A Student’s Guide to a Property Inspection

Arranging an Inspection

Your landlord or letting agent should contact you to arrange a suitable date and time for them to carry out an inspection on the property. This should be carried out every 6-12 months, depending on their policies.

Attending the Inspection

You do not have to be present for an inspection, your letting agent or landlord will have a spare key for the property and will be able to carry out the inspection without you being present. However, it is always advisable to be present during the inspection so that, if anything needs to be communicated or any issues arise, it can be discussed at the time rather than having to be relayed later on.

Report Issues

One of the things we would advise is to make sure you report any damage or issues when they arise. If possible, be sure to take photos if there is any physical damage within the property, to show proof if needed.

However, if any issues arise close to your inspection day, you can report these directly to the letting agent/landlord on the day. You should make a list of any issues you may have had, so that you don’t forget anything. They should make a note of any issues you bring up, and may take photos if possible.

How to Prepare for an Inspection

You should try and keep your student property up to scratch all year round, however, we understand that sometimes things can slip and, when you’re busy with uni work and socialising, things can start to get away from you a little, which means there can be a panic when that inevitable inspection comes round.

What you need to remember when it comes to a property inspection is that the letting agent or landlord aren’t there to judge you on how tidy you are, they’re there to make sure you haven’t trashed the property. So, if you’ve left your washing out or you’ve left a couple of dirty dishes on the worktop, try not to worry too much about it. As long as there’s no damage to the actual property itself and any furniture, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

However, most people will go round and give the place a good tidy up and a clean before someone comes to do an inspection. Doing this just gives a better impression, and makes them feel more assured that you’re looking after the place. So, it’s always advisable to keep things as tidy as possible, and maybe give the place a clean and a hoover.

Be Honest

If there has been any damage to the property, caused by yourself or your housemates, the best thing to do is be honest. If this is found when you move out of the property, this may cause an issue with getting your deposit back in full, so it’s better to flag this up with the landlord / letting agent.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding your student property inspection, don’t hesitate to contact your letting agent or landlord, who should be happy to answer anything you may be unsure of.