Viewing and Inspecting your Property as a Landlord - Know Your Rights

As a landlord, you have a vested interest in maintaining the quality and repair of your property. So you might be tempted to drop by for an inspection if there is a cause to suspect an issue or just want to check in from time to time.

At the same time, tenants want privacy and ownership over their homes. As a result, viewings and inspections can often lead to disputes between landlords and tenants.

Arguments can easily be avoided by knowing your rights and those of your tenants.

This article will cover under what conditions you can inspect your property.

Your Tenants have a right to “Quiet Enjoyment”

Whilst this law might not feature in your letting agreement, tenants have a “covenant to quiet enjoyment”. This basically means tenants should be allowed to live on the property without interference from anyone, including their landlord.

Tenants are allowed to refuse your entry unless legal requirements are met. You must always:

Give notice of a visit or inspection at least 24 hours before. Notify tenants via email or message.

  • Gain the tenant's permission
  • Enter the property within reasonable hours, even if your rental agreement doesn’t outline this. For example, don’t visit if you have cause to suspect your tenant might be asleep.
If you don’t follow these laws and enter without permission, you can be prosecuted for harassment.

Mandatory Inspections

A landlord often wishes to gain access to a property for maintenance or inspections. There are a few mandatory inspections that all UK rental properties must comply with.

For example:
  • An annual gas safety inspection
  • An electrical inspection once every five years
  • An energy performance assessment every ten years
Emergencies

You have a right of entry in extreme situations without giving notice or obtaining permission. Examples include:
  • A fire in the building
  • A strong smell of gas
  • Structural damage requiring urgent attention
  • Water flowing from the property
 If you have serious cause to believe your property's in danger and a tenant refuses access, you can go to court for an injunction. The costs for this process can usually be claimed back from the tenant later.

Mid-term Inspection

You may also wish to conduct a mid-term inspection to check the property's condition. Again, this is a chance to update the inventory and address any issues that might have arisen in the first half of the tenancy.

To make the mid-term inspection as smooth and unintrusive as possible, consider using free inventory report software to help you stay organized and effective. Even if you’re on friendly terms with your tenants, you should impose upon their quiet enjoyment of the property as little as possible.

Learn more about our free inventory report software on our website, and visit Report2Go’s blog for more helpful information for landlords.

Panos, 25 November 2022
Viewing and Inspecting your Property as a Landlord - Know Your Rights

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