How Often Can a Landlord Inspect a Property?

As an investment property owner, you hope your tenants are honest with you and follow the terms of their lease. Unfortunately, this does not always happen, with 14% of Nevada tenants admitting to hiding their pet ownership from their landlords. Performing property inspections can help you verify that your tenants comply with the lease.

How often can a landlord inspect a property? The answer isn't always clear-cut. Learn when, why, and how you may perform property inspections as a Nevada landlord.

How Often Can a Landlord Inspect a Property?

A landlord in Nevada has no legal limit on how often they can enter their rental property for inspections. However, they cannot enter the property unreasonably often. The number of entries that qualify as unreasonable will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Property Inspection Notice

Before you perform an inspection, you must give the tenant at least 24 hours' notice. You can only enter the property without notice in an emergency. A routine property inspection is not an emergency.

The notice given can be in verbal or written form.

Can a Tenant Refuse Entry to a Landlord?

A tenant can refuse you entry. Legal refusal happens when you try to enter the property without proper notice, and there is no emergency. Or if you try to enter the property outside of normal business hours.

Reasonable Property Inspections

Create a schedule you will use when managing your rental properties. This prevents accusations of discrimination, harassment, or unfair treatment.

Perform a move-in and move-out inspection at the start and end of each lease. This establishes the property's condition before and after the tenant lives there. This helps you hold the tenant accountable when they cause damage that requires you to withhold a portion or all of the security deposit.

You can also inspect the property mid-way through the lease to ensure property condition and lease compliance. This is an excellent way to ensure a tenant abides by your no-pet policy.

Actions that Indicate Unreasonable Property Entry

Your inspection notice must give a day and time to the tenant. You cannot vaguely notify them that you will inspect at some point in the future. You should also not stop by and enter the property without notice.

Do not try to conduct your property inspections outside of normal working hours. While you want to work with your tenant, extremely early or late-night visits are unacceptable.

You should also never enter the property for the sole purpose of harassing the tenant. If you suspect a lease violation, have documented evidence to support your inspection actions. A hunch is not enough.

Create a Property Inspection Schedule

Balance protecting your property with respecting your tenant's right to peaceful enjoyment. So, how often can a landlord inspect a property? Keep your inspection schedule reasonable and consistent.

Avalon Realty and Oaktree Management can perform your property inspections for you. This includes move-in, move-out, mid-term, and lease violation inspections.

Feel more confident about owning an investment property with a routine inspection schedule performed by professional property managers.