Safety First

According to research by The Electrical Safety Council, a staggering 1.7 million tenants have reported electrical faults to their landlords. But what’s more worrying is that 1.3 million are still waiting for these issues to be resolved. 

Your landlord is legally obliged to ensure the electrical installation in the property is safe, otherwise they could face huge fines.

So before you move into a rented property, be sure to check that it meets with The Electrical Safety Council’s check-list below:

Check

• that sockets, switches and light fittings are in good condition with no signs of damage such as cracking or burn marks
• that leads (flexible cables) on appliances aren't damaged or frayed
• that any electrical appliances provided by the landlord have up to date PAT (Portable Appliance Test) stickers on them. Although this is not a legal requirement, it is recommended by the Electrical Safety Council. A typical PAT sticker will have been filled in by the electrician who inspected and tested the appliance. (PAT testing is not generally required if the appliance is under a year old.)
• that the consumer unit (fuse box) has RCD protection. An RCD is a lifesaving device that protects against electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires’

How does your garden grow?

It looked as if summer would never arrive and then bam, a heat wave. So naturally we make a mad dash outside to cash in on it, only to find the garden is also making the most of it. Where did all those weeds come from? Where the hell is the BBQ? And how am I supposed to get to the shed to unearth my sun lounger? Does this sound familiar?

Who’s responsible?

If you are renting a property, then it’s highly likely you are responsible for the upkeep of the garden or gardens and outside area. Your Tenancy Agreement should outline what is expected of you, if not speak to your landlord.

That’ll be you then

So unless your landlord is a keen gardener and kindly keeps everything looking lovely for you, you’ll just have to get out there and start gardening and mowing that lawn. Your landlord may have been kind enough to leave a lawn mower and tools to make the job easier.

Of course if you have limited time and the funds to hire a gardener, this is a great way to ensure your garden always looks tip top. This means you can make the most of outdoor summer living and keep your landlord happy too.

If you’re looking for a rented property with a garden in the Bristol area or you would like us to manage your property, give us a call on 0117 9073577.

What’s on the box?

So you’ve just moved into your fab new rented home. It’s just how you remembered it from the viewing, fully furnished and ready to live in. Brilliant. In fact you still can’t believe that your landlord had the good sense to install a huge wall-mounted flat screen TV. Result. But before you get too comfortable on the sofa and settle down for an evening’s viewing, have you checked that you’ve got a TV licence?

Has the landlord got it covered?

Your landlord may have also extended their generosity to cover the licence for the property too, but it’s best not to assume this. Always check before you find yourself in deep water with the guys at TV Licensing.

Who’s responsible for the TV licence?

Generally, tenants are responsible for acquiring the TV licence for the property they rent. This is true even if you only rent a room in a shared property, live in a self-contained annex or flat or rent the entire property. Also if you lodge in a property, but have a separate tenancy agreement.

Give us a call on 0117 9073577 if you need advice on your rented property or are looking for a new pad. We’re here to help.

Tenants: how to get your deposit back

So it’s time to hit the road and move on to a new home, which means you’ll want to ensure you get your full deposit back.  Now landlords are generally pretty fair people, so if you’ve not completely trashed their property there’s a good chance you’ll get it back in full.  However, if you just up sticks and leave without a little tidy up, then you’re asking to lose it.

Here’s a little guide to help you recoup your deposit when it’s time to say adiós:

Don’t have the mother of all parties the night before you’re due to handover the property and run through your inventory.  That is unless you have a biohazard team booked in to clear up the carnage at 06.00 hours.

Do engage the services of a professional cleaner if your tenancy agreement states this as a term or speak nicely to an OCD friend or your mum.  If the property is in tip top condition you’ll get your deposit back.

Don’t expect your last minute bodged DIY attempts to rectify or cover up damage to cut it with your landlord or letting agency.  For instance placing the sofa in the middle of the room to disguise a damaged carpet will definitely raise suspicion.  As will missing furniture and your evasiveness as to where the fridge freezer might be.  This will generally not be sufficient to ward off probing questions.

Do make good any damage that has occurred during your tenancy with the help of a professional.  Or replace ‘missing’ or broken objects to lessen the impact on the return of your deposit.

Bedroom Tax still making the headlines

We’re not surprised really are you? The Government’s Bedroom Tax or under-occupancy charge came into effect on April 1st of this year and is not popular among tenants. And we’re betting it has caused plenty of upheaval for landlords too.

In May we saw the first casualty of the new policy when Stephanie Bottrill took her own life. She was very clear about who she blamed in a note left to her son. It read: "Don't blame yourself for me ending my life. The only people to blame are the Government."

This month a march organised by the Birmingham Benefit Justice Campaign took place in her memory and was reported by the BBC. Bridget Parsons who is one of the organisers said of the Bedroom Tax: “It's throwing thousands of people across the country into despair. People simply can't afford to pay, they're facing eviction.”

The BBC also revealed the findings of a ‘report by the University of Cambridge and seven housing associations across the eastern region’. It claimed that the Bedroom Tax did not work and only increased the need for one-bedroom properties in the region which would take years to build. In the interim period tenants are facing increased financial difficulty.