How does the cold weather impact your boiler?
In the lead up to winter you have to be wary of your boiler and ensure checks are made that will confirm your boiler is in good shape for winter.
So how can the boiler be affected?
1. Frozen condensate pipe
2. Frozen pipes
3. Radiators not working
4. Loss of boiler pressure
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm rules to be Updated
On the 23rd November 2021, the UK Government announced that the rules for domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms within all rented accommodation in England are to be amended.
Following parliamentary approval all landlords in both the social and private rented sectors will be required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they have been informed that they are faulty. The testing throughout the tenancy will continue to remain the tenant’s responsibility.
The key change to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 will require landlords to ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their homes where there is a fixed combustion appliance, including a gas boiler. Where a new fixed combustion appliance is installed a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are to be excluded from the new rules.
Boiler Safety and Maintenance Tips Landlords need to know
One of the pitfalls of being a landlord is the hidden costs that can spring up at any given time.
Some, you simply cannot plan for. For instance, a broken-down boiler can occur without warning, and that is a major strain on finances. Simple repairs might not cover the extent of the problem and if you need to replace an appliance, then it is going to be a four-figure sum as a bare minimum. Property Reporter claims that the average cost of repairing a boiler is 60% more than an average month’s rent in the UK. As a landlord, that is a big hit to take.
Aside from the financial obligation, you also have a responsibility to your tenant to ensure their well-being, and the heating system is your responsibility. A poorly maintained boiler can cause untold problems for a tenant, which includes gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, as we explained in our article Gas Safety Week: Fighting for a Gas Safe Nation. Luckily, there are some basic maintenance tips you can take that will help prevent major catastrophe at an intrusive time for both you, and your tenant.
Property Management preparations for Autumn
We are into the final three months of 2020 and property managers are preparing for the change in weather, being sure that landlords obligations are adhered to and that tenants’ expectations are met.As the Government announce their three tier contingency plan, some parts of the UK will be under local restrictions, therefore it is important to ensure that Covid-19 Protocols are correctly adhered to when access is required for any maintenance or repairing issue that is required.
The following tips may be useful:-
1. The Heating System. A home does not feel homely when it’s cold outside, so this is the right time to ensure that boilers are serviced and that the radiators which will have been switched off for months, are working properly. Thermostats should be set to keep pipes warm and radiators that are not working effectively, may need bleeding.
As the smell of chimney smoke lingers in the evening air, be sure that wood burners and live fires are swept regularly. The reason for this increased frequency is that creosote is is given off by burning wood, which then attaches itself to the inside of the chimney. These deposits are highly flammable, and therefore need to be removed.
For a wood burner or coal fire remember that a fire guard is a requirement.