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Landlords’ guide to tenant inspections

The property market has seen a gradual fall in sales and more properties are being made available on the rental market. If you have decided to rent a property and become a landlord, there are many things to consider. Make a good start by reading our short guide to carrying out a tenant inspection.
man and woman in front of a property

 

The right paperwork

Having the correct paperwork in order might sound like a very basic need of a successful landlord/tenant relationship but this is often ignored and forgotten about. Having the right documents and policies in place protects you as a landlord, as well as covering the rights of the tenant, providing both parties with a peace of mind. By formally signing documents together, it shows the commitment made by both. Templates for basic tenancy agreements, property inventories, and contracts are readily available online.

Alternatively, ask your solicitor for advice or consult with an estate agent. You might decide that the best option for yourself is to let your property through an estate agent or management team. This can relieve the responsibility of the stress of renting and provide you with the advice and guidance you may need.

Property inventory

As mentioned above, the property inventory is a vital document when carrying out an inspection of your rental. It is essentially a snapshot of the property and its contents upon being made available. This doesn’t include the tenant’s belongings, but all the fixture and fittings, any appliances or furniture. Make sure that you also include driveways, outside spaces, outbuildings, and garages that your property might have. If you don’t feel comfortable completing this yourself, then there are companies who specialise in these surveys. For more information we recommend watching Direct Line’s dedicated video.

 

Man looking a cupboard

 

Co-operate with the tenant

Co-operating with the tenant is a very important factor to a successful and productive relationship between a landlord and renter. By law, a landlord must give the tenant of a property at least 24 hours’ notice before an inspection or visit. This must be carried out at a ‘reasonable time of day’ or whenever convenient for the occupant.

As a landlord, you should also be respectful of a tenant and their privacy. Mid-term tenancy inspections are common place on most lets, especially with shorter agreements. If you have a good, trusting relationship with your tenant you may wish to carry out inspections with a custom timeframe that suits your needs.

Take pictures of meters

Taking pictures of any meters in the property is a useful and easy way of keeping track of expenses and can help produce a helpful resource for you as a landlord. This depends if bills are included or excluded in the tenancy agreement, however it’s a clever idea to take pictures before the start of a tenancy and at its conclusion. This approach helps avoid disputes over bills and energy and water consumption.

taking a meter reading

 

The inspection

After showing a tenant around and agreeing the contract and let period, the first inspection after moving in can be a quick visit to make sure things are in order. Take the time to answer any questions that your tenant might have and make them feel at ease. It’s best to be approachable and listen to any concerns. Tentatively make a date for the second inspection, but it might be best to be more flexible and agree a date over phone or email.

Additional inspections should be carried out with enough notice and be conducted in a suitable time, there’s no need to take an hour over a 10 minute viewing.

Dilapidation report

A dilapidation report is carried out by a neutral third party to asses the condition of a property or if it’s found to need repair at the end of a tenancy agreement. This process is often overlooked, but as a landlord you should be aware of the procedure, especially if you think the tenant has breached their terms. This obviously affects the deposit, but it must be said that it is quite rare for a tenant to damage a property they are letting. It’s just another measure to protect yourself in case things go wrong.

Cloudy2Clear support landlords and homeowners needs through a variety of services. If you would like the best for your tenants, or your own home, please read about our services page for advice on replacing failed double glazing. If you are still unsure about renting your property, more information on what to do can be found here.

Looking after your conservatory

Looking after your conservatory properly will allow you to enjoy it to its maximum potential. Lazy brunches in the summer, entertaining friends and family with a birthday barbecue, or just relaxing with a good book. Get the most out of your conservatory with our handy guide to caring for this valued, social and relaxing space.

Picture of a conservatory with patio, doors open

Keep it clean

Cleaning your windows regularly is a great way of prolonging their life. Warm, soapy water combined with a soft sponge and a light hose down is best practice for cleaning thoroughly. Internally, use a soft cloth and some specialist glass cleaner for maximum effect. There’s no need to use a power/pressure washer, as this can have a detrimental impact on your glass.

 

Open the windows and doors

A lovely feature on most conservatories is the wide, open doors they have. Opening these brings in the summer air and helps cool your property during the hotter months of the year, creating a lovely, fresh environment. However, when their hinges or handles fail or get a little stiff, it can be very frustrating. Take a look at our locks, handles and hinges repair page to see what we can do to improve your windows and get them in full working order.

 

Decoration and presentation

A conservatory is the gateway to the garden, bring some of those flowers indoors and transcend the gap between your home and the outdoors. Flowers make for a happier home and create a gentle, relaxing atmosphere. If you want to create the illusion of a bigger garden or space, place a mirror or two around the room to fully exploit the natural light, and accentuate your flowers, conservatory and lawn or patio.

Glass elegant chandelier in creative conservatory or sunroom

Can’t enjoy the view?

If your windows are looking a little hazy and have misted up, you’ve done your best to clean them and it’s still there, it’s probably because the double glazing has failed. At Cloudy2Clear Windows, we only replace the pane, not the frame, saving you time, money and hassle. Visit our conservatory double glazing repairs page to find out how we can help you!

Replacing failed double glazing makes your house more energy efficient and means that you can get back to enjoying your conservatory quickly. Check out our double glazing repair page to learn more about the benefits of replacing failed double glazing or contact us to book a free no obligation quote.

How long does double glazing last?

At Cloudy2Clear, we’re regularly asked the same questions about double glazing. These range from, ‘Is it efficient?’ to the wider, ‘Are the benefits that good?’. In short, both answers are a definite ‘Yes’. ‘How long does double glazing last?’ however, is slightly more complicated.

The general consensus on double glazing lifespan is estimated to be anything between 20 and 35 years depending on the supplier and the fitter. Others even suggest up to and above 40 years in some cases. At Cloudy2Clear, we confidently assure our customers of our professional work ethic and practices, and our product quality with a 25-year guarantee. As we only replace the pane, not the frame, the guarantee relates purely to the glass, not the PVC frame.

When modern double glazing was first introduced in the United States during the 1950s, it caught on relatively quickly. By the late 70s / early 80s, the trend had travelled across the pond to Britain. We’ve already seen the bulk of those windows come to the end of their life and need replacing, and now windows installed in the late 80s and early 90s are also in need of some tender loving care due to ill fitting, poor workmanship, and general wear and tear. Developments have also been made in window technology since their original introduction and represent a better product than before.

 

English street of terraced houses, without parked cars.

 

Expecting a double-glazing unit to survive for 30 plus years varies greatly dependent on location. Even though windows are designed to withstand the harshest weather, particularly exposed or open areas are more liable to succumb to adverse and challenging conditions. This can make some people consider triple glazing, however this is rarely needed in the United Kingdom. The best practice is to replace any failed double glazing.

 

Old Mining Town of Roros, Norway. A Unesco Heritage site.

In Scandinavia and northern Europe, triple glazing units are common place to help fight the fierce, cold and brisk weather to better insulate homes, the cost and benefits aren’t necessary to the more varied climate experienced in the majority of the United Kingdom. If you live in the UK, then expecting your double glazing to last 25 years is very reasonable.

Installing new double glazing is an investment for the future as it increases your homes energy efficiency and can help cancel out unwanted noise from outdoors. We also offer insulating glass to help keep your bills down and make your home a better and more efficient environment to live in.

If you want to take our offer of a free, no obligation quote, then please don’t hesitate contact us or read more about our double glazing repairs by visiting our dedicated page.