What Should a Landlord Check Between Tenancies?
What Should a Landlord Check Between Tenancies?
A change of tenant is a useful opportunity to look over the property before somebody new moves in.
The time between tenancies can be busy. There may be cleaning to arrange, keys to collect, repairs to organise and a new tenant waiting to move in.
But it is also one of the easiest times to take a proper look around the property. With no tenant to disturb, access is simpler and small problems can often be dealt with before they become more inconvenient or expensive.
Start with landlord-supplied appliances
If appliances are supplied with the property, give them a quick visual check before the next tenancy starts. Look for damaged plugs, worn or trapped cables, cracked casings or anything that appears loose or damaged.
It is also worth checking that the appliances listed with the property are actually still there. Kettles, microwaves and other smaller items can easily be moved, replaced or removed during a tenancy, while larger appliances may have developed faults that have not previously been reported.
Where landlord PAT testing is required or due, the empty period is a convenient time to have it completed. It avoids arranging access once somebody has moved in and gives the landlord an updated record of the appliances tested at the property.
Pay attention to the water system after a vacancy
Water outlets are another area worth checking, particularly where the property has been empty for a period of time.
Run the hot and cold taps and showers and check that everything is operating normally. Little-used outlets deserve particular attention because water sitting within pipework or a shower hose can create stagnation.
If the property has a guest shower, spare bathroom or another outlet that may not be used regularly, make sure it has not simply been forgotten. Longer periods when a property is empty can also change how the water system is being used, so this is worth considering before the next tenant arrives.
A Legionella risk assessment looks at much more than water temperatures. It considers how the hot and cold water system is arranged and used, including water storage, little-used outlets, showers, identifiable stagnation risks and relevant parts of the accessible pipework.
Look for the small signs of bigger property problems
An empty property is also a good opportunity to check areas that may have been hidden behind furniture or possessions during the tenancy.
Look around sinks, baths and showers for leaks or failed seals. Check around windows and external walls for signs of moisture, damp or mould, and look beneath kitchen sinks and around appliances where a slow leak may not immediately be obvious.
A small patch of damp or a minor leak is generally much easier to investigate before the next tenant has moved furniture and belongings back into the room.
This does not mean every mark on a wall is a major problem. The useful part of checking between tenancies is simply spotting changes early and deciding whether anything needs further attention.
Deal with outstanding repairs
If the previous tenant reported a sticking door, dripping tap, loose fitting or another minor problem, the gap between tenancies is the obvious time to deal with it.
Walk through the property as if you were moving in yourself. Try doors and windows, look at fixtures and fittings, check the general condition of the property and make sure obvious safety items such as smoke and heat alarms have not been damaged or removed.
It does not need to become an enormous inspection. The idea is to catch the things that are much easier to put right while the property is empty rather than discovering them after the new tenant has moved in.
Check the paperwork as well as the property
The physical inspection is only part of the changeover. It is also worth taking a few minutes to review the records held for the property.
Check whether anything identified in previous reports still requires action and whether an existing assessment needs to be reviewed because something has changed.
For example, changes to supplied appliances, alterations to the water system or a change in occupancy circumstances may mean the information held for the property no longer gives the complete picture.
A useful changeover routine
Rather than waiting until the next tenant reports a problem, use the empty period to check the property, landlord-supplied appliances, water outlets and any outstanding recommendations from previous reports.
PAT testing and Legionella at the same visit
For landlords who need both services, PAT testing and a Legionella Risk Assessment can often be arranged during the same property visit.
That can be particularly useful during a tenant changeover because access has already been arranged and both the supplied appliances and accessible water system can be dealt with before the next tenancy begins.
You can find more information about the services Thorn provides for rental properties on our Landlords & Letting Agents page.
Thorn provides PAT testing and Legionella Risk Assessments for landlords and letting agents across Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire, with Legionella assessments carried out by an Elmhurst Energy Approved Legionella Risk Assessor.
Not sure what needs doing before your next tenant moves in?
Ask Wendy can help you understand the PAT testing and Legionella options for your property, answer questions about the requirements and provide a guide estimate.
Ask Wendy Landlords & Letting Agents