Month: June 2019

Things to Check Before Moving in a New Flat

It is not always easy to find a nice place to live in a nice part of the city. But when you do, you must be prepared for the following things to ensure that your move in process is smooth and your new home is worth the rent you are paying every month.

Always be prepared to spend more
When you have enough to move out and be on your own, you realize that there are hidden costs that you didn’t factor in when you saved for renting a flat. Landlords often want to run a background check and reference checks on their tenants and the cost of it will be passed on to you. Additionally, it is also likely that you would have to bear the admin fees and expected to pay a fatter deposit.

Electric goods included in the flat
It doesn’t matter if you have a furnished house or an unfurnished one, you must check what all your electrical items will be included in your rent and if they are all in working condition. If you need these things but are not included in your house rent, then you’ll need to add the cost of buying them into your renting decision. Make sure that electrical goods like toasters, refrigerator, dishwasher, kettle etc. are all in working condition.

Assess the house properly
Before moving in or signing the deal, you should check everything there is to check about the house such as leaks, moss, mildew growth, water pressure, floorboards, plumbing in the toilet, locks etc. Everything in the house should function the way it should. Don’t forget to ask about Landlords Gas and Electrical Safety Certificates. This is a legal requirement that your landlord must fulfill before renting their property to you.

Read the contract
It goes without saying how important it is to read the contract before you sign it. If you find anything in the contract that seems unclear, then now would be a good time to clarify. In fact, you should also make sure that all the agreements made at the time of renting offers have been included in the contract. The contract should also contain all the details regarding furniture, appliances, as well as the existing condition of the property. Make sure you check all of this before moving in.

Take a meter reading
When you rent a house, the first thing you should do as you move in is to check the meters and let your suppliers know. If you don’t do this, you would be responsible to pay even for the usage that had occurred before you moved in.

Believe it or not, landlords and agents may perform an inspection from time to time so make sure that your house is clean and well taken care of.

If you want your deposit on your way out, you must ensure that the place is looking the way it should and no long-term damage has been inflicted.

The Importance of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

Companies in the UK are required to have a PAT certificate to show their compliance with health and safety measures along with other regulations. The testing ensures that all portable appliances meet the standards defined by several governing bodies.

The Health and Safety Executive requires that all portable appliances within commercial and residential properties undertake yearly PAT testing. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 mandates responsible parties to keep any electrical device or equipment with the potential to cause harm in a safe state. With an increase in the number of cheap electrical products in the market that arise from globalization, (most of which do not pass through stringent quality checks), the importance of routine safety checks on these electrical products can never be overstated.

So what’s PAT testing?
PAT testing is the act of examining portable appliances and equipment to make sure that they’re safe to use. PAT involves a range of tests that may vary slightly based on the kind of devices being tested, the set up as well as the PAT testing company conducting the service. At its most basic, the testing includes:

  • Visual assessment of the appliance
  • Checking the flexible cables to ensure they are in good condition
  • Grounding verification (when appropriate)
  • Examining the insulation between parts carrying the current
  • Checking any naked metal that could be hazardous

When conducting the test, the company in charge indicates a fail or pass for each item. Should there be any defects; the experts may also recommend the appropriate solutions. Typically, after the test is done on equipment, the engineer places a sticker on its surface to indicate that it’s tested. To supplement this, they also issue a certificate that shows details of testing. The minimum information of a PAT certificate includes details of the tested site, entry of each equipment along with a failed or passed score, individual retest dates and details of the individual or company that conducted the test.

A fail means that the equipment did not meet all the testing requirements with success and should not be used. Equipment with a pass mark indicates a sure sign that the manufacturers have observed all the specified standards and is safe for use.

What’s the importance of a PAT test?
As stated earlier, there is an influx of electrical appliances and equipment from all parts of the world in the country. This makes it difficult for a buyer to differentiate between what’s quality and what isn’t. Unfortunately, purchasing and using substandard electrical appliances may put the lives of people at risk. These days, it’s not uncommon to hear that many devices are found to be unsafe and are recalled by manufacturers and sometimes, even deemed unfit for use. Some electrical equipment are especially hazardous and could lead to electrical burn or shock, misuse or wear and sometimes fire.

PAT tests are meant to ensure that no dangerous equipment is used in residential or commercial premises. This is in attempt to health and safety of all occupants. It’s, therefore, critical for individuals to PAT test their electrical equipment by using the right electrical PAT testing device immediately.