DASH undertake property inspections ‘virtually’ via the smartphone video messaging app ‘WhatsApp’.

We are happy to undertake this ‘virtual’ inspection with the Landlord, the Tenant or the Letting Agent, as no prior knowledge of property safety is required.

All you will need to do is make sure that the person who has agreed to undertake the video inspection has the ‘WhatsApp’ mobile application installed on their smartphone.

Don’t worry if you or they have never used ‘WhatsApp’ before, it’s really easy!

The process:

1.    DASH will ask you who is best placed to undertake the virtual inspection (Landlord, Agent or Tenant), and you will need to make sure they are happy to undertake it. You should make sure the chosen person understands what the inspection it is for, and that DASH will be contacting them to arrange the appointment. If the chosen person is the tenant, we would require written confirmation (via email) from the Landlord or Agent with the tenant's contact details together with the tenant's permission for DASH to contact them directly.  This ensures we are working in line with the General Data Protection regulations.

2.    Our inspector will then call the nominated contact to arrange a convenient date and time to undertake the ‘virtual inspection’. You or they will need to make sure any other relevant tenants are informed about the inspection, and that every room is accessible for the agreed date and time. This will include looking at cellars, basements and gardens, but not loft spaces (unless they are bedrooms)  

3. 
The contact will need a charged-up smartphone with a working video camera and the ‘WhatsApp’ messaging service downloaded and ready to go before the inspection starts. We recommend doing a test video call with a friend in advance if anyone is unsure how it works. It’s also handy to know how to turn the camera around to face away from you during the call to help our inspector see where they are going. It’s usually just a matter of tapping the screen and pressing the ‘selfie’ camera symbol during the video call.

4.    Our inspector will then call at the date and time agreed, via the ‘WhatsApp’ application. If you are not the tenant please be at the property in advance, with access already arranged with any other occupiers. Make sure both your smartphone ringing volume and media volumes are turned up so you can hear the video call (note, WhatsApp often uses the media volume, not handset call volume) so please be watching out for that incoming call as it may sound slightly different!

5.    It may help the quality of the video call to log into the local Wi-Fi at the property that is being inspected, so please try and do that before the inspection if possible (with the tenant’s permission of course!). Occasionally, a strong phone signal provides a better connection than wi-fi, so do a test first if you can. Also, experiment with the call volume. Sometimes using the ‘speaker phone’ setting makes things worse, as an echo can occur.

6.    During the call, just point the camera as directed by our inspector. The DASH inspector will have a floor plan and will be making notes (so you don’t have to). You won’t need to do any prior preparation, or be asked any difficult questions, just be ready to point the camera as directed. If you do have a tape measure handy, that can sometimes be helpful if there are any low windowsills or escape windows to measure but it is definitely not essential.

7.    The calls are not recorded but please try and ensure that children/vulnerable residents are not present during the call.

8.    If there are going to be any access limitations, please let the inspector know at the start of the call. If you have any questions during the inspection, please try to wait until the inspection is completed, so the inspector can finish their notes first – that way we don’t miss anything. The inspector will ask you if you have any questions before the call ends and will be more than happy to answer any questions then.

The length of the inspection is dependent on the size of the property and its condition, but most take about 15 minutes.

After the inspection, the inspector will complete a short report that DASH will approve.

This report will be emailed to the landlord only and it will contain any works or advisory matters that require attention as a result of the inspection.