By Admin UK Pest Control 0 Comments

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs And Protect Your Home

If you are infested with bed bugs, it is imperative that you take action quickly. Many people are under the impression that getting rid of bed bugs is a swift and simple process but this is not the case, and there are many reasons for this. Bed bugs are very effective at hiding, and they can also reproduce at a very rapid rate.

There is also the fact that when bed bugs are at the egg state, they are resistant to some standard treatments, so this means that it can be difficult to finish the job efficiently. Acknowledging how to get rid of bed bugs is one thing but removing them effectively is another thing entirely, and this is why it is often best to call on the experts for assistance for support.

There is a lot to be said for calling on a professional to deal with bed bugs and experience can go a very long way. Many things are unique to each job that can have an impact on the overall level of success of the project. The extent of the bed bug infestation will have a significant impact as will the level of clutter in the property.

There will also be a link as to whether neighbours are also infested with bed bugs, as this will cause problems. In this circumstances, there is a need for everyone to gets involved with the process and aid the removal of bed bugs. If one homeowner in the block is not willing to support or help, it will become extremely challenging to remove completely bedbugs from a property and not have them return.

Protect your home by getting rid of bugs

It is important to know that removing bed bugs effectively from your premises, even for professionals like Cenultra, can take weeks or months, and it is important to follow steps and procedures. Identifying the problem and then developing a strategy for the unique situation at hand should be the starting point. In line with this, there is also a need to ensure that the infestation does not expand, and then you can focus on killing the bed bugs. From here, it is important to evaluate the situation and to prevent, as much as possible, the situation from arising again.

Offered the fact that there are so many steps involved with knowing how to kill bed bugs, and then there is a great deal of work involved with every step, you can see why so many people decide that it is not in their best interests to try and remove bed bugs themselves. There is a need to call on the experts who have carried out this work on many occasions and who know what to look out.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org

There is also a great deal to be said for having the best equipment and knowing how to use it. Given the importance of removing bed bugs in an efficient manner, there is a need to be productive and efficient. This is not a line of work that an amateur should be carrying out, so make sure that you call on the leading experts to remove any bed bugs that you have at home.

Getting to know how to get rid of bed bugs will improve your home

If you are looking to eliminate bed bugs from your property in London, contact Cenultra. We are the experts in bed bug control and in ensuring your property is kept to the highest possible standard. We appreciate it can be difficult to deal with some issues and around the home, and many people may feel embarrassed by bed bugs in their property. The most important thing is to ensure that these bed bugs are effectively killed and removed from the home, and this is why you should be looking to call on professionals who can provide this service in an efficient manner.

Knowing how to get rid of bed bugs is not one of the most common skills or pieces of knowledge that people will have. This means that it is perfectly understandable to call on the local experts for support in this manner. Attempting to remove and kill bed bugs by yourself may exacerbate the problem, which could cost you even more money when you eventually realise that you need to call on the experts for support. When you call on Cenultra, you call on local experts who can provide you with the excellent support, service and guidance. You will also be calling on the London experts that know how to get rid of bed bugs.

By Admin Landlord 0 Comments

What Can I Do If My Tenant Left Me With A Drain Blocked?

Landlords and tenants both have responsibilities relating to the property being leased – while landlords shoulder the biggest responsibility in terms of keeping the property in repair. Tenants are also expected to use the property in a ‘tenant-like manner’ – that is, not cause damage to the property and pay for the repair of any damage that is caused.

In most cases where repair is needed, it is obvious who is responsible – but what about if your tenant blocks the drains?
Section 11 of Landlord And Tenant Act 1985 makes clear the landlord’s responsibilities regarding upkeep of the property:

Landlords and tenants both have responsibilities relating to the property being leased – while landlords shoulder the biggest responsibility in terms of keeping the property in repair.My Tenant Left Me With A Drain Blocked?

Tenants are also expected to use the property in a ‘tenant-like manner’ – that is, not cause damage to the property and pay for the repair of any damage that is caused. In most cases where repair is needed, it is obvious who is responsible – but what about if your tenant blocks the drains?
Section 11 of Landlord And Tenant Act 1985 makes clear the landlord’s responsibilities regarding upkeep of the property:

“the landlord must:

  • keep in repair the structure.
  • keep in repair exterior of the dwelling, including drains, gutters and external pipes.
  • keep in repair and working order the installations in the dwelling for the supply of gas, electricity, water and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences but not other fittings, appliances and fixtures for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity, and
  • keep in repair and proper working order the installation in the dwelling for space heating and heating water.”

Therefore, in most cases, a blocked drain would be the landlord’s responsibility.

The tenant’s responsibilities are harder to define clearly as they are not set out in legislation; however Letlink draws attention to a test case from the 1950s (Warren v Keen), in which the judge, Lord Denning, had the following to say:

“What does ‘to use the premises in a tenant-like manner’ mean?  The tenant must take care of the place. He or she must unstop the sink when it is blocked by his waste.  In short, he or she must do those little jobs about the place, which a reasonable tenant would do.”

Therefore, common law would suggest that part of the tenant’s responsibilities is to use the property’s drainage appropriately and clear any blockages caused by their waste.

What can landlords do to ensure that this responsibility is honoured?

It would be wise to write in the Tenancy Agreement your expectations of the tenants regarding the use of the drains and related items, for instance, not pouring cooking fats down the sink or flushing sanitary items down the toilet. If you do not include this in the Tenancy Agreement, make sure the tenant is otherwise aware of this.

You can also reasonably ask them to attempt to clear any blockage using a plunger and drain cleaner, bleach and/or hot water before contacting you. You should also check the drains when inspecting the property prior to the tenant leaving – if there is a blockage they have caused, you could be entitled to keep some or all of their tenancy deposit to cover the cost of clearing the blockage.

Of course, if your tenant has already left when you discover the blocked drain, there is little to nothing you can do about it. If you had completed a property inspection before their leaving, signed everything off and returned the deposit, the liability for repair falls to you. Therefore, it is vital that your tenants are aware of their responsibilities, and you thoroughly check the property over before they leave.

 

By Admin UK Boilers 0 Comments

Boiler Repair Support Can Really Help

If you have issues with your boiler, it is essential that you call out an expert to look at as quickly as possible. When your boiler is not up to speed, you will quickly realise how dependent you are on your boiler to lead an ordinary and everyday life. There are many things in life that people take for granted and you only really notice their impact when they are no longer available. That is a reason you should call the experts to examine your boiler if any issues start to arise.

You hopefully won’t have to wait until a major problem arises or you need emergency boiler repair services in a hurry before you realise that your boiler is not operating as it should. Here are some signs that your boiler is not operating at its best level.Boiler Repairs Support

  • You are not getting any heat
  • You are not getting any hot water
  • Your boiler flame is not blue
  • Your boiler pressure is inconsistent
  • Your boiler makes strange noises
  • Your boiler is using up more gas than it should

If you notice any of these issues or problems, you would be advised to call out an experienced engineer or plumber to ensure that you have your boiler looked at by professionals.
If you are looking for a qualified engineer in London to offer efficient boiler repair services, call on Cenultra. We have a team of expert engineers who are more than capable of diagnosing boiler issues and then repairing or resolving the issue. If you are looking for assistance, be sure to call on the local experts for all of the boiler repair support you need.
If you are concerned about the value and merit of repairing your boiler, here are some of the leading reasons why it makes sense to call on an expert and have your boiler replaced.

It is normally further cost effective to have your boiler fixed.

Given the importance of having a working boiler, you will be left with two options. Repair your boiler or replace your boiler. Clearly replacing your boiler is going to be the more expensive option, but there will be times when this approach is the most cost-effective option. However, this may not always be the case, and there will be times when it is best to have your boiler repaired.

It may be that a boiler repair job will provide you with years of service, which means that it is something that offers value for money. Some people may believe that once a boiler starts to wane, it is on the way out, and you are better off replacing it, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Given that there are so many different components and elements involved with a boiler, it may just be one issue or element that needs changing. Here is an another reason to call Cenultra to offer reliable boiler repair support can be the most cost effective solution.

Repairing is less stressful than replacing your boiler

You should always be looking for the stress-free solution and repairing a boiler certainly makes for an easier time than replacing a boiler. Again, if repairs are a viable option, it is easier to call on the services of a professional who will make the necessary repairs and then leave you with a working boiler than it is to have your entire boiler system replaced.

Repairing a boiler can take less time

If you are driven for time or you will need to have your boiler up and running as quickly as possible, a repair job may be just what you need. Sometimes you need swift action, and sometimes you need something to hold you over until you can afford a more permanent solution. In both of these cases, you will find that repairing a boiler is the best option.

Repairing a boiler can improve its effectiveness

You should be looking to improve the effectiveness of your boiler as much as you can, and this is something that is on offer when you have your boiler repaired. It may be that your boiler is not exactly broken, but it could be working better. In this case, you will find that repairing a boiler makes sense because it will help you to get a better return from it, and for your money.
There is also the fact that repairing a boiler can improve the value of your home while repairing a boiler can also help you to get more from your home. It reveals that there are many sensible reasons for calling on a reliable boiler repair specialist and for London-based boiler repairs, call on Cenultra.

Boiler Repair from £78 plus VAT. Contact Cenultra

By Admin Landlord 0 Comments

Landlord Health And Safety Precautions- Explained

According to the British government website (Crown Copyright) and the 2004 Housing Act, it is landlords’ responsibility to keep their rented property safe and free from health hazards. This means that landlords need to take proactive actions as a must to ensure tenants healthy and safety conditions during their tenancy agreement. In this article, we outline some of the important safety and healthy precautions a landlord must take. First, let us explain the safety ones:

Gas safety:
If your property has a gas central heating installed, the first thing to do is to check when the next maintenance is due. The same applies to gas boilers. It is recommended that landlords carry out annual gas safety inspections with registered engineers. This maintenance should include a full check on the appliances and tubes installed across the property. It is vital to remember that you as a landlord will need to keep a copy of the gas safety certificate. You will need to give it to the estate agent who is renting the property on your behalf and/or tenants who have the rights to ask for it.Landlord Health And Safety Precautions

Here it is important to remember that you as a landlord need to receive your gas safety certificate within 28 days and make a note of when the next inspection is due on.

Electrical safety:
If you are renting your home with some electrical appliances, such as freezer, toasters, cooker, kettle and washing machine, it is it is important that you check they are working in perfect order. On top of that it is important that you check that all sockets are working properly and are safe to use. The same precautions apply to electric showers (if you have one) and light fittings. A registered engineer should give you a certificate that your fuse box is working and that all electrical devices have fully passed the safety tests.

Fire safety:
Landlords should be aware of the fire safety regulations. A very fundamental law is the fire alarm, sometimes misinterpreted as carbon monoxide alarm or smoke alarm. All properties in Britain should have smoke alarm strategically fitted around the house or flat. The batteries of the smoke alarms should be inspected regularly. With regards to flats and buildings, access to escape routes should be clearly sign posted, and extinguishers should be ready for action. One of the precautions that landlords can also take is to state clearly in the tenancy agreement that electrical appliances should be switched off if the tenant will be away for more than three weeks. Also, if you as a landlord is providing furniture or furnishings, such as a bed, mattress, sofa and table, for example, it is important to highlight that these must adhere to fire resistance policies and regulations.

Beyond providing safety precautions, the landlords must also ensure healthy ones. Here are some that landlords need to take into account:

Water heating: not too hot nor too cold. The taps in the sink, basins, toilet and other parts of the house must clearly display the difference between hot and cold water. Also, it is important that the water central valve location is easily reached in case a sink or toilet need fixing.

Mould and Damp: landlords must ensure that the rental home is damp and mould free. This is a safety issue as dump and mould is recognized by NHS as one of the root causes for respiratory and eczemas issues.

No trip hazards: imagine if you have a misplaced floor carpet in your rental home. This is a fall hazard and safety risk. Imagine if you have a staircase and one of the steps are dislocated. This is also a safety risk. The inspection of the place must assess that there are no trip hazards that can cause an accident to your tenants.

As a landlord, you must remember that you are potentially liable under the Defective Premises Act if the resident suffers death or injury as a result of a health and safety gap. It is important that safety and healthy checks are carried out regularly (minimum once a year) by registered engineers and that records of their visits are kept safe and in good order.

It is advisable that you as a landlord ask your estate agent to run a checklist and assessment on your property before you rent it. They may be able to help you in appointing registered engineers who can issue you with the health and safety certificates you need.

By Admin Landlord 0 Comments

What Can You Do As a Landlord If Your Tenant Wants To Leave Early?

In an ideal world, all tenants would remain in their rented home until the end of their fixed term of tenancy. However, by their very nature, renters are not as predictable as that. Often choosing renting over buying as they perceive it to offer more flexibility, they are only a change of job or relationship status away from needing to move before they anticipated.

So what can landlords do if their tenant asks to leave early?house-wall-tenant-wants-to-leave-early

According to Gov.uk, the tenant is responsible for paying rent for the full term of their tenancy whether or not they wish to leave early. However, they can leave early without further liability for rent if there is a break clause in their Tenancy Agreement or if the landlord agrees to end the contract. If a tenant leaves the property before the end of the fixed term without giving notice of this, it is classed as abandonment and they should still be liable for rents due (although tracking them down to claim this may be an issue).

In the case of a break clause, the Tenancy Agreement should be clear on how much notice a tenant has to give. In most cases this is one month but you can set it to two months if you wish. It should also state when notice can be served from (e.g. after the first three months of the tenancy) and if there are any special procedures which need to be followed.

You cannot force a tenant to remain in the property, and as long as they are willing to pay rent for the remainder of the fixed term they can leave when they wish. In these instances, make sure you carry out any property checks before they leave so that if there is any damage to the property you can resolve this with them.

There is some confusion over whether a landlord can still claim rent from a leaving tenant for the full term of the tenancy if they are not actively looking for a new tenant. Some experts cite the case of Reichmann and Dunn v Gauntlett and Beveridge from 2006, from which a precedent can be drawn that a landlord does not have to ‘mitigate a tenant’s losses’ by trying to get a new tenant in as soon as possible.

However, this case related to a commercial property, and it is unclear whether the same precedent would stand in the event of a case being brought to the courts relating to a residential property.

Therefore, the safest option, and the best for all parties, would be to market the property to find a new tenant quickly. An unhappy tenant could cause you problems further down the line and potentially damage your reputation as an accommodating landlord. If you do decide to market the property, it is reasonable to expect the existing tenant to assist fully with viewings.

Another option is to ask the outgoing tenant to find a replacement – this saves you the hassle and expense of marketing the property, however you should make clear that you have final say over who takes over the tenancy, and do the appropriate checks on any candidate they find.

Ending a tenancy early is a troublesome but inevitable part of being a landlord, and you may find that the best course of action is to be accommodating, find a new tenant who is keen to live in your property, and allow your former tenant to move on.