landlord/property manager has to notify the tenant about the move-out inspection within five days of the move-out notice the inspection should occur no more than three days before the move-out date. In Washington D.C., for example, “The owner may inspect the dwelling unit within three (3) days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, before or after the termination of the tenancy”, and “The owner shall notify the tenant in writing, at least 10 days before the inspection, of the time and date of the inspection.” Some states require move-out inspections while others don’t, and they have varying time frames for when it’s allowed. When Should You Schedule a Move-Out Inspection? They may also appreciate the opportunity to remove carpet stains they perhaps weren’t aware of before the inspection. In other cases, if you perform the inspection before the renter leaves, you might offer them the opportunity to do it.įor example, if they painted the living room yellow, you can request it be painted back to white, otherwise you’ll withhold the cost of painting from the tenant’s security deposit. In most cases, you’ll probably want to repair the damage yourself to ensure it’s done professionally. You may need to make some improvements, including those related to normal wear and tear, between tenants. It’s an opportunity to assess the condition of the property before a new tenant moves in.If there is damage to the rental property, you can require the renter to pay for it.If you find damages, you’ll provide the tenant with an itemized list of repair costs that will be taken out of the deposit. You can compare the condition of the property then and now with the information from both of these inspections. You should have also performed an initial inspection before the tenant’s move-in day to identify existing damages. This inspection is performed just before or after the tenant moves out. Otherwise, it might be easy to forget to check the insides of the cabinets, the dishwasher, or the air conditioning, particularly if the tenant is with you for the inspection. You should go into the rental unit with an inspection checklist that reminds you to examine every room and detail in the property. The landlord is responsible for the cost of repairing normal wear and tear however, the cost of the damages resulting from abuse or neglect can be taken out of the renter’s security deposit. Normal wear in a rental property includes things like chipped paint, worn carpet, faded tiles, loose grout, or damage to windows or walls as a result of a problem with the foundation. The damages you should look for are those caused by abuse or neglect, not the normal wear and tear you can expect from a long- or even short-term tenant. What Is a Move-Out Inspection?ĭuring a move-out inspection, the landlord or property manager examines the rental property for any damage or unauthorized alterations (like a new fence or paint job). Without such an inspection, you could be left with the repair costs-or your new tenants may not be happy with the property when they move in. The previous tenant should be held responsible for certain damages to the rental property. That’s why a move-out inspection is so important. When a tenant moves out, it’s important to assess the condition of the property to ensure your residential real estate is ready for a new tenant.
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