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Tel: 01903 721020
Email: info@genmaint.co.uk
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Why use a Nationwide multi services company?

 Landlord Property Services, Property maintenance
Jan 022018
 

There are many advantages to using the General Maintenance Company for your property needs. We provide a truly nationwide maintenance service across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. No matter where your properties are or what the issue is, GMC will provide the solution!

  • We cover areas of the UK that many large national companies can’t cover for small works.
  • We take away the hassle of dealing with multiple service providers by providing a one stop solution.
  • We offer a dedicated service to our clients which they tell us can often be lacking when dealing with large companies.
  • We arrange everything from small reactive works like boarding a window or repairing a toilet flush to carrying out professional surveys and property refurbishments along with anything and everything in between.
  • We provide Probate services including surveys, intensive cleans etc.
  • We also provide many different types of regular planned maintenance services such as property inspections, cleaning, gardening, annual Gas Safety certificates, boiler servicing etc.

A comprehensive list of our services can be found here Full Service List

What are the benefits to our clients?

It is true to say that we know our market and we know our clients. Many years of extensive experience within the vacant repossession, LPA, relocation and tenanted sectors means we have built up an impressive network of reliable, loyal and trustworthy contractors covering the whole of the UK.

  • Every client is allocated one dedicated account manager, regardless of portfolio size or location.
  • One point of contact gives you peace of mind.
  • High level of service, communication and honesty.
  • National coverage throughout the UK including difficult, hard to reach areas.
  • We handle problems quickly and pride ourselves on dealing with emergency call outs as soon as they come in.
  • We are specialists in dealing with both vacant, tenanted and probate properties.
  • No job is too small or too large.
  • We are fully insured and only use certified, approved local tradesmen on our panel of contractors.
  • Developed specifically for our business, our bespoke system provides unique reports and updates for our clients helping them stay in control of property maintenance and other services.

Our experience is your peace of mind

GMC has over 20 years’ experience in this sector, so you can rest assured that your property portfolio is in safe hands. We provide everything you need for a full property maintenance solution. Our fantastic network of contractors is the cornerstone of our business. Not only do they excel at what they do, but they are proactive at identifying urgent property matters when on site and informing us immediately. There have been many occasions when their prompt action has avoided our clients having to deal with a potentially dangerous or costly situation.

Please click here Full Service List for the full range of services we provide. Whilst this list is extensive, please ask if you require something not listed here and we will find the right solution for you. We pride ourselves on offering a one stop service, so whatever you need we are here for you – give us a call and remember there is no area in the UK that we can’t cover!

Is your property winter-proofed internally?

 Holiday let property services, Landlord Property Services, Property maintenance, Relocation Property Services, winter proofing
Dec 012017
 

December blog 2017

Is your property winter-proofed internally?

Now is the time to ensure that your properties are internally prepared for the winter weather. In last month’s blog, we covered exterior property maintenance. In this blog we’re discussing how to take care of the inside of your properties in order to avoid any unnecessary damage leading to costly repairs and perhaps resulting in dissatisfied tenants.

Are your properties cost efficient?

If you rent properties with bills included (e.g. halls of residence, temporary relocation properties or holiday lets) it’s in your best interest to keep heating costs down. Even if bills aren’t inclusive, reducing heating costs can still be to your benefit by keeping your tenants happy by saving on their heating bills. Your property will also benefit as it will reduce the chance of any unnecessary damp or damage caused by tenants scrimping on heating bills. So, how do you reduce heating costs? Simply follow these suggestions:

  • Invest in decent insulation, especially in the loft – current guidelines in the UK recommend a minimum depth of 270mm and don’t forget to ensure pipework is lagged too (see below for further information).
  • Loft Insulation can help lower your heating bills and helps reduce global warming and climate change.
  • There are a number of grants and schemes available to home owners which can substantially reduce the cost of installing insulation.
  • Bleed radiators to release trapped air and help them run more efficiently
  • Provide draught excluders in furnished properties.
  • Keep the boiler serviced (see further information below).

 

Are your pipes insulated?
We all know the costly devastation an undetected burst pipe can cause. Our unpredictable winter weather can cause rapid freezing and thawing which can lead directly to burst pipes. Apart from the expense of the wasted water, if your property is tenanted you may also have to bear the cost of finding alternative accommodation for your tenants until the property is habitable again. There are various ways to help avoid burst pipes.

  • For insurance purposes, if you have vacant properties that you expect to be unoccupied for a prolonged period of time we always advise a full property drain down – your particular insurance may insist on this so check the small print.
  • Alternatively, for properties that will only be unoccupied for short periods (such as student houses or holiday lets) you can fit heat-loss reducing insulation around exposed pipework.
  • Remember, all pipework within the boundary of your home or business is your responsibility, so it really is worth protecting it properly to avoid serious problems during cold weather. Lag outside taps and pipework to prevent any external bursts.  If left unnoticed this could result in a costly water bill if you’re on a meter. Water freezing over on the ground as the result of an external burst could also result in potentially dangerous accidents for your tenant or prospective purchasers/tenants when viewing vacant properties.

GMC offers a dedicated service to attend properties to carry out regular inspections and put the heating on when required in order to comply with insurance purposes.   Some insurance policies require heating to be left working at a constant 15 degrees – we can organise this and also provide photographic evidence that the boiler is set correctly for your insurance records. Contact GMC for further information https://www.genmaint.co.uk/contact-us/

Are your appliances legal?
In accordance with the Gas Safety Regulations of 1998 all landlords are legally required to provide an annual Landlord Gas Safety Record, carried out by a registered Gas Safety engineer if their properties have any gas appliances (e.g. gas boiler, gas fire, gas cooker). If your property does not have mains gas and uses LPG Gas bottles, a landlord Gas Safety Record is still required. It is good practice to regularly service a gas fired boiler on an annual basis. By booking the annual service to be carried out at the same time as the landlord’s Gas Safety check, this provides a more cost- effective option. Not only will a well-maintained boiler run more efficiently, it will also prevent any unexpected boiler failures that could cause discomfort and inconvenience for your tenants.  GMC has a network of contractors across the UK including OFTEC engineers for oil fired systems, and Gas Safe registered engineers for maintenance of both mains gas or LPG systems.

Here at GMC we’re committed to providing landlords and property management companies with the highest standard of property maintenance services. If you would like a quote for any of the services detailed in this blog please contact the GMC team at 01903 721020 or email info@genmaint.co.uk

 

 

Is your property ready for Winter?

 Landlord Property Services, Property maintenance, winter proofing
Nov 012017
 

With autumn now upon us, this is the time to make sure that your properties are in tip-top condition for the winter months ahead. While the weather is still relatively mild, now is the time to carry out a few essential maintenance jobs.  Many winter-related disasters can be prevented if people plan ahead in the autumn to protect their properties from the wind, rain and freeing temperatures that the winter may bring. Taking some precautions before the winter weather kicks in and dealing with problems at an early stage can ward off the need for more extensive and expensive repairs later on down the line.

Roofing problems?

If your roof is in need of repair, don’t wait until it starts leaking before you decide to get it fixed. Ignoring roofing problems is a false economy as a small leak can cause a lot of damage if left for any length of time.

After it’s been raining, check for puddles of water, mould or wet insulation in the roof space.  If you find any signs of dampness you’ve probably got a leak. If there’s wetness or damp around pipes or chimney breasts, this is probably due to a damaged flashing. A leak anywhere else in the loft space suggests there is a problem with the roofing material, such as a loose tile.

Some problems can be spotted from the ground: you might be able to see some missing or loose tiles. When it comes to replacing them there’s only one way to do it and that’s calling on the services of a professional roofer to do this for you, GMC can organise visit reports on your behalf, obtaining free estimates and monitoring the job to ensure a quality result. Our tried and trusted contractors will use their expertise to advise if further work is required giving you the full picture of what is happening at the property including a full suite of photographs.

How can you prepare for the Autumn?

By carrying out the following maintenance jobs: 

  • Clean out your gutters and make sure downpipes and any outlets are clear of leaves and debris
  • Repair any leaking gutters to avoid issues occurring when the temperatures drop in winter.
  • Inspect the roof (e.g. carefully from the ground) for any broken, loose or missing slates/tiles/mortar or flashings and watch for any early signs of leaks or condensation on the ceilings, especially at the outer edges of the ceilings.
  • Getting your boiler serviced or inspected should always be at the forefront of any autumn preparations as a boiler breakdown can be a very costly experience.  In addition, a well-maintained boiler will burn less fuel so having your boiler checked and your heating system serviced will save money and most importantly, it could potentially avoid a terrible tragedy.
  • Vacant properties should have the heating system turned off, the stoptap turned off and the water system fully drained down to prevent any burst pipes.
  • Carry out a final grass cut of all lawned areas
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