The 11 Maintenance Horrors to Avoid When Letting Your Property
- Posted by Chris in blog, Tips & Advice
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It’s 1am, your phone rings. It’s your tenant, the boiler’s broken and it’s the middle of winter. You knew you had to have it checked a few months ago, but just didn’t get around to it. You get up and start phoning around for a contractor which is probably going to cost you an arm and a leg.
This is the reality of many landlords managing their own properties. Here’s how you can avoid maintenance issues on your property:
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Before letting, make sure that the property is in good repair as defined by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 Section 11 and that the furniture and other contents comply with the various product safety legislation
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If there are any gas appliances at the property, make sure you get all gas appliances inspected annually by an engineer registered with the Gas Safe Register and give the necessary certificates to the tenants when they go into the property and annually thereafter. You should also get the electrical Installation checked at least every five years.
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Make sure you have smoke alarms on every floor of your property
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Make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms in every room with a solid fuel source.
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Complete an inventory (Photographic) with time and date stamps and make sure the tenant signs to agree the condition of the property. If they do not sign the Inventory, write to the tenant and give him/her 7 days to confirm back, otherwise it will be taken that the Inventory is agreed by both parties.
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Ensure all electrical appliances within the property are safe.
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Ensure furniture meets fire-safety regulations.
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Arrange for a roofer to clear out the guttering once a year. To remove any moss . This will avoid the gutters from overflowing and water running down the property which can cause damp within the property from water penetration.
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Regularly check the seals around all showers and baths to ensure water tightness.
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Inspect all waste pipes under kitchen sink, wash basin and bath. Over time they can become loose which can result in leaks and water damage being caused.
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If there is wooden fencing or decking at the property, this needs to be maintained and treated yearly.
As long as you stick to these guidelines, you should have no problem with your tenancy. However, if you don’t want to be woken in the middle of the night, contact Luscombe & Co.
We’re the trusted authority of lettings in Newport and because we are landlords ourselves, we have experience with all the issues that might crop up.
With our Full Management option, you can sit back and just enjoy, we’ll handle the hassle!