When a tenant signs a tenancy agreement, they must abide by the terms and conditions of the contract. A rent inspection checklist can be an extremely useful tool when renting a property because it provides a clear and concise list of the condition of the property, so both parties know what to expect at settlement.
A rent inspection checklist can be used when an existing tenant is signing a new tenancy agreement or when a new tenant moves into the property.
Tenancy rent inspections are easy to arrange and can (and should) occur before any rent payment has been exchanged between both parties. At this pre-rent period, tenants are expected to fill in their rent inspection report about the condition in which they found the apartment or house in question in preparation for moving in. The landlord must then use this rent inspection checklist to confirm (or deny) that these conditions are true. This makes it very easy for either party if there is ever a dispute at the end of the rent period, as they both have a rent inspection checklist that can be used as evidence.
A rent inspection checklist should include details such as:
All of this information is useful as it provides a rent inspection checklist that both the tenant and landlord can use as evidence.
This rent inspection checklist can also provide a great reference for both parties as the rent payment is being exchanged.
At the end of a tenant's stay in a property, it's important to have an honest discussion about what they think was fair, or if they feel that they've been ripped off from their bond - having some proof from rent inspections will help to resolve these types of issues quickly. A rent inspection form with clear details and evidence will make this process much easier.
As a landlord, a rent inspection checklist helps you avoid disputes and problems by providing a rent inspection form that is easy to follow and clearly outlines the condition of the property. If there are any stains, scratches on walls or broken items at this time these can be documented on rent inspections as well as estimated costs for repairs.
This rent inspection checklist is helpful as both parties have an idea about what they will find when moving into a new rental property and it makes it very difficult for either party to dispute what was agreed upon prior to rent payments being made. Due to rent inspections taking place before rent payments, there should be no reason for disputes after rent has been paid on the property.
A rent inspection checklist is not a legal document, although it can be presented as evidence if needed. It's more of a useful tool for both the tenant and landlord to use when rent payments are taking place.
If you're looking for an accurate rent inspections checklist, contact your local government housing department or real estate agent they will be able to provide you with some examples that you can print off. You can then fill these in with your own information (or simply use them as they are) to make rent inspections even easier.
If rent inspections cannot be agreed upon, the landlord should provide a rent inspection checklist. This should contain photos of all damage that have been reported by previous tenants to help avoid disputes at the end of rent term.
If rent inspections are not conducted this also means that it will be much harder for both parties to resolve any disputes about rent or bond issues.
A rent inspection affects the rental bond by giving both parties an idea of what they can expect to find upon moving into a new rental property, as well as showing any damage that may have occurred throughout the tenancy.
Without rent inspections, deciding if rent was paid appropriately or if there are any disputes about rent and bond will be much more difficult to resolve. As rent inspections take place before rental payments are made, this also makes it impossible for either party to claim they weren't aware of the damage or any other issues prior to renting out the property.
A rent inspection checklist serves as a record of any issues that need to be fixed. A landlord is not required to fix all problems on rent inspections, but these rent inspections should contain photos of all reported damage so that it's easier for both parties to resolve any disputes later on.
Some tenancy agreements will already include rent inspection checklists, others do not include them at all and this decision will vary depending on the state or territory you are renting in. If rent inspections are not included in your tenancy agreement, it is still a good idea to use rent inspections as a way of resolving any rent or bond issues. Even if this rent inspection checklist is not legally binding it can still be used as evidence for disputes between tenant and landlord.
It's best to speak with your real estate agent about the rent inspections process in your state, especially if you have just moved into a new rental property.
A copy of the rent inspections form should always be kept by both parties - this ensures everyone is on the same page when moving into a new rental property.
Even if rent inspections are not part of your tenancy agreement, this rent inspection checklist is still a great way to record any problems that need to be fixed in your rental property before rent is paid out each week or month.