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Full time – Letting Negotiator based in our office in Barrow in Furness Salary approx. £22,500 with scope dependant on…
Gas or carbon monoxide leak emergency
Call the National Gas Emergency Service 24 hours a day on 0800 111 999 (calls are recorded and may be monitored).
Open your windows and doors to let air in, make sure all gas appliances are turned off and turn the gas off at the mains if possible. Do not turn lights on or off and avoid using other electrical switches and appliances as this could trigger an explosion. Do not smoke, light a match or any other naked flame. Never try and investigate the problem or attempt to fix a leak or a faulty appliance.
Power Cuts (electrical) and electrical emergencies
Call 105 and/or visit http://www.powercut105.com/
Water and wastewater
Call United Utilities on 0345 672 37 23
If your landlord deals with their own maintenance (you will have been given their details already) you must try to contact them first. Also if you pay the rent directly to your landlord (let only) you will not be able to use this service.
Issues with your individual house or apartment
In a genuine emergency you can contact someone to gain assistance. If the call out is not a genuine emergency the cost will be passed on to you and therefore by using this service you understand and agree to this.
Emergencies with gas appliances (fires, boilers and cookers) or escape of water/plumbing issues
Joe Jaggar of Jagger Heating – 07743 125 268
Brian Morgan High Speed Gas & Plumbing Services- 07925 117 749 or 01229 823 855
Josh from JCP Plumbing and Heating 07792 396 831
If your landlord deals with their own maintenance (you will have been given their details already) you must try to contact them first. Also if you pay the rent directly to your landlord (let only) you will not be able to use this service.
Emergencies with guttering or roof leaks
Kevin (Kev) Jones 07790 929 760
Emergencies with electrical wiring, fuses or sockets (not appliances)
Ollie of O M Electrical 07551 699 590
General maintenance emergencies
Kevin (Kev) Jones 07790 929 760
If your landlord deals with their own maintenance (you will have been given their details already) you must try to contact them first. Also if you pay the rent directly to your landlord (let only) you will not be able to use this service.
If you or indeed we have noticed signs of condensation in your house or flat we strongly suggest you read through the information below as this is an often misunderstood problem.
This info is designed to give a brief guide to the occurrence of condensation in your property, outlining the reasons why it may occur and stating actions which may reduce its effects. There may be serious, underlying reasons why this has appeared but more commonly simple steps to reduce moisture in the air will alleviate if not completely resolve the issue.
What is condensation?
Condensation forms because the moisture in the air can no longer be held as a vapour, so returns to liquid. This occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with cooler air or a cooler surface. ‘Dew point’ describes the temperature when air containing a given quantity of moisture vapour will condense onto that surface.
While condensation is obvious when it occurs on impermeable surfaces – most commonly window glass, cold-water pipes and ceramic tiles- it will also form on any surface which is at, or lower than, dew point. The presence of condensation on more absorbent surfaces (such as paint, plaster or wallpaper) becomes obvious when disruption, damage or mould growth forms on that surface.
Mould growth is a typical sign of chronic condensation and occurs as spores which are always present in the air. These spores find water (condensate) and organic material (dirt and grease) that support their life cycle. Mould is a significant health risk to asthmatics, anyone with other respiratory conditions, the very young and elderly people. The high humidity levels associated with condensation also enables house dust mites to flourish. The droppings from these microscopic creatures as well as mould spores can cause allergic reactions which are also linked to the onset of asthma.
For those concerned with condensation in buildings, the quantity of water vapour in the air and the temperature of surfaces within buildings are two key issues.
How to recognise condensation
The most common and typical signs of condensation to look out for are:
What action is required?
Double glazing and improved insulation means we have warmer homes, but unless a property is adequately ventilated, it can become damp. We ask all tenants to ensure that our properties are sufficiently ventilated by taking a few simple precautions stated below in order to avoid condensation and the build-up of damp.
BEDROOMS – Open bedroom windows when you go to bed at night: a 10mm gap will do. If it really is too cold to do this, wipe the condensation off the windows first thing in the morning, but please do not put the cloth you used on the radiator to dry as this will create more condensation.
SHOWER/BATHROOM – Ensure full use of extractor or ventilation fans. Where these are not provided, open a window after bathing or showering to give the steam and damp air a chance to escape. Wipe the windows, walls and mirrors to remove condensation (a microfiber cloth is the most efficient means of doing this) , and dry the shower tray or bath. Keep the door closed while the bathroom is in use to prevent the steam escaping to other parts of the house.
KITCHEN – When cooking, cover pans. Use extractor or ventilation fans where provided. If you do not have an automatic kettle, take care to ensure it is not left boiling. These precautions will help to reduce steam and therefore moisture in the air. Keep the door closed while the kitchen is in use to prevent the steam escaping to other parts of the house.
LIVING AREAS – Where there are chimneys, do not block them up. If a wall appears to be damp, do not put furniture right up against it; allow some circulation of air.
GENERAL – Make sure that any ventilation bricks or openings in the building are not obstructed.
WINDOWS - Keep glass as clear of condensation as you can. Wipe away moisture that has formed using a soft cloth. Leave open any ‘trickle’ vents in double glazed units. Get into the habit of opening windows to keep the moisture content in the air down and to air the property whenever you can.
LAUNDRY – Avoid drying clothes on radiators or elsewhere inside this is a major source of the moisture and this water will only go into the air inside . Tumble dryers should be vented outside.
HEATING – Provide a reasonable level of heating (no less than 10oC in an unused area, or 16oC if in use); cold rooms are susceptible to condensation. Remember, the best way to heat a room and avoid condensation is to maintain a low level of warmth throughout the day rather than to turn the heating off while you are out and put it on at a high level when you return home.
PORTABLE HEATERS – Portable gas and paraffin heaters can create a significant amount of damp and condensation within properties. Please do not use this type of heater unless you have permission from your landlord or property manager.
Remedies
Mildew may be removed from clothes by using a dry cleaning process…
Remove and kill mould by wiping the affected areas(s) with a fungicide which carries a Health and Safety Executive approval number, precisely following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not disturb mould by vacuuming or brushing as this can give rise to respiratory complaints.
On a final note…
Ventilation and extractor fans are not prohibitively expensive to use, and used correctly can in fact save dilapidation expenses at the end of your tenancy.
If you believe there to be a need for an extractor fan or any similar piece of equipment in the property you are renting, please inform us.
We hope you have found this information useful and that it might help to resolve any issues concerning condensation and damp before they become a serious problem.
If you follow the advice the risk of mould and damp conditions should be kept to a minimum and possibility of deductions from your dilapidation deposit are less likely.
Where do I go for further information?
If you would like more information, you should try the following sources:
N.B. This information is intended to assist landlords’ and tenants to understand the effects of the damp and condensation. For more details, you should refer to the sources stated above.
Please understand we want to help and are happy to talk further about his should you require. We can also supply some moisture traps to help absorb some of the moisture please just ask.
Customer Comments
We have used PC Lettings for many years... They offer a comprehensive service for both tenants and landlords. Well done PC lettings team!
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