Your tenants have moved out, new tenants are secured, and your property manager is ready to do the outgoing inspection and comparison to the ingoing inspection report.   But what if damages caused by the tenant are found during the outgoing inspection?  It happens, even with the best of tenants.  Simply moving out can cause hazards - bulky furniture must make its way down narrow hallways, and front doors become a tight squeeze. This now becomes an exercise in timing and negotiation. Keep reading to learn what to do if your tenant damages your property. 

Make sure damage is documented in writing  

The exit condition report should note any property damage (outside of fair wear and tear) in writing and be photographed. This provides documentation to make it clear that the tenant caused the damage. Further, your property manager should contact the tenants to discuss the damage, and the next steps required – this should be in writing. The objective here is not only having thorough documentation, but if the matter can’t be settled directly with the tenant and ends up at , it provides evidence to support your claim. 

Organise repair and bond deduction 

At this point, the work to repair the damages needs to be completed promptly – remember you have a new tenant due to move in and you still need time to complete an ingoing inspection too.  Your property manager should arrange trades, communicate with the tenant and be clear the cost of repairs will need to be deducted from the bond.  

Accidents are a normal part of life and damage occurs, but having a property manager sure does make your life as a Landlord a lot easier in this scenario.  Your property manager will document damage, communicate with the tenants, arrange trades and repairs, then resolve any financial issues with tenants and finalise the bond – and importantly have everything ready in time for your new tenants to move in. 

Remember, this article is general in nature and is not financial or legal advice. Please consult your professional financial and legal advisors before making any decisions for yourself.