What Do Apartment Inspections Look For?

When it’s time to move to a new rental, or your landlord is coming by for an annual property check, you’re probably wondering what apartment inspections are looking for. Landlords have the right to inspect their apartments regularly. Usually, this is just to make sure everything is in good condition and not broken or damaged. They also want to check that tenants haven’t violated their lease agreements. Learn what they’ll be looking for, so you’ll be prepared to have your place looking its best. 

Typical Areas of Inspection

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Sometimes also called a property inspection, an apartment inspection is similar to what happens during a home inspection for potential new homebuyers. The inspection involves looking at many of the same areas, but apartment inspections often look more carefully at surface damage. They also check if residents are following property rules. Mandatory inspections, which typically take anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours, are usually part of the lease agreement that tenants sign when they rent the apartment.

General Condition of the Apartment

When landlords do an apartment inspection, they start by looking at the general condition of the property. They look for damage or issues with:

• Window and door frames

• Window and door locks

• Window and door screens

• Blinds and curtains 

• Kitchen counters

• Cabinets 

Exterior Features

In the case of single-family houses and similar properties, the landlord will check the outside of the house, too. They look for any issues with the:

• Foundation

• Roof

• Gutters

• Balcony

• Garage

• Patio

Residents aren’t responsible for fixing the exterior or repairing the roof, but they should notify the landlord of any problems they notice. 

Floors, Walls, and Ceilings

 Some of the most common reasons why tenants may fail an apartment inspection include: 

• Scratches on hardwood floors

• Unsightly carpet stains

• Holes in the walls from hanging pictures

A landlord can easily spot these signs of damage from walking around the apartment. Be sure to lift furniture off the ground when moving things around and give the carpet a good cleaning to keep your floors in good condition. 

Stains, Mold, and General Cleanliness

Landlords can reasonably expect tenants to keep properties in a clean, habitable condition. They’ll look for excessive mold and mildew, especially around damp locations like:

• Bathrooms

• Kitchens

• Laundry areas

Be sure to check the nooks and crannies under the toilet, behind the stove, and in the shower. 

Plumbing and Water Damage

Unlike home inspections for potential buyers, apartment inspections are usually done by property owners themselves. If their initial check reveals possible problems, though, they may hire local professional home inspectors for a closer look, as is the case with plumbing. Leaky pipes can cause water damage, leading to mold and possible structural issues.

HVAC, Electrical, and Other Utilities

Along with plumbing, typical property inspections will look at other utility systems in the apartment. They may perform these tasks:

• Check the condition of the HVAC system, including the state of the vents and filters

• Conduct a home electrical inspection, including light switches, power outlets, and other electrical fixtures

• Inspect safety equipment like fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide sensors, and alarm systems 

Home Appliances

As a tenant, it’s important to report (and document) if there’s something wrong with an appliance if it is owned by your landlord. These appliances include:

• Washer

• Dryer

• Dishwasher

• Refrigerator

• Stove

Also as a tenant, it is your responsibility to keep these appliances reasonably clean. A broken appliance that was not reported in a timely manner can cause you to fail an apartment inspection. 

Signs of Pests

A thorough property inspection will also look for possible signs of infestation. They may look around the kitchen for rodent droppings, for example, or if there are signs of termite damage to the property. If there are indications of pests in the home, landlords should ensure that appropriate pest treatments are applied.

Unauthorized Activity

The lease agreement should outline a number of property rules that tenants have to follow. Breaking these rules means violating the lease agreement:

• Having pets when there’s a no pets policy

• Subletting the apartment as a vacation rental 

• Unauthorized remodeling projects and other property changes

What Happens If You Fail an Apartment Home Inspection?

The consequences of failing an apartment inspection vary based on the severity of the damage. If you are moving out of the apartment, you may lose some or all of your security deposit. If this is a routine inspection, the landlord may have the right to evict you from the apartment. Even if you are able to recover your damage deposit, failing an inspection means your landlord probably won’t offer a letter of recommendation for any future rentals you apply for. 

While tenants have a responsibility to keep the apartment in reasonably good condition, any repairs or maintenance needs for the property fall on the landlord. It is also up to the landlord to source and pay for a professional to do the repairs. This is why security deposits exist, so the landlord can use that money to repair things you damaged.