Get a builder’s opinion before letting your property
Posted on 16th August 2024 at 15:11
The housing market in the UK is fraught and heavily legislated now. It’s not as simple as renting out your space to someone who needs it. There is a lot to consider. Even without heavy legislation, a landlord has an ethical duty to provide comfortable, secure, and safe property for the people they let their property to.
So how do you make sure your property meets all requirements and is fit for purpose? A good way is to ask a local and trusted builder to take a look.
Builders can identify potential maintenance issues
To you, the house looks perfect. All those niggly little issues you found are all fixed and everything is in perfect working order. For now.
A builder will look at the property and see the potential for problems in the future. Whilst right now they might be relatively cheap and easy to fix, by the time they become a problem for your tenant, they might not be as cost (or time) effective. You could save your self more money and hassle in the long run.
Improve the property’s value
By addressing any maintenance concerns, the building work might just increase your property value. This might become useful for when you set the rent rates, or if you decide to sell the property instead of letting it out.
By having a builder around you are making sure that you are getting the most out of your property.
Ensuring tenant safety
Small problems now could become larger problems later. Whether that is a small issue of mould, or a maintenance issue, the last thing you need is a hazard appearing in the home. Your tenants have a right to live safely in a home that is fit for their family and friends.
Getting a builder to look around the property will give you peace of mind. You know that the property you are letting is not going to put anyone in harms way, and it helps protect your reputation as an ethical landlord.
Prevent any legal issues
The good thing about a safe home, is that it doesn’t cause you any legal issues down the line. Should a tenant have a preventable accident that causes loss of income or ongoing health concerns, you might find yourself embroiled in a legal dispute that not only takes time, but could damage your reputation.
A builder will help you find these problems before they become a catastrophe. Whilst you may have good knowledge of the property and maintenance, it is always worth having an unbiased eye check over the home you are trying to rent.
So get in touch with a builder as soon as you can
It would be advisable not to put your property up for rent or sale until you have had a reputable and trustworthy builder go through your property. With any luck they will tell you that your property is perfect and ready to go. However, you don’t want to find yourself mired under problems a few months down the line.
It is also worth noting that tenants make mistakes. Not only should you look at the property before letting it out, but periodically have a builder come look to see if there are any issues.
For more information on how a builder can help you, call us on 01604 380 930, or email info@srgillbuilders.co.uk with your enquiry.
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