Landlords generally understand the significance of inspecting rental property periodically. Even if you've screened your tenants thoroughly, regular visits help to ensure the unit is being properly maintained. It's also a good way to make sure you don't end up with a destroyed home due to a marijuana grow op.
Unless you live right next door, and can keep a constant eye out, you'll need to make arrangements to visit the property. Looking at the property from the outside is always allowed, but what limitations are there on going inside of the rental unit?
This issue is not always easy to resolve.
Laws are on the books that designate when you can visit your rental property. This is a quote from the law in BC: "A tenant is entitled to exclusive possession of a rental unit, including reasonable privacy, and quiet and peaceful enjoyment."
Proper notice must be given by a landlord before showing up at the residence, and if a landlord breaks these rules, there may be serious negative results. On the rental agreement, state that there will be regular inspections, so that the tenants are aware. In BC, you can inspect your property once a month, if you like.
Tenant's units in BC can be entered by the landlord if:
There is an emergency and entry is needed to protect life or property. If further harm to the property is imminent and it's an urgent situation that can't wait, this is a case where you can enter.
A landlord must provide written notice to a tenant to enter the unit with at least 24 hours notice, and not more than 30 days before.
The tenant provides the landlord permission to enter. If it's not an emergency, you should provide written notice to the tenant and to record the circumstances that required you to enter the unit. In a case where a landlord simply shows up and asks to enter the unit, the tenants can say later that the only let the landlord in because they felt intimidated.
If the tenancy agreement includes housekeeping or alike, and this requires the landlord to enter.
It appears the unit has been abandoned by the tenant. For example, the tenant has not paid rent, and there are no signs of occupancy.
Entry has been allowed by an arbitrator who has provided an order.
Landlords may believe that their visits may be for a "reasonable purpose", and this may be true, but if the visits are too frequent, it is no longer reasonable. In BC, the Act states that a landlord can inspect rental units once a month.
For things to remain amicable, the landlord should do their best to arrange for inspections at times that are agreeable to the tenants.
To avoid problems with accessing a rental property, the landlord should:
Give tenants the proper notice before visiting the property.
Make sure you have a valid reason for visiting, such as, repairs or regular inspections.
Record the reason and the time of every visit.
Go over the inspection expectations with the tenants right away, before they even move in. Be sure that they understand from day one that periodically, you will be inspecting the rental unit.
When the tenants know what to expect, they will be more agreeable to visitations in the future. When you have done proper inspections on your home, you will be able to avoid some serious problems in the future, including illegal activities.
Unless you live right next door, and can keep a constant eye out, you'll need to make arrangements to visit the property. Looking at the property from the outside is always allowed, but what limitations are there on going inside of the rental unit?
This issue is not always easy to resolve.
Laws are on the books that designate when you can visit your rental property. This is a quote from the law in BC: "A tenant is entitled to exclusive possession of a rental unit, including reasonable privacy, and quiet and peaceful enjoyment."
Proper notice must be given by a landlord before showing up at the residence, and if a landlord breaks these rules, there may be serious negative results. On the rental agreement, state that there will be regular inspections, so that the tenants are aware. In BC, you can inspect your property once a month, if you like.
Tenant's units in BC can be entered by the landlord if:
There is an emergency and entry is needed to protect life or property. If further harm to the property is imminent and it's an urgent situation that can't wait, this is a case where you can enter.
A landlord must provide written notice to a tenant to enter the unit with at least 24 hours notice, and not more than 30 days before.
The tenant provides the landlord permission to enter. If it's not an emergency, you should provide written notice to the tenant and to record the circumstances that required you to enter the unit. In a case where a landlord simply shows up and asks to enter the unit, the tenants can say later that the only let the landlord in because they felt intimidated.
If the tenancy agreement includes housekeeping or alike, and this requires the landlord to enter.
It appears the unit has been abandoned by the tenant. For example, the tenant has not paid rent, and there are no signs of occupancy.
Entry has been allowed by an arbitrator who has provided an order.
Landlords may believe that their visits may be for a "reasonable purpose", and this may be true, but if the visits are too frequent, it is no longer reasonable. In BC, the Act states that a landlord can inspect rental units once a month.
For things to remain amicable, the landlord should do their best to arrange for inspections at times that are agreeable to the tenants.
To avoid problems with accessing a rental property, the landlord should:
Give tenants the proper notice before visiting the property.
Make sure you have a valid reason for visiting, such as, repairs or regular inspections.
Record the reason and the time of every visit.
Go over the inspection expectations with the tenants right away, before they even move in. Be sure that they understand from day one that periodically, you will be inspecting the rental unit.
When the tenants know what to expect, they will be more agreeable to visitations in the future. When you have done proper inspections on your home, you will be able to avoid some serious problems in the future, including illegal activities.
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