I'm predicting 328 majority

Sat here watching the 2015 election the BBC are predicting a majority of 331 and I'm predicting 329 - Lets see who is right :)

Legionnaires Disease - Risk Assessments For Rental Properties

If you wish to discuss this article, or if you would like to have a risk assessment completed on your property, please get in contact - Ring me on 01296 20 1234

Let me start by asking you a few questions.

1. Have you ever heard of Legionnaires Disease and what the causes are?
2. Do you know how it can effect your tenants?
3. Do I as a landlord really need to have a risk assessment completed
4. Can I do it myself

Lets deal with each of these questions in order.

1. Only you can answer this but essentially it is a pneumonia type illness, contracted by inhaling "aerosols" produced by showers and other outlets. You can not contract legionnaires disease by drinking water, neither can you pass it from person to person.

2. In most domestic properties the turnover of water is so great that the risk will very often be low. However, if Legionella is present in the system at dangerous levels your tenants can contract the disease and could die

3. The simple answer to this is yes you do. It is a legal requirement under the Health & Safety Legislation and as a landlord you can find out about your duties here. Failure to have a risk assessment completed can land you in hot water! - Thankfully if the hot water is 50 degrees C or over then you won't be at risk of breathing in the bacteria ;) 

On a serious note you are at risk of being fined heavily or even imprisoned. The level of fine and imprisonment will vary from case to case but fines can go up to £20,000 and 2 years in prison if you are found to be at fault.

4. Yes you can. However, you will need to be comfortable that you are competent to complete the assessment and manage any risks identified. The HSE consider a competent person to be as follows

A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help you need.

To summarise, if you are renting properties out to private residents, you are required by law to have a risk assessment completed and whilst you are able to complete that yourself, I would suggest you to have one completed  by a third party even if you are competent. This will eliminate any bias argument in the event of a claim.

Check your knowledge here

An interesting read Deaths In Scotland

My prediction for the 2015 election

like all property professionals, I am following this election very closely. Mainly because the feeling across the industry is that if the Labour Party come into power, the housing sector will be badly affected. We all know, or are at least are aware of their policies so I will let you make your own mind up about them!

What I want to touch on today is, following the appearance by David Cameron last night on Question Time, I am firmly of the belief that we will not see a hung parliament, yes you heard right, the Tories I believe will win. By how much remains to be seen but I firmly believe that the Tories will win with a majority vote.

I am going to hazard a guess and say we may see a 5 seat majority. I am going against all the pundits and experts because I believe that Cameron is holding firm in his policies and is not swaying. If you change your mind and change your manifesto on a daily basis then you are likely to lose the confidence of your audience. In my personal view Ed Milliband has been doing just that and appears a desperate man.

We will see on the 7th May 2015...