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UK landlords advised not to be swayed by misinterpretation of legionella testing
Some consultants and letting agents in the UK are misinterpreting landlord’s responsibilities regarding legionella risks to their tenants, it is claimed. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) they are using the revised L8 ACOP to suggest that new legislation has been imposed on landlords of domestic rented properties in relation to assessing and controlling the risks of exposure to Legionella bacteria of their tenants. ‘This is wrong, the legislation has not been changed and any misinterpretation or misunderstanding can impose unnecessary financial burdens on landlords where they are being charged for legionella testing and certificates they don’t actually need,’ said a HSE spokesman. He pointed out that whilst there is a legal duty for landlords to assess and control the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria, Health and Safety law does not require landlords to produce a Legionnaires testing certificate. ‘Legionella testing or sampling is generally not required in domestic hot and cold water systems and then only in exceptional circumstances,’ the spokesman pointed out. ‘Misinterpretation of the legal requirements by some consultants and letting agents about landlords responsibilities to manage and control legionella in domestic premises may result in unnecessary financial burdens being placed on landlords and tenants,’ he added. The HSE has produced free practical guidance for landlords available to on its website on how to manage and control the risks in your system. The spokesman said that following the guidance is not compulsory and landlords are free to take other action, but if they do follow the guidance they will normally be doing enough to comply with the law. The guidance says that simple control measures can help control the risk of exposure to legionella such as flushing out the system prior to letting the property and avoiding debris getting into the system by making sure that cold water tanks, where fitted, have a tight fitting lid. It also says that tenants should be advised of any control measures put in place that should be maintained, for example not to adjust the temperature setting of the calorifier, to regularly clean showerheads and to inform the landlord if the hot water is not heating properly or there are any other problems with the system so that appropriate action can be taken. When it comes to showers in most domestic settings the risks are reduced by regular use but in any case, tenants should be advised to regularly clean and disinfect showerheads. Instant electric showers pose less of a risk as they are generally cold water fed and heat only small volumes of water during operation. The guidance points out that it is important that water is not allowed to stagnate within the water system and so there should be careful management of dwellings that are vacant for extended periods such as student accommodation left empty over the summer. As a general principle, outlets on hot and cold water systems should be used at least once a week to maintain a… Continue reading
Quarter of UK house hunters take less than a week to find the right property
It seems that the old adage love at first sight applies to the UK property market with new research showing that almost a quarter of home seekers take less than a week to find a new place to live. Some 17% visit only one property when looking for a new house, 25% need to see their future home only once and over two thirds know instantly or by the end of the first visit that they want to move in. The research from mortgage provider Ocean Finance also shows that a third of house hunters spend almost three months browsing the property market, looking at online services such as Zoopla or Rightmove, contacting estate agents and organising viewings. When asked how many times they visited the property they liked best, some 60% of home owners to be admitted they need to see their future homes two to three times before moving in, although over a quarter visit their chosen property only once. Over two thirds of home buyers know instantly or by the end of the first viewing that they want to move in but the research also shows that small things can put buyers off with the biggest one traffic noise. The majority of those questioned won’t buy a house on a main road. A lack of natural light or an electricity pylon around the corner can also make a house unattractive for many people. No local shops or supermarkets can let the property down, as well as little or no storage in the house. Home seekers are also put off by a property that is too far from public transport or with an untidy or small garden. People rarely enjoy living above a take away or chip shop, as strong food smells are another reason for turning down a house however, people can live with coloured bathroom suites and without local restaurants and pubs. Continue reading
Home sales fall slightly in Canada, latest monthly index shows
National home sales activity edged slightly lower on a month on month in July with prices up 8.9% on average nationwide, according to the latest real estate index. The data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) shows that sales were down 0.4% from June to July while actual, not seasonally adjusted activity is up 3.4% compared to a year ago. While the national sales price is strong, when Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto are removed from the calculation then annual price growth drops to 4.1%. It is the second consecutive monthly decline in sales activity but CREA pointed out that transactions in May, June and July reached their highest monthly levels in more than five years. July sales were down from the previous month in about half of all local markets, led by declines in Hamilton-Burlington and in the Durham Region of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The monthly decline in sales for these two markets represents a pullback from record levels in June and CREA says it likely reflects an insufficient supply of listings. By contrast, sales in Newfoundland and Labrador were up the most on a month on month basis, marking a rebound from a quiet month of June for the province. ‘National sales activity remains solid, fuelled by strength in British Columbia and the Greater Toronto Area, where listings are in short supply or trending that way,’ said CREA president Pauline Aunger. According to Gregory Klump, CREA chief economist, markets elsewhere across Canada are largely well balanced and in some cases have an ample supply of listings. ‘It’s fair to say that the strength of national sales is still a story about two cities, but it’s equally about how trends there are spreading out in their respective provinces,’ he explained. ‘Trends in British Columbia and Ontario have a big influence on the national figures, since they account for about 60 per cent of national housing activity. As a result, the national picture reflects how demand is running high for the short supply of single family homes in and around the GTA while the balance between supply and demand is tightening in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. These remain the only places in Canada where home prices are growing strongly,’ he added. Actual, not seasonally adjusted, sales were up from year-ago levels in just over half of all local markets, led by the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia and the GTA. While Calgary continued to post the largest year on year declines in sales compared to last year’s record levels, activity there is nonetheless running roughly in line with five and 10 year averages for sales during the month of July. The number of newly listed homes was little changed, up 0.2% in July compared to June, marking the fourth consecutive month in which new listings have held steady. New supply was up in a little more than half of all local… Continue reading
