A routine inspection is conducted throughout the lease period to ensure there is no damage or other issues in the property. The person conducting the property should respect that someone lives in the property and it is not a judgement on how tidy surfaces are, but rather to ensure the property is kept in a clean state and there is no damage.
We would recommend performing a routine inspection of your property at least twice a year to ensure the property is well maintained by the tenant.
Each state has its own regulations on how often landlords are allowed to conduct routine inspections:
NSW: 4 times a year
VIC: every 6 months (but not within the first 3 months)
QLD: every 3 months
SA: every 4 weeks
WA: 4 times per year
TAS: every 3 months (as well as an initial inspection during the first month)
ACT: 2 times a year (as well as an initial inspection during the first month)
NT: every 3 months