Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. The gas engineer’s competencies are clearly marked on the back of the engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. If in any doubt you can ring Gas Safe Register 0800 408 5500 or check their website here to see if the engineer is registered.
Have all your gas appliances been installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer?
New research shows that the average length of time a rental property is unoccupied in the UK rental property is three weeks, the longest period since the beginning of 2011.
The figures come from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) which is suggesting landlords take action to avoid these empty ‘void’ periods. “Void periods can cause uncertainty and affect overall rental yields,” said
Ian Potter, Operations Manager at ARLA. “While they are a fact of life in the rented sector, there are simple steps that landlords can take to help reduce the chance of a property being untenanted for extended periods. These periods without occupancy can also give a landlord a useful window to carry out routine maintenance and any additional work designed to make a property more attractive for incoming tenants.”
Here are some tips for landlords:
1. Set realistic rents
While rental properties are in high demand in many parts of the UK, this is not a guarantee of back-to-back tenancies. As well as asking the advice of a letting agent, it is also worth doing your own research to find out if the level of rent you are charging is suitable for the area. Remember that the overall cost of an extended void period can outweigh the perceived loss associated with setting a sensible rent, which may also make the property quicker to let. At Jungle Property we strive to provide accurate rental value assessments based on recent data from the local market.
2. Foster good tenant-landlord relations
A tenant’s right to reside, undisturbed, within a property during their tenancy period is enshrined in law. This means that, except in an emergency, a landlord must give tenants 24 hours notice before requesting entry to the property for viewings or maintenance work. By upholding basic obligations, landlords have a greater chance of establishing a good relationship with tenants, and they may be more likely to stay in the property longer.
3. Make the property desirable
Ensuring the property is in good order could help make it more desirable, meaning it will be easier to let and may even mean tenants want to stay longer. While tenants have a duty to look after internal fixtures, landlords are generally responsible for the repairs, unless the damage is caused by the tenant, as well as the structure of the building, the exterior and the roof. In addition to this, a landlord must ensure heating and hot water installations, sinks, baths and other sanitary fixtures are maintained to a reasonable standard. But further decorating and furnishing the property appropriately, and to a good standard, may help it stand out to potential tenants.
4. See a ‘void’ as an opportunity
While it is important for landlords to keep up to date with necessary repairs, a void period could provide a good time for non-essential, intrusive maintenance and improvement works to be carried out, with minimum disruption to tenants. This could, in turn, make the property more attractive.
5. Hire a letting agent
A good letting agent can help guide you through the day-to-day complexities of being a landlord and also share the work in finding prospective tenants, meaning you will have less work to do when a tenancy comes to an end. You can get advice from a lettings agent affiliated to a professional organisation like ARLA or The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS) whose members must adhere to a strict code of conduct, as well as offering client money protection and redress schemes, which protect all parties if things go wrong.
Have you got any tips?
Contrary to popular opinion amongst gas engineers the installation of CO detectors is not yet (May 2012) law. The Household Safety (Carbon Monoxide Detectors) Bill 2010-12 had it’s first reading in the House of Commons on 3rd November 2011 so at some point in the future all homes will need to have a detector fitted.
What is carbon monoxide – why is it a problem?
CO is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous. When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.
You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics around 20 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of prolonged exposure to CO. Increasing public understanding of the risks of CO poisoning and taking sensible precautions could dramatically reduce this risk.
Should I install a CO detector?
The HSE strongly recommends the use of CO detectors as one useful precaution to give tenants advance warning of CO in the property. Importantly detectors should not be regarded as a replacement for regular maintenance and safety checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer . CO detectors cost between £20-£30 and can be purchased in most hardware shops. Before purchasing a CO detector, always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark. CO detectors should be installed and maintained in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
If any landlord in the Mendip area would like a CO detector installing our maintenance team can supply, fit and test 1 for £55 and additional units at £35 each or £90 for two or 3 for £120. If you are a tenant, bring this to your landlord’s attention and ask him/her to consider having one installed – Whilst it is not yet law it’s a small price to pay to prevent death or harm from the silent killer.
Have you fitted a CO detector to your property yet? If not why not?
Tom Morgan
01458 445 824
The multi award winning customer service business that lets and manages residential property across Somerset.