Annual Inspections and Billing Tenant Back

[Curt Thomas]

I never see anything talked about or written on the proper way to conduct an Annual (or bi-annual) inspection on a rental.

Conducting the inspections without charging the tenant for maintenance (if) needed seems pointless. 

On move in, we charge a non-refundable move-in fee in place of security deposit - because of tough tenant-friendly laws in Chicago on SDs.

We have in our lease addendum that we will conduct bi-annual inspections. We will video and take pictures of items that need fixing beyond normal wear and tear. 

Do you just fix those items and bill the tenant afterward, or charge them first then come back out to fix after approved? 

Where is the line drawn on normal wear and tear on items like chipped flooring, ripped screens, evidence of unapproved pets, broken hardware/fixtures? 

Here are a few items we came across recently.

[John Warren]

@Curt Thomas I think you are going to have a really tough time forcing a tenant to pay for either of those items. The screen maybe at move out, but the flooring looks like it just shifted based on normal wear and tear. I think you are using the grip strip stuff from HD? I use that too, and sometimes they shift a bit if the sub floor isn't level. I would not be wasting your time on this man. Buy some more buildings!