Apartment and multifamily inspections

Two to four units

Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes are often financed as residential property and inspected with a standard home inspection per unit. Expect the inspector to price per unit and to need access to every one.

Five or more units

Larger buildings are usually treated as commercial. A lender may want a property condition assessment. Buyers often combine a building-wide inspection with a sample of units.

Sampling units

If you can’t see every unit, include:

• All vacant units.
• Top-floor units, which show roof leaks.
• Ground-floor units, which show plumbing and moisture problems.
• Units with known complaints.
• Units next to laundry rooms, trash areas and boiler rooms.

Shared systems to focus on

1. Roof and drainage.
2. Sewer laterals, often original clay pipe in older buildings.
3. Electrical service: meter banks, house panel and individual unit panels.
4. Water heating: individual heaters, or a central boiler with circulation pumps.
5. Fire and life safety: smoke and CO alarms in each unit, fire extinguishers, exit lighting where required.
6. Balconies, stairs and walkways: see below.
7. Parking structures and carports.

California balcony law

Senate Bill 721 requires periodic inspection of elevated exterior elements, such as balconies, decks, stairways and walkways, in buildings with three or more multifamily units. Ask the seller for the most recent report and any repair records. Details are in our balcony and deck inspection guide.

Paperwork to request

• Rent roll and leases.
• Utility bills, to see which utilities are master-metered.
• Permits for any added units or conversions.
• Code enforcement history from the city.
• Soft-story retrofit and SB 721 compliance documents.