The majority of landlords are proactive when it comes to ensuring the safety of their tenants and make a welcome contribution to the housing market. But a minority fail to do so, putting their tenants in danger as a result.
These new Regulations require landlords to have the electrical installations in their properties inspected and tested by a person who is qualified and competent, at least every 5 years. Landlords have to provide a copy of the electrical safety report to their tenants, and to their local authority if requested.
This means that all landlords now have to do what good landlords already do: make sure the electrical installations in their rented properties are safe.
At Promatic Solutions we are doing whatever we can to continue to provide the very highest level of customer care and support that we can during this difficult period. Our highest priority is the safety of all our valued customers and colleagues. We recognise the uncertainty that coronavirus has caused, and we also know that the heating industry has an important role to play – people still need heating and hot water.
Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. These are tough, extraordinary times. We are following government guidelines and recommendations closely, as well as implementing our own practices and procedures, to reduce risk.
Are some of the radiators in your home taking much longer to heat up than others? It’s possible that your radiators need balancing. This guide will walk you through balancing a radiator, helping restore balance in your home’s heating system.
When to balance radiators
Unbalanced radiators don’t heat up at the same speed as each other, making some areas of your house colder than others. It means the hot water flowing from your boiler is not being distributed evenly and it can become an issue during these freezing winter nights when you need heat, like, NOW.
Balance or bleed?
If you find that some of your radiators are showing cold spots in certain patches across their surface, you’ll need to bleed them first. Here’s our full guide on how to bleed a radiator.
When you balance radiators, you’re allowing more water to flow to the colder radiators in your home, restricting the flow from radiators which are too hot. If some rooms are colder than others, it may mean that some radiators are heating up faster than others.
So if your radiators aren’t working properly and you’re not sure whether to bleed or balance them, do both. Let’s sort out the problem for you.
If you’re considering getting a new boiler installed, one of the main questions you will have is “How long will it take?” In this guide, we’ll inform you of the average timescales that you should expect for different boiler installation scenarios – this should help you organise your time accordingly.
How long could a boiler installation take?
On average, a new boiler installation can take between 1-3 days depending on the complexity of the job. You should also set aside time for your survey appointment, which will take place prior to your installation. In this appointment, a surveyor will engage with you about your home and heating needs in order to ensure that a suitable boiler is selected and installed.
Before you can rent out your home, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the property is safe and fit for human habitation. If a property is unsafe or unfit you could be committing a civil or criminal offence, and may be subject to enforcement action by your local authority. To help you understand the requirements under the Housing Act 2004, it’s important that you read this guidance, which is aimed at non-specialists and especially private landlords. This will help you identify the types of work that may need to be carried out to ensure your property is safe and fit for habitation.
To ensure that your property is safe and fit, your responsibilities as a landlord include taking the following steps:
have a gas safety check carried out every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer
ensure any furniture provided meets the required safety standards
ensure any electrical equipment provided meets the required safety standards
ensure a smoke alarm is installed on each floor of your home and that carbon monoxide detectors are present in any room with a coal fire or wood-burning stove
ensure you have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for your property. Privately rented properties must have a minimum EPC rating of E for new lets and renewal tenancies (unless exempt). Failure to comply with this could result in a fine of £5,000 from the local authority. See further detailed guidance on EPCs.
We are NICEIC Approved Contractors, Domestic Installers and PAT test Approved. We provide all Electrical services in Hounslow and West London. We provide Gas, Central heating, MCS Renewable energy, Building & Electrical Services in West London, Hounslow, Heston, Norwood Green, Feltham, West Drayton, Isleworth, Twickenham, Osterley, Ashford, Stanwell, Hampton, Teddington, Acton, Ealing, West Ealing, Brentford, Chiswick, Hayes, Southall, Northolt, Greenford, Iver, Slough, Colnbrook, Horton, Windsor, Runnymede, Datchet and Sunningdale.
Combi (short for combination) boilers contain everything needed to heat your radiators and deliver hot water to your taps in one compact unit, saving valuable space in the home as there is no need for a hot water cylinder or water tanks in the loft.
A combi boiler heats water instantly when you turn on a hot tap. The water comes straight from the mains, so the flow rate at the tap is usually very good. And because it only heats the water you need, when you need it, it is extremely energy efficient.
Combi boilers are particularly suitable for homes with one bathroom, as the flow of hot water can be reduced if more than one hot tap is running at a time. A system boiler may be more suitable for homes with multiple bathrooms, low mains water pressure or a high demand for hot water. Your Gas Safe registered heating engineer can survey your property and advise you on the most appropriate boiler to suit your needs.
Since the Building Regulations changed in April 2018, known as Boiler Plus, all boiler installations must include a timer and room thermostat. In addition, combi boiler installations must also include one of the following extra energy efficiency measures:
