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What you need to know before your Baltimore County Rental Inspection
If you are a rental property owner/landlord in Baltimore county, the law now requires rental units to be registered and inspected by a licensed home inspector by January 1, 2009 to obtain a rental housing license.All licensed properties must be re-inspected every three years to renew your rental license.
Please click on the link below to obtain all of the information needed for Baltimore County landlords and the forms needed for your Baltimore County rental license.
Your Baltimore County Rental Inspector will be looking for the following items:
1. Smoke Detectors
Single Family & Townhomes
- A hardwired smoke detector with a battery backup must be located in the corridor or hallway outside of sleeping areas and on every level of the dwelling unit.
- If the home has a basement, a hardwired smoke detector with a battery backup must also be located in the basement, and must be interconnected to the smoke detectors on all levels of the dwelling unit.
Homes with Two or Three Apartments
- A hardwired smoke detector with a battery backup must be located in the corridor or hallway outside of sleeping areas and on every level of the dwelling unit including the basement. Basement smoke detector must be interconnected to the smoke detector on the first floor only.
Homes with Four to Six Apartments
- A hardwired interconnected smoke detector with a battery backup must be located in the corridor or hallway outside the sleeping area and on every level of the dwelling unit.
- hardwired smoke detector is required in the basement for homes with four to six apartments but does not have to be interconnected.
2. Electrical wires
- not visible in living areas
3. Water
- There is cold and hot running water in kitchen and in each bathroom with no leaks below the sink areas and toilets flush
4. Basement
- There are no sleeping areas in the basement or if there is a sleeping area in the basement, there is a secondary means of escape as follows: basement window with a minimum of 5.5 ft opening with a sill height 44 inches or less from the floor OR basement door with thumb turn dead bolt.
5. Furnace
- The furnace is either operational or because of outside temperature it is unable to be tested.
6. Stairs
- Railing present for interior and exterior steps with more than three risers.
7. Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- located in the common areas outside of the sleep areas.
What Should I be Looking for prior to the Inspection?
Preparing for a Baltimore County Rental Inspection can be pretty easy if you know what the inspector is looking for. I have created a small check list to ensure that you pass your inspection.
- Test your smoke detector: Place your finger on the test button. All of the smoke detectors throughout the property should sound. If they do not sound, you need to contact a electrician to interconnect your system. We suggest going with a hard wired, battery backup, wireless, interconnected smoke detector system with a built in carbon monoxide detector. I have linked a smoke detector that will fit these qualifications from Lowes. Click here “Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detector”
- Visual Inspection: Look throughout the property to ensure that there are no holes in the wall.
- HVAC: Make sure that the heating system is functioning properly.
- Plumbing: Verify that there is Hot and Cold water throughout the property with no leaks (under sinks and toilets)
- Railing: If there are more than (3) three risers, a railing is required for all interior and exterior steps (including basement stairways).
- Carbon Monoxide: Do you have a carbon monoxide detector located in the property?
- Basement: If there are any sleeping quarters in the basement, you will need to have one of the following: basement window with a minimum of 5.5 sqft opening with a sill height 44 inches or less from the floor OR basement door with thumb turn dead bolt.
By following these steps, this will ensure that you pass your Baltimore County Rental Inspection.
Do you need Baltimore County Rental Inspection Paperwork?
Areas We Perform Baltimore County Rental Inspections
PROUDLY SERVING
Inspection Fee’s
Single Property
$85.00
Per Property
Multiple Properties
$75.00
Per Property
Single Property
(3+ Units)
$50.00
Per Unit
Property Management Companies
Call for your exclusive pricing
Re-Inspection
$50.00
Helpful Resources
No Hassle
Landlords do not have to be present for inspection
Scheduling Service
We will schedule with tenants if their is a problem with “landlord vs tenant relationship”.