Mid-tenancy

Property visit checklist

Periodic visits to a rented home by a landlord/agent are a critical part of effective property/tenancy management. Visits allow the overall condition of the property to be checked and to ensure they everything is in good working order both internally and externally. It is also the perfect opportunity to ensure that tenants are behaving themselves and are not breaching any of the terms of their tenancy agreement. 

You should be looking for the following during a visit - repairs and maintenance issues, living conditions, illegal/criminal activities, fixtures and fittings, testing of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, maintenance of external areas. loft inspection, wear and tear.

Typically property inspections should be carried out more frequently for new tenancies (e.g. every 3 months), with consideration given to reducing these after frequent positive inspections after the first year to the same tenants. 

Visits should be arranged at a date and time convenient to the tenant. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, states that landlords have the right to enter premises to view its 'condition and state of repair'. Inspections must be conducted at 'reasonable times of the day' and you must give the tenant at least 24 hours written notice. 

Licence holders are required to visit their licensed properties every six months as part of their licensing obligations. To assist you in this please utilise the form below and keep for your records. You may be ask to provide this at a future date. 

• Mid Tenancy Property Checklist (PDF) [67KB] (opens new window)

What if my tenant refuses access?

Your tenant might not feel comfortable having people in their home, especially if they are not present and this might result in them not allowing entry.  Be aware that some might be refusing access due to illegal activities.

All tenants are entitled to live in "quiet enjoyment", meaning that you or your agent must seek their permission before entering the property.  What can you do if permission is refused?

Try and speak to your tenants and find out why they are not allowing access, if it is because they want to be present arrange a time suitable to them.

Even though you have the right to inspect the condition of your property, you can only do this by entering a formal application for a court order.  You or your agent cannot enter the property without consent and if you do, it could be considered as trespassing or harassment.

The only exception to this is if there is an emergency.  In these cases, you can enter the property without permission from the tenant.

You might wish to consider serving notice on the tenant so that they must vacate the property at the end of the tenancy.

Should you experience access issued for the purposes of fulfilling your role as licence holder then please contact the team for further advice and support. We will contact your tenant or visit them to provide reassurance and an explanation as to the importance of the visit. 

What if no one is home at the confirmed date and time of the visit?

We strongly advise that you do not access the property without the tenant or another person present - such as a family member of friend, even if the tenants has confirmed to you the intended date and time of the visit. Accessing the property without the tenant or another person there open you to the possibility of accusations of theft and damage.

Attempt arranging access again by repeating the above method. If access is not permitted on a second occasion then please contact the team for further advice and assistance.