Landlords guide to inspections after lockdown
Landlords, contractors and letting agents can now visit tenants’ homes to carry out inspections with strict safety measures in place. This means all essential and non-essential work and maintenance can now be undertaken. However, workers must follow the correct guidance on working safely in people’s homes.
Inspections and maintenance
If you’re a tenant in need of maintenance work in your property, this news could come as a huge relief. And, as with the ‘new normal’ for most industries, safety is at the forefront of the lettings world. The standard 2 metre distance should be maintained, and hygiene procedures should be adhered to. This standard of working will be the ‘new normal’ and should help to keep properties and tenants safe. However, landlords will have a huge backlog of repairs, so it may take longer than normal to carry work. If you are a tenant and you are self-isolating or shielding, then you must make the landlord aware.
Gas safety checks
The HSE have provided Covid19 guidance for landlords, stipulating they have a duty of care to tenants regarding gas safety. Within these guidelines, it is important that repair, maintenance gas pipework, flues and appliances are in a safe condition. Failure to do so could put tenants at risk of serious illness or fatalities from gas explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning. This is important in the current climate with people spending a large amount of time at home. If tenants are self-isolating or shielding, the gas safety check can be delayed until after their isolation period has ended. And, if tenants are shielding, a gas safety check or repair should only be carried out if there is a direct gas safety risk.
It is important that landlords assess the risks for each situation on a case-by-case basis, putting tenants safety first.
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