Between tenancy agreements, when a rental property is vacant, may seem like a good time to address some issues with the property, such as general maintenance. But when it comes to safety compliance checks and rental minimum standards inspections there are some considerations to take into account.
We've compiled a few of these issues below for property managers and owners to consider before they book any compliance checks for a vacant property.
3 important things to think about when booking compliance checks for a vacant property:
Conducting compliance safety checks on a vacant property can be problematic as power and gas will be disconnected between tenants. This obviously makes it impossible to complete electrical and gas safety checks which are required every 2 years. Additionally without power or gas means that 6 of the 14 categories of the Rental Minimum Standards are unable to be assessed.
Access can be problematic when there is no tenant as it requires the property manager or owner onsite, or for key pick up to be arranged. At Taskforce we can arrange key pick up where the property is situated within a 5km radius of the agency address.
Stick to your safety check schedule. So long as your electrical, gas and smoke alarm safety checks are booked in when they are due, then property managers and owners are fulfilling their obligations.
Our recommendation:
Book in your Rental Minimum Standards check before a tenancy agreement ends. This enables all categories to checked properly as power and gas will be connected, and removed access issues as renters can select a suitable time for the inspection to be carried out.
Book your safety compliance before a tenancy agreement ends if due dates are close. Book in your safety checks as they become due to make sure you are fulfilling your obligations, but where a safety check is due on or around the time of the end of a tenancy agreement we recommend booking it prior to that tenancy agreement ending. This keeps you compliant should the gap between renters be extended. With Taskforce you receive automatic reminders 24 days prior to a safety check being due so you never miss a check. Plus with our signature one visit safety checks you only have to worry about one annual appointment.