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Property Management – Winnetka – Landlord Tips – Electrical

WINNETKA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Tips For Landlords On Electrical Maintenance

Electrical safety information available informs you that the property should be kept in a good condition in terms of the electrical wiring and functioning but does not state that the landlord must produce a yearly certificate to reflect this. It is left up to the landlord to maintain the property so it is in a fit state to rent out. But how does the landlord achieve this?

I recommend having a reputable electrician within your contact book as they can periodically visit the property to assess that all sockets and switches are working as they should be and the electrician can speak directly to the tenant to assess the current state of the electrics. Building a good relationship with your tenants will help to ensure that you are made aware of any issues as they arise so that they are rectified quickly.

It is well worth checking the kitchen and bathroom fans during your periodic check on the property as this will take you minimal time to maintain. All that is required is for you to remove the build up of dust which helps to keep the fan in good working order. The dust affects the way the fan works and eventually leads to them clogging up with dust to a level where the fan can no longer rotate properly and may eventually stop working.

If the fan does stop working it may impact the electrical circuit that it is linked too, either cutting out that particular circuit or the whole house via the trip switch. If the electrical system does cut out then this is positive sign that the circuit board is working correctly. If this happens then I would recommend contacting your electrician and asking them to complete a check that the system is fine to switch on again. This will provide reassurance to you and the tenant that the property and the electrics are safe.

Within older properties it is likely that the fan is installed with the incorrect voltage as in a bathroom they should only be 12 volts and this should be checked by the electrician. I would always recommend having the fans fitted by a qualified electrician as they will ensure that they are fitted with the correct voltage.

A further tip for your property is that if the bathroom has a window, it is worth asking the tenant to open the window each time they use the shower as this can be more effective than a fan at keeping the bathroom free from moisture.

By Laura Jane Hand

Since 1946 the Carnahan name has had a reputation for honest and ethical Real Estate Property Management services in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Burbank/Glendale, Los Angeles, Westside and Conejo Valley areas.

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