As a Portland landlord, rental inspections are the best way to ensure that your property is in good condition. It helps you document your property's condition, identify significant issues, resolve them promptly, and protect your property's overall well-being. Thorough inspections can also help you ensure that your tenants treat your property respectfully and adhere to all the lease agreement's maintenance clauses.
Landlords can conduct move-in, move-out, and periodic inspections efficiently, especially if they have a solid idea of what to look for. No matter if the tenants have been living for three months or six months, there are various factors you should review during the inspection. The sure way to start the inspection process is with a thorough checklist, including high-quality unit pictures for documentation.
As experienced professionals, we suggest five things landlords should look for in a Portland rental inspection.
1. Safety & Comfort Level of the Property
It is essential to maintain the suitability of the space for comfortable living, during the tenancy or before renting out the property. Ensure that all safety equipment is in its proper place and accessible during emergencies. Consider scanning the house for potential hazards like uneven steps, loose handrails, broken windows, damaged locks on doors and windows, or faulty ceiling fans.
According to ORS 90.320, landlords must keep the rental in a habitable condition. The unit should have waterproofing, weather protection, working plumbing facilities, access to safe drinking water, adequate heating facilities, clean surroundings, and proper ventilation and repair.
Here are a few things that need to be on the top of your checklist before conducting a property inspection.
Pests
No tenant would want to move into a new unit and see pest infestation like bedbugs on the furniture, bed, or cockroaches in the kitchen or everywhere. Therefore, you must thoroughly check pests during the move-in, move-out, and periodic rental inspections. Ensure that you look for signs that indicate such an infestation. You can also conduct a thorough check on the interior and exterior of the house. If there are pests, you must fumigate the house or use other pest control services to remove them permanently.
Keep the home clean
Every landlord should make it a priority to have clean and hygienic property. Even though everyone has a different standard of cleanliness, once your tenant occupies the property, you need to ensure that they are keeping it clean. To prevent damage to your property, ensure that you look at the general condition of your property, the tenant's trash disposal systems, and other indicators of cleanliness to ensure that your tenants are taking care of the home.
Check If safety systems work
Safety systems are essential in a rental, especially if your tenant is occupying it soon. They can help counter emergencies in the house and can help alert you and your tenant on time. Safety equipment like smoke detectors and alarms in your home must work properly. If it is not working, you need to take proper steps to ensure they are in working condition before your tenant moves in.
Landlords need to check the batteries of all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Oregon laws require you to test the detectors at least once every six months. You should replace any old units and install new batteries as needed. These systems should be in proper locations, like bedrooms and hallways. Your tenant can also inform you if these systems are not properly working.
2. Efficiency of HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are any rental's most crucial and expensive parts. Landlords are responsible for keeping them in good condition to ensure they function smoothly and do not break down frequently. You can hire a professional HVAC technician to examine these systems during property inspections. They can expertly resolve all issues, if any, and help you extend the lifespan of these systems.
According to Oregon renter's right to air conditioning law, a tenant has the right to have air conditioning in their home. To protect your renters against extreme heat events, ensure that the AC in your home is working.
Change AC filters
The HVAC systems in your Portland rental may be on all the time due to relatively colder temperatures throughout the year, except in summer. Even then, ensuring that all systems get the required maintenance is essential to avoid unnecessary repairs. As a landlord, you need to get these systems serviced and inspected according to the clauses in the lease agreement. It also requires you to change the AC filters, which protect the HVAC systems.
Leaks and water problems
Another essential factor you should consider during property inspection is plumbing and leakage problem. There are chances of leakages and seepages in the bathroom or the house areas with maximum water use. If left unchecked, they can cause additional damage to the structure of your home and cost you a significant amount in repair and renovation.
Check interior plumbing
Ensure that you check the bathroom taps to see if they close properly. You can also make sure the plumbing is working correctly. Additionally, make it a point to examine every sink to ensure there is no moisture or leaking. A slow leak can also become a major plumbing problem by escalating to rot or mold.
Check for leaks
As the landlord, you should pay attention to every minor leak in and around your house. During inspections, look for things that may indicate leaks around your house, like wet spots, areas, discolored walls, mold, or stains on the floor. If you see any indicators, ensure that you resolve them to avoid further issues for you and your tenants.
Not every leakage-related problem is going to incur a considerable plumbing expense. You can resolve the issues with simple repairs. However, if left unchecked, it can escalate to mold or other issues that can cause irreversible structural damage to your Portland rental.
3. Chances of Waterlogging
It is also essential to check the exterior paths where water can collect. It includes gutters or pipes around the house. Debris or branches may get stuck here and cause water to collect. Such collected water can seep into the house's walls and damage them. You can also prioritize landscaping by trimming off the branches and drying twigs on trees close to your roof. Moreover, if your rental has a water fountain or sprinklers in the yard, ensure they are well maintained.
4. Roof Damage
Another crucial area that requires inspection is the house's roof. The roof undergoes significant wear and tear as it withstands harsh weather conditions throughout the year. Therefore, as a landlord, you must ensure that the roof is safe and has no holes, pests, or debris. You can get a roofing inspection for your rental by hiring a qualified Portland property manager.
General damage to the exterior
Like the interior, the property's exterior also requires proper inspection. The yard needs to be well-maintained to avoid weeds and unnecessary debris. You also need to check if there is adequate lighting outside to provide safety to the tenants during nighttime. If your rental has a driveway, parking space, or garage, you must also inspect its condition. Loose gravel or cracks in the parking space may need fixing. Ensure that you include this in your inspection checklist.
5. Functioning of Electrical Systems
According to Oregon landlord duties, the landlord must ensure that the electrical lighting with wiring and electrical equipment remains in good working order. Since most systems in the housework are on electricity, it is essential to ensure that the electrical systems in your rental are functional and safe to use. To inspect these, you need to test every outlet. You can also turn on all the lights to check if there are issues with the functioning of the appliances. Unchecked and faulty wiring can give rise to fire issues that can be a safety hazard. So, you need to make this a part of your routine inspection checklist to keep your property safe.
Check lights and light switches
Your rental may have excellent natural light during the day, but what about nighttime? Your rental must have access to working and safe light fixtures and outlets. Additionally, the switches must also be in working condition. You can check them during inspection or replace them in time to reduce inconvenience for your tenants.
Routine inspections play a monumental role in protecting the condition of your investment property. As a Portland landlord, it can be difficult to inspect your property by yourself thoroughly. Hiring a qualified Portland property management company like PropM can help you resolve your worries. Contact the experts at PropM to get the best inspection services in Portland, Oregon.
We serve in regions across the Portland Metropolitan Area, including Portland, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Wilsonville, Tigard, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Sherwood, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Clackamas, Gladstone, Tualatin and Multnomah County.
For more information, contact us at PropM.
