Rental home inspection checklist

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Rental home inspection checklist

A rental house can be full of perils. Your home could have a number of issues you'll have to fix, ignore or maintain. But armed with this rental home inspection checklist, you'll be able to avoid these issues and find a trouble-free home!

Rental home exterior

House siding Ensure your rental home's siding is in good order. Look for chipped paint or damaged siding.
Rain gutters Investigate the rain gutters to ensure they are not clogged and are in good working order.
Roofing Investigate the roof to ensure there are no issues. A leaky roof can cause property damage and be a health hazard.
Foundation Walk the perimeter of the house to you all parts of the foundation. A cracked foundation foretells a structural problem. Holes and gaps can let in rain, bugs and rodents.
Doors and windows Open all doors and windows to ensure they work properly and can be secured.

Garage and driveway

The garage Check to make sure the garage door works properly and that all entrances can be locked and secured.
The driveway Check the driveway for cracks.

Landscaping

Lawn maintenance Will this lawn be easy to maintain or will you need to hire a lawn care company for upkeep?
Drainage Will the water at this rental home train properly or will there be pockets of mud where mosquitoes can breed?
Home interior
Ceilings Make sure ceilings contained no traces of water damage.
Walls Investigate all walls to ensure they do not let air pass around windows or doors. This can drive up the heating and cooling costs.
Electrical Make sure lights work and that outlets are firmly connected within walls. Electrical burn marks on outlet covers are reasons for concern.
Bathrooms Look for water damage to floors and baseboards.

Utilities

Heating and cooling Check heating and cooling systems to ensure they work. Also check the thermostat. If your rental home has a propane tank, the tank should be securely attached and have protective barriers.
Phone connections Check the phone connections. You may want to bring along a land line phone for testing.
Cell connectivity If you have a cell phone, make sure you pick up a good signal in the important parts of your house.

Neighborhood safety

Check crime statistics Contact local law enforcement for information on the crime stats where this rental home is located.

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