Published: 31/01/2022 By Jessica Chalmers
As a landlord, it is a legal responsibility and a moral obligation to make sure your tenants feel safe in your property.Additionally, according to Direct Line research, emergency property issues are costing landlords billions every year.
For both the reasons above, it is crucial to help prevent emergency callouts and issues – where possible.
The most common issue for landlords is to fix plumbing, closely followed by gas or heating.
Thankfully, on average, plumbers have the best arrival time out of all contractors, with a typical response time of 13 hours from first contact, whilst gas and heating engineers take a little longer to respond at 21 hours.
We've provided a few valuable tips, which should go a long way to preventing these problems.
1) Clean your pipes often 🚿
Hair, grease and other gunk ( 🤢) can build up in your drains over time, potentially causing a blockage. Using a non-corrosive drain cleaner is a great idea to clear the grime in your pipes.
2) Annually service your boiler 🔥
Whilst it might sound unnecessary to have your boiler checked every year, a qualified heating engineer will be able to spot minor issues that need fixing before the situation escalates.
3) Insulate your pipes 🧊
During winter, it's vital to ensure your pipes don't freeze, as this could cause them to burst. Insulation can be cheaply purchased from many DIY stores and is easy to install.
4) Check your fuse box is in date 📅
It is easy to forget about your fuse boxes. However, they contain essential features that prevent electrical faults and fires. If your fuse box is close to expiring, hire a qualified electrician to ensure the property is safe.
5) Change the smoke alarm batteries 🔋
Whilst this isn't an issue that requires an emergency contractor, it could require emergency services if left neglected. Smoke alarms are crucial to alerting people in the property of a potential fire and could be the difference between life and death. Batteries are cheap to buy and easy to install, making it a simple job to protect your tenants and property.
For any questions about our services for landlords, please give us a call on 020 8747 8800.