Free landlord and tenant advice from local property experts

For any property owners reading this, you'll know how important it is to keep an eye on your properties to ensure that your tenants take proper care and stay on top of maintenance issues.

Here at LambornHill, we like to go with the motto: prevention is better than the cure. As improper maintenance on a property can cause you hundreds if not thousands further down the line. So, for any property owners reading this (or tenants) who are unsure of what to look out for during an inspection, as local property experts, we've put together this simple guide.

Smoke Alarms

Just as you would in your own home, you must check that all smoke alarms are functioning properly and have a proper power supply. If for some reason, they were needed and didn't work, you could be placing your tenants in real danger.

Electrical Outputs

Like smoke alarms, you must ensure that all electrical outputs work at 100% and in line with all health and safety measures. Any electrical faults could potentially lead to compromising the safety of your tenants, so make sure that you take great care.

Boiler

Start by visually inspecting your boiler to ensure that it is functioning properly. From here, it's worth paying an engineer or plumber to come and check the boiler once a year to ensure that it is running safely.

Fire Escapes

You must ensure that all fire escapes function properly and are not obstructed by furniture or debris. Failure to do so could cost you lives and money, so make sure you thoroughly inspect all fire escapes.

Appliances

Everything from the kettle to the washing machine needs to be thoroughly inspected to ensure that they are working correctly. Although such appliances may not cause such a threat as faulty smoke alarms, they could cause a significant inconvenience to your tenants if they are not working correctly.

And, as you may already know, upsetting your tenants isn't wise if you're looking to extend their lease or get a good review from them once they move on. Remember, your reputation matters, and if people see you as an unfavourable landlord, you could lose out on potential tenants in the future.

Pets

You may or may not allow tenants to bring pets onto your property; either way, you must lookout for any damage caused by animals. Common things to look out for are animal waste, which can cause long-term damage.

However, tenants may be concealing smaller animals such as hamsters and mice, which can get into the walls and damage the wiring.

Smoking

Smoking indoors poses several risks to your property. First, it is a major fire hazard as lit cigarettes left unattended are one of the leading causes of house fires. Second, smoking indoors can cause severe stains on walls, curtains and other appliances within the property.

So, as a rule, we suggest that you keep a keen eye on anyone who may be smoking on your property.

We hope this guide helps you, and if you’re looking to find out more information about the property to rent in Sittingbourne from local property experts, feel free to get in touch, and we’d be happy to assist.