In the US, more than 36% of households rented their home in 2020. For this reason, owning one or more investment properties can be an excellent way to earn a passive income.

However, being a landlord comes with several responsibilities. For instance, you must find and screen tenants, follow up on rental payments, and handle property maintenance requests.

Once you've found a tenant, scheduling regular rental property inspections is essential for several reasons. But how often can you do them?

This article explores this topic in more detail, so if you own an investment property in Charlotte, NC, keep reading to learn more.

Why Perform Rental Property Inspections?

Rental property inspections are essential for several reasons. First, they allow you, the landlord, to check the property's condition. You can use this time to ensure the tenants are properly maintaining it.

Second, it allows you to address any issues that have arisen while your tenants have been living there. While some maintenance issues fall on the tenant's shoulders, many are the landlord's responsibilities. You want to address maintenance requests immediately to avoid more costly repairs later.

Third, regular contact with your tenants can help forge a better landlord/tenant relationship. This can be helpful when it comes time to renew because your tenants will appreciate that you care about the property.

For insights on how to be a good landlord in Charlotte NC, click here.

Types of Property Inspections

If you've never done rental property inspections, you may not be aware of more than one type. Three popular inspections you can do include:

Moving In Inspections

When a new tenant moves into the property, it's wise to do an inspection. Alongside the tenant, note down the property's condition so you know if anything gets damaged during their tenancy.

Routine Rental Property Inspections

This inspection is performed so you and the tenant can identify any maintenance issues or repairs. Here, you can discuss whose responsibility it is to fix.

Moving Out Inspections

This inspection is performed when your tenant has given their notice to vacate. Compare the property's condition with the information you saved during the move-in inspection.

Understanding the different types of rental property inspections and their purposes is key to setting up an effective inspection schedule. To learn more about the various inspections you should be conducting, click here for a guide on the different types of rental property inspections. This will help you know exactly what to look for and why each type of inspection is important. 

How Often Should You Carry Out Rental Property Inspections?

While you want to consider tenant privacy, it's vital to perform rental property inspections regularly. This way, you can keep an eye on what condition your property is in. However, it's important to remember to stick to rental property inspection laws in your state.

For instance, in Charlotte, NC, landlords are only allowed to enter a rental property without notice in the case of an emergency. However, no law states how much notice must be given before the inspection. Typically, forty-eight hours is a considerate amount of time.

You should schedule at most two inspections a year. This also needs to be stipulated in the lease agreement.

Get Top Property Management Today

Regular rental property inspections are essential for landlords to ensure the condition of their properties and to address any maintenance issues that may arise. Landlords should schedule at least two inspections per year and should give tenants at least 48 hours' notice before an inspection. By following these tips, you can protect your investments and maintain a good relationship with your tenants.

Are you looking for top-notch full-service property management in Charlotte, North Carolina? Then contact our experts today. At Carolina Property Management, your needs always come first.