As a landlord or a building owner, it is your responsibility to keep your property safe and secure. It may seem like a minor duty, but failure to do so will put employees and occupants at risk. If necessary repairs are not completed, you will be legally liable for anything that occurs as a result.
Some repairs are not essential and can be put off, like marks on the wall. But eventually, they will need to be fixed.
Other issues, however, must be addressed quickly to maintain health and safety levels. But how do you know what minor and what is a serious potential health and safety hazard?
4 Property Maintenance Problems to Fix ASAP
To help you get a basis of what property maintenance problems need to be addressed first, we have listed the top four fixes you need to get done ASAP. If any one of these problems occurs on your site, make sure to tackle them promptly and do not tempt fate by leaving them too late.
1. A Broken Boiler
A broken boiler is a nuisance, and while you might get away with not fixing it immediately through the summer months, this will be an essential repair as winter approaches. With a broken boiler, you will be unable to keep your building effectively heated, leaving the occupants cold and uncomfortable.
Alternatively, if you are a landlord, you’ll find that a broken boiler will mean that occupants won’t be able to wash their dishes or bathe. As a result, your occupants have every right to immediately demand you fix an issue like this and take the matter further if you do not. Don’t forget if you’re responsible for energy bills, a broken boiler will often cause the costs to balloon, so it is in your best interests to fix it as soon as possible.
If you’re concerned about a sudden boiler breakdown on your property, you can prevent this with regular services of your boiler. Doing this can ensure repairs can be completed before a repair is needed, saving you a lot of time and money.
For expert help fixing your boiler, rely on our expert and emergency services available, or why not find out more about boiler replacements?
2. Damaged Sprinklers
Your sprinklers might not be something you give much thought to after installation, as they hopefully should not see often use other than for fire drills etc. But did you know your sprinkler systems must be checked regularly?
Issues with the sprinkler systems can be caused by corrosion over time. If the pipes corrode, the sprinkler system won’t work effectively in the event of a fire, putting employees, workers and occupants at serious risk. It could lead to them struggling to get out safely when a fire occurs.
If a scheduled check or fire risk assessment reveals an issue with the sprinkler system, get it repaired immediately. Otherwise, the lives of the people inside your building could be left at risk.
3. A Clogged Drain
A clogged drain may not seem like a serious issue that needs prompt attention, but it can significantly reduce the standard of living of the occupants of the building. If a drain is blocked, it will be unusable and could make simple processes such as washing dishes impossible. Typically, residents of a building will want this issue fixed on the same day, even if they might have been responsible for causing it in the first place!
However, more than just a general annoyance, a clogged drain can quickly lead to other issues, such as nasty smells and hygiene problems. This is not something you want to spread to the rest of the property, so getting the issue fixed should definitely be a priority.
If you cannot unclog the drain yourself, you should promptly arrange for an experienced professional to unblock the drain.
4. Gas leak
Arguably, this is one of the most dangerous issues in your building, as it can quickly be fatal. A gas leak could quickly lead to a catastrophic explosion. Need we explain any further?
At the first sign of a gas leak, the entire building should be evacuated immediately and remain vacated until it can be repaired. Even if a spark does not trigger an explosion or a fire, leaking gas can still harm one’s health. The symptoms of gas poisoning vary from minor to severe, including headaches, fatigue, nausea, loss of consciousness and even suffocation.
An emergency plumber can help you fix a gas leak and advise further on the seriousness of the incident and the next course of action.
The importance of Reactive Property Maintenance
Congratulations, you made it to the end of our list! If you’ve read this far, we hope you see why these maintenance issues must be immediately fixed on your property. If left untended, some of these problems can prove to be fatal, so it is a no-brainer to address them promptly!
At Kiasu Workforce, we firmly believe in the phrase ‘better safe than sorry’, which is why we are pleased to offer a range of property maintenance services. This ensures potential problems are identified and addressed before they impact your building or occupants.
For more advice, why not contact our friendly team to find out how we can help you?
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