Conducting inspections at your rental property in San Gabriel can feel somewhat iffy. With tenant protections so strong in California, are you even allowed to enter the property while they’re living there?
The answer is yes, either to respond to an emergency or with enough notice and with the intention of conducting a maintenance check-up. Even more important are the move-in and move-out inspections, especially considering the stronger security deposit rules that are in place.
We can talk to you about why inspections are important, but you probably already know why. They protect the value and the condition of your investment. They give you the peace of mind that all is well with your most valuable assets.
What San Gabriel landlords really need to know, however, is that these inspections need to be well-documented. They need to establish property conditions before and after a tenancy.
Documenting San Gabriel Rental Property Condition
California passed new laws recently regarding security deposits, and those laws now reach beyond timelines and limits on how much can be collected. Landlords are now responsible for taking and providing photos along with an itemized statement detailing deductions.
As San Gabriel property managers, we’ve been doing this all along.
For tenancies starting on July 1, 2025, it’s now legally required for landlords to document the property’s condition before a tenant moves in. It’s also required that you document the property condition in the same way upon a tenant moving out and before and after any repairs or cleaning.
These photos, along with the itemized statement of deductions, must be provided to the tenant within 21 days of the move-out date.
Let Your Photos Tell the Property Condition Story
Making notes during your move-in and move-out inspections is a good way to stay organized and set up a checklist for yourself that highlights any work that might be necessary. What you really want to pay attention to, however, are those photos. The pictures you take are not subjective. They’re not difficult to interpret. They tell a story of your property condition, both before and after the tenancy.
It’s important for landlords to remember that they must take photos of the property’s condition shortly after the tenant vacates, before any repairs or cleaning are done. Don’t spend the money on repairs and then take photos of a great looking property. You want to demonstrate what the property looked like before you called in the contractors and cleaners.
Offer a Pre-Move Out Inspection
Here’s an inspection we don’t hear about often enough: the pre-move out inspection.
Landlords are legally required to offer their departing tenants a pre-move-out inspection before the end of a lease. This inspection allows tenants to address any potential issues before vacating and potentially avoid deductions from their security deposit.
You’ll want to notify tenants of this right in writing and offer the inspection within two weeks of the lease end date. Don’t forget this. It is legally required, and it also allows you to get inside of the property ahead of a tenant leaving. This can help you plan for turnover needs.
This is what you need to know about inspections as a San Gabriel landlord. There’s a new urgency to that documentation. This new law aims to increase transparency and reduce disputes by providing tenants with clear evidence of any deductions.
As we said, we already have these processes in place when it comes to inspections. We can help you with all of your property inspections and walk-throughs. Contact us at ZenPro Property Management.
