5 tips: plumbing & heating for landlords

As a landlord is it your responsibility to make sure your properties are habitable.

Legally this means that a landlord has to provide repairs and a property with all the necessities. This includes:

• That the property’s structure is safe

• There are sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains 

• The building has heating and hot water

• Gas appliances

• Flues and ventilation

• Electrical wiring 

• Sorting any excess damage

We’ve comprised a list of things we think you as landlords should find useful and to look out for to avoid complaints from those tenants!...

1.Don’t forget to do your annual gas safety check!

This means that annually you have to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to visit your property. They carry out inspections to ensure that the gas fittings and appliances are safe. They will check the flue or chimney to make sure all fumes leave the property appropriately. Also, they will check that appliances are well ventilated and that there is a supply of fresh air enabling the gas to burn properly. They will check all safety devices are working effectively, and they are able to deem appliances unsafe if they find any faults. This is a legal requirement that all landlords must follow!

2. Have your heating system serviced annually 

This will ensure that the heating is in good working order and can increase boiler efficiency. This could help avoid any later big pay-outs on a new boiler. 

3. Pay more - save more in the long run

Purchasing a good quality boiler can not only save you a fortune in the long run, it can put you in the good books of the tenants! A poor quality boiler is likely to cause you more problems, likewise, poor quality workmen could see you paying twice! Always ensure any workmen are gas safe registered before allowing them to take a look at your appliances.

4. Insulate your pipes 

To help prevent burst pipes, ensure all pipes are properly insulated by using lagging, which can be bought cheaply from the majority of DIY shops. 

5. No more draught

Make sure all of your tenants home windows and doors seal properly to stop warm air escaping. If you have found that some don’t block out the wind think about fitting draught excluders which again can be bought at most DIY shops. Just be sure to all of your efforts comply with regulations’. For example don’t block off air vents as you won’t pass your annual gas safety check!

Here at Harris Heating we are a family run business and specialise in boiler repairs and maintenance, plumbing services, new boiler installations, Boiler controls, gas fired heating solutions. We have over 20 years of experience so contact us with any queries you may have and we’ll be happy to help!