Don’t get caught with holes in your walls if you want your full security deposit back
Landlords conduct routine apartment inspections regularly.
They assess the condition of the apartment and identify possible issues.
Property owners must give 24- to 48-hour notice before an inspection.
Failing an inspection may mean forfeiting your security deposit.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
At a minimum, landlords typically perform an apartment home inspection before tenants move in and after they move out. Most lease agreements include a “right to entry” clause allowing for “inspection by the landlord.” They do this to check for damage, identify repairs and maintenance needs, and ensure tenants are following property rules.
Routine inspections are normal for rental properties. The frequency is up to the landlord. Some property owners only want to check the apartment annually. Others may take a look every three to six months. State laws vary, but more frequent visits may violate a tenant’s “covenant of quiet enjoyment.” This refers to the resident’s right to enjoy relative privacy and freedom from unreasonable disturbances.
It is against the law for a landlord to show up for an unannounced inspection. Most commonly, they must give tenants at least 24 to 48 hours' notice for an apartment inspection. The written notice should describe the date and time of the inspection, what they will be looking for, and if anyone will be joining the landlord, like an electrician or the building’s superintendent.
Generally, no. The letter you receive from your landlord may say that they’ll do the apartment inspection whether or not you are home. If you want more time or you want to reschedule to a time that you will be home, you can ask your landlord, but they may not be required to honor your request.
