We have to get ready for inspection... ugh
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
July 16, 2012 7:56am CST
We have leased this home from S's mom with an option to buy. We rented the home that we lived in before. It was his grandma's home. It was and is a real dump. It was always dusty because of the termites ... there were always wasps in the house stinging me because there were nests of them inside the walls... it was a mess. It was hard to keep clean because dust settled every day. If you skipped a day dusting it was dirty.
This house is always clean. There never is any dust to clean, but we dust anyway. I sweep the kitchen floor after every meal and any other time that dirt gets tracked in. Anyway, S's mom said last week that she would make her first inspection this week. Well, I'm already nervous because I know she is going to look in my closet. There is a place that needs to be caulked way up farther than I can reach. She asked me to have S do it after we moved in. It's still not done. He said he would do it yesterday but didn't. Before he went to bed he said he will do it after he gets home from work. I know he will be way too tired by then. I'm nervous that she will come for that inspection and say something about that.
I don't know what else she could pick about. I'm dreading this first inspection because I don't know what to expect.
Is it normal to have inspections by the landlord 3 or 4 times a year? Is it even legal? She put it in the lease agreement that she has the right to come in and inspect the house. We signed it, so I guess we gave her the right. We needed the home, so we agreed.
Has anything like this ever happened to you? Please share.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Jul 12
I guess it depends on your state rules, and if you signed you agreed. Here the landlord will only come to inspect like that if you are dirty or you have damaged the house and he wants to make sure his property is well taken care of.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Jul 12
of course she is protecting her investment she has to. It is the logical thing for any landlord to do.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Jul 12
hoarding would be a condition to do a house inspection too. Matt had to inspect his tenant downstairs. I never saw the place but he said there was not room to move anywhere. I said his tenant a letter to get rid of all the excess stuff in a week, and he would come and inspect. If it was not done he would take disciplinary action.
Matt said the tenant got rid of all the stuff he was hoarding and the place was much better.
A heard on the news a case of a montreal woman who owned her own home and she was warned by the city several times to clean up all the stuff she was hoarding.
Finally, the city put a padlock on her door and she could not even enter her own home, she was living in her car.
She had to agree to clean up the house once and for all. I had never heard of that before. According to the news, she got help from an agency to help her clean up so she could move back home.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Jul 12
Well, we aren't dirty. In the other house it did look somewhat like a hoard cause the house was too small for us and we had no place to store anything. Our pantry was filled with B's mother's stuff and we couldn't even use that place to store our canned goods.
This house has a basement so all the stuff we aren't using is neatly stored down there.
We had to sign her lease agreement. She wants us to keep this house in show condition just in case she decides to put it on the market. She is giving us a total of 7 years to make arrangements to buy this house. If we don't she will kick us out and sell it. To her, she is protecting her investment, I guess.
1 person likes this
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
16 Jul 12
Inspections are normal, mostly in apartment communities. The landlord has to give you prior notice which it seems she has done. As far as the caulking goes she said to have S do it. If she mentions it tell her you have asked him several times to do it but he keeps putting it off. Let her deal with him. It is not likely that she will or can throw you out over it not being done yet.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Jul 12
Yes I will. It's her son so she can fuss at him. I know she is going to be picky. Our rooms are neat. There are still things not done yet. Like the dining room table still has all the picture frames and wall hangings on it. The curio cabinet still doesn't have the glass shelves in it and all the knick knacks in it. The china cabinet is still empty and stuff is still in boxes waiting to go in. S wants to shimmy up the front legs if these cabinets before putting things in there. He hasn't done that yet and won't let us do it. He says the carpet is so thick that the cabinets can get off balance. SOOOO things will be a little cluttered in that area until S will get this stuff done.
I hope she doesn't fuss.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Jul 12
I don't like it either. I'll be glad when K and S can buy this home and be done with it.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Jul 12
My last landlady did inspections all the time. It was no problem. I kept the place clean and tidy and that is all that is required. They cannot go searching among your personal possessions.
It was always a good chance to discuss any problems I had or ask any questions. Sometimes the owner would come and we would always have a coffee together and chat.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
21 Jul 12
Our house is neat also. She has been here several times and seen that it is neat. This is why I think an inspection is stupid. But SIL said it's her house let her do get thing.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
22 Jul 12
hi dear PQ sorry I am that late with my answer. Sure you have written more discussions about the situation by now and I will get back to them as soon as I can.
Yes there may be an inspection but only if there is a serious reason for it. The landlord has to announce it early enough so you are not caught by surprise.
Regarding this place and your situation I think if it happened to me I would give B a piece of my mind for sure. I would say you get your rent in time as agreed upon and this is a HOME to be lived in and not a MUSEUM, so there obviously will be some wear and tear.
I would also say, its your house, but we treat it with care and thats enough.
This house is cleaned up often enough so what else do you want?
None of us here, nor my husband nor me would start mopping the kitchen after every meal. And when there is no dust, why dust then?
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
22 Jul 12
and, addition to what I just said, its not her business at all to inspect into the closets and how you store your personal belongings. Thats your private decision. I would chase my landlord if he chose to just open a closet......
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
16 Jul 12
Inspection from your landlord? Umm are you serious. I think if they feel its a hazard or unsafe then yes, but they need cause. I have rented to two different lanlords, and never once did we have an inspection. My room was very small and I would have things like textbook, printers, and so on piled around my bed not once was I told anything. My roomate the following year had a room that look like a bomb lew up in it, empty dishes, bottles, and cans, also the floor was covered in crap the lanlord didnt say a word even after fixing something in her room. Shes just trying to keep your wrapped under her fingers.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Jul 12
I think it is all about having control of us. I hate it.
@GardenGerty (169534)
• United States
16 Jul 12
I believe it is legal if she gives you warning. Apartments my relatives are in get inspected every now and then. At seven a. m. last week my clients I care for had a visit from the company's quality assurance person as well as a state housing inspector for group homes. If S is not willing to get the caulking done, that falls on him, not you. In your shoes I would make sure you have things like fire extinguishers and they are up to date, and the fridge is clean. Not a whole lot else, relax, you will be fine.
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
16 Jul 12
Hi PQ,
I live in low income housing and they come in and inspect at least once a year to make sure that we are keeping it clean. If there is any maintanence work to be done then she makes a note of it and has someone come in and do it within a week or so. They are always scheduled inspections and I choose the date and time of when it is convenient for me. I always get uptite too but apparently for no reason. She tells me that she has never had a problem with my place and she has been in here when I've been babysitting and the place is pretty cluttered up. I think 3 or 4 times a year is a bit much.
