News Article

Landlords has your agent prepared your property for the next storm

After the Hurricane-force winds last week and the wettest January & February since records began, it could be crucial for agents and landlords to check properties at this time. Although they may show no obvious signs of damage, small faults can soon add up to a large expensive problem if left unattended.
We at Brighton Homes suggest that landlords or their letting agents should carry out the following checks as routine to prepare a property for the next big storm:
We at Brighton Homes are at present working around the clock to get all our managed properties checked to avoid any nasty surprises. Call you agent and ask them if they have visited your property after the severe weather and inspected it thoroughly, for those of you who are with agents who haven’t done this, you might want to make a note of the following check points. This will save you a lot of money and bother in the long run.

1. Check the roof
after a storm it is very common for tiles to become loose, which could allow water to seep through into the property. Check for brown stains as a tell-tale sign of a leaking roof. It is also important to ensure any loose tiles are secured as the landlord would be liable if any fell causing injury to either a tenant or their visitors.

2. Chimneys
Chimneys are particularly vulnerable in high winds. If not maintained, chimney pots can become loose or collapse altogether. If this happens it can cause a significant amount of damage and be a threat to personal injury.

3. Check windows for leaks
Leaking windows can present a serious problem if left unattended. Water trickling through can lead to mould, which could have a serious effect on the tenant’s health.

4. Clear drains of leaves and debris
Strong winds inevitably bring debris with them, so ensure that drains and gutters are free from any leaves or rubbish, to prevent flooding in the future which could be far more costly to rectify.

5. Check for loose or cracked paving stones
Large amounts of rainfall and freezing temperatures can lead to paving stones becoming loose or cracked. If a rental property has any such problems, the stones need to be replaced as soon as possible. These present a trip hazard to tenants and could leave the landlord with a hefty legal bill if they are pursued for personal injury claims.

6. Check the pointing on your property
Any gaps in the cement pointing between brickwork can allow rainwater to seep through to the interior walls. This damages plasterwork and is known to be one of the leading causes of mould problems. Ask a builder to check the rental properties and if necessary have them repointed as this could save the landlord time and money rather than attempting to tackle the resulting damp.

7. Check whether the tenant(s) need help
If there has been damp either from condensation or water coming into the property, the tenants may be grateful for a dehumidifier. They are relatively inexpensive and can make a big difference to getting rid of damp.

8. If the leak can’t be pinpointed…
Consider using a company that uses either moisture monitoring or thermal imaging to detect the leak. Thermal imaging cameras can highlight different surface temperatures to identify cold spots in affected areas so targeted drying or repairs can be used.
 

We at Brighton Homes Letting agents have our own property management department which works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and so do all our contractors. Your property is the biggest investment you have and you want to make sure your letting agent is capable of looking after it. If you are with a letting agent ask them what time do their property management department shut?, this should give an indication on how good your investment is being looked after.
If you have a property to let in Brighton or have one currently let, give us a call and find out how we do things and what our charges are, you fill find us to be reasonable. You can contact us  by phone on 01273 672 333 or via our website www.brighton-homes.com