Mid-term inspections – how and why should they be carried out?

As the name denotes, a mid-term inspection is carried out at the middle of the tenancy. During this process, the landlord’s rental property is visited, and the overall condition of the home is documented through a detailed report. 

These inspections take approximately thirty minutes to conduct – however, depending on the size of the property, the time can vary.

The importance of mid-term inspections

These are vital to see how the tenancy is going, how the tenant is treating the property, and whether any part of the home requires fixing. 

Mid-term inspections prove highly effective in uncovering problems before they escalate. If a tenant has failed to report an issue with the home, a mid-term inspection is an opportunity to keep a record of this and correct it before it gets worse.

Common breaches to tenancy agreements include unauthorised pets being on the premises, despite contracts stating they are not allowed. Subletting or other illegal activity within the home can also be reported if they are revealed during the inspection.

Inspections during the middle of the tenancy are in the best interest of all parties. They protect landlords from getting into trouble if illegal activity is taking place on the premises. They also help to ensure the property is still safe for the tenant.

These visits not only showcase how well the tenant is looking after the property in a transparent way, but they are an opportunity for tenants to share any issues they experience.

Mid-term inspections are an important preventative measure against concerns with the home. Unattended issues often end up being costly if they are not resolved right away. By picking up on these issues through mid-term inspections, hefty fees can be avoided. 

Furthermore, these count as concrete evidence if the property is in bad condition and deposit disputes occur.

The best way to conduct mid-term inspections

We have found that the more vigorous the mid-term inspection, the more they can protect all parties. Therefore, we urge that independent inventory clerks are always appointed to carry these out.

Landlords can conduct these checks themselves, yet without the necessary training and expertise that professional inventory clerks hold, it is unlikely that they will do these to the standard required to avoid unnecessary costs and legal disputes in the future.

An AIIC-vetted inventory clerk with specialist knowledge will have handled so many similar cases in the past and been in business for long that they will not skim over signs of illegal activity or damage that exceeds wear and tear.  

Independent inventory clerks have sufficient training under their belt that allows them to provide an unbiased report to protect the landlord. 

The mid-term report includes photographs and text that detail the condition of all areas such as the contents within the home, fittings, walls, windows, floors, doors, and exteriors. Breaches of the tenancy agreement and maintenance will be noted too. 

As an agent or landlord, you want to protect your investments and establish smooth transitions from one tenant to the next. Here at AIIC, we are dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability in the inventory process and have been endorsing high levels of professionalism in the inventory business since 1996.

It is our mission to ensure proper information and training is provided and our bank of highly skilled members will provide the best possible service. For more information, please contact us or search for your local AIIC member clerk now.

You can also download a copy of our Code of Practice and Guidelines for Professional Practice guide here.

Published on 19/05/2022