Category: Property Maintenance

Shifting your entire business from one building to another can seem a daunting task. Whether you’ve outgrown the space you’re in, or you’re deciding to downsize, moving your employees and your office furniture isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. With some careful planning and consideration, you can make your transition from building to building as smooth as possible. 

Relocation is stressful enough without the pressure of having to create your checklist for the move. How are you supposed to manage to ring the removal company and arrange deep cleaning before you unpack all your things in your new office space? Luckily, you don’t have to remember on your own. Here is a comprehensive guide to moving office, designed to make the next step in your business journey as smooth sailing as possible.

 

Determine The Date

Deciding on the date you’d like to complete your move is essential, and you’re better off doing this early on. You may require a specific date because the lease on your current building is expiring, and this can help you eliminate new spaces that wouldn’t be available early enough. Another reason for determining the date is essential is that you should plan your move at an off-peak period for your business.

It would never be sensible to decide to have your move during the height of your busiest period, say winter if you sell firewood supplies because settling into a new space would demand time you hardly have. You’re putting unnecessary pressure on yourself and your staff if you choose to move during a busier month, and you may see falls in profit as a result. 

 

Find Your New Space

A significant step in moving office is selecting a space to move into! Should you already have found the next building for your business, you can skip straight to the next point. If you’re still unsure about selecting an appropriate new setting and atmosphere for your employees, this is for you.

Consider your budget, your team’s size, and the room you expect you’ll need for growth and keep these at the forefront of your mind with every property you view. Also, determine what you can do for parking spaces and the public transport to ensure that all employees can reach your new office space. Take note of local shops and restaurants so that you can be sure your team has places nearby for lunch, or prioritise a sizable kitchen in the building you choose. Get a professional in commercial boilers to assess the state of the heating and water flow through your potential new office, before you commit.

 

Consider Your Furniture

If you’re downsizing or scaling upwards with your new building, you need to make sure that your furniture suits your needs. When downsizing, you may only need to declutter and minimise the number of your desks. If your new office building is considerably bigger, you’ll need to purchase furniture that fits the space and allows you room for your growth. The best time to try and get your furniture ordered or prepared is around one month before the move, to give you plenty of time to organise it before you try to settle in!

 

Plan Address Changes

All deliveries and bills that are charged to your current address need to be cancelled or rerouted. You need to arrange an internet provider, phone lines, gas and electrics and all other essentials to keep your new space running. Ideally, you want your broadband to be functional in your new area for about two weeks before moving in. If you get newspapers or milk delivered to your current office, you also want to inform them of your move at least three weeks in advance. Make your new contact information, including your phone numbers and physical address, as public as possible but plan forwarders for calls and mail that may end up at your old address!

 

Choose and Use a Removal Firm

Choosing a removal firm may seem like the most obvious step, but as this list has demonstrated, it isn’t the first thing you need to consider! Now that you have a good idea of the amount of furniture you’re going to need transporting to your new building, you can decide on the size of the removal company you need to hire. The day of your move, you can also benefit from the assistance of a house or office clearance business to remove all rubbish once you’re unpacking.

 

If you need any further assistance with moving and settling into your new office building, contact us at Kiasu Workforce to see how we can help.

You may be aware from news coverage in recent months that the UK is in the midst of an energy crisis that is only set to get worse. This news is daunting for everyone, particularly those who don’t have the means to cover a massively inflated energy bill. Perhaps you’ve already noticed the cost of your bills increasing, you’re avoiding using your central heating for as long as possible, and you’re looking at ways to cut costs in other areas to budget for your increased bill. Whatever you are doing to help cover the additional costs, there is a lot you need to know about the current energy situation and how it’s going to worsen in the coming months.

 

Inflated energy bills will affect everyone, from homeowners to landlords, so everyone needs to learn more about their bills and energy usage. We aim to shed some light on the current UK energy crisis and advise you on how to combat the extra costs, whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or landlord.

 

What is an Energy Crisis?

It has been hard to avoid the pressing news of the energy crisis, even for those who don’t keep up with current affairs. It is an almost daily topic in British media channels, with more updates and information being regularly released. The UK Government is trying to tackle the issue in Parliament, looking at how they can subsidise the extra heating and electricity costs the nation is facing. The situation is not unique to the UK, however, and there are countries across the world that are facing similar problems when it comes to inflated costs.

 

An energy crisis is when the demand for fuel is greater than the supply. This means that energy providers cannot keep up with the energy demand. The increased demand leads to an increase in the cost of wholesale gas and other fuel sources. Energy crises have happened in the past for several reasons. The current situation is strongly linked to an ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Up until this year, Russia was one of the leading gas suppliers to Europe, but due to recent tension between Russia and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countries, they decided to cut off the supply. 

 

Why is the UK the Worst Affected Western Country?

The UK has been the worst hit with a surge in energy costs because of how we access our electricity. Prices have gone up across Europe, but other countries, such as France and Germany, have managed to prevent the costs from rising to critical amounts. Unfortunately, as well as how we access our power, the UK also has the most energy-inefficient homes in Europe and some of the coldest weather. 

 

The UK’s main source of heat energy is gas, unlike other European countries. Less than half of German and French households rely on gas for heating and electricity. To put it in perspective, 40% of the UK’s energy sources come from gas, whereas in Germany, this is only 6%. 

 

Which People Will Be Most Affected?

The average UK energy bill is said to have increased by 54%, which causes huge problems for those whose budget only covers their old energy bill. The rise in energy bills comes in conjunction with a national recession, affecting people’s income, tax costs, and the general cost of living. This leaves many wondering how they will afford their energy bills in the coming months. Unfortunately, the price hike is only set to increase. The UK government initially offered financial support with an Energy Price Guarantee from October 1st, 2022. The scheme will prevent people from paying no more than £2,500 annually for energy. 

 

However, recent weeks have seen a drastic change in this policy, which will now only be available until April 2023 as opposed to the initial 2-year timescale. This lack of government support will cause a massive increase in the average energy bill cost, up to £4,347. The UK’s poorest 10% are set to see 17.8% of their income funding their energy bills, while the top earning 10% will see 6.1% of their income go towards gas and electricity. The indirect effect of the rise in bills is also impacting the cost of living. This will increase the average UK household’s spend by another 2%.

 

Coping With Increasing Energy Prices

People across the country face a financial crisis like never before. Many are going to every extent to reduce their energy usage and bring down their bills. Energy bills are becoming the biggest outgoing for families, businesses, and landlords, so finding ways to reduce the spending will hopefully bring prices down. There are a few changes that can be made to help reduce energy usage in your property, such as:

 

• Cutting down on electricity (switching off lights, replacing old appliances, using energy-efficient bulbs, etc.)
• Upgrading boilers or installing thermostats
• Only putting the central heating on for short periods
• Installing log burners or utilising fireplaces in old properties
• Turning off standby appliances
• Insulating the loft space
• Investing in cavity wall insulation
• Getting a smart meter to measure energy usage

 

Making these small adjustments can have a helpful impact on energy efficiency in your property and reduce the overall cost of your monthly energy bill. There is also help that you can access if you are struggling to afford your bills. Knowing the benefits you may be entitled to will give you some extra income to help you through the coming months is essential.

 

Advice For Facing the Energy Crisis

Not only is the country facing an energy crisis, but it is also facing an economic recession at the same time. The Bank of England has estimated that we will feel the impact of this recession for at least 2 years. The current chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has also told of his plans to make the recession as short as possible to help people through. 

 

There is no doubt that this period of uncertainty will affect many people, and no one is exempt from seeing an increase in their outgoings. Whether you are a homeowner, own multiple properties, or run a business, you will undoubtedly already be facing increases in your energy bills. There is advice that we can provide for those struggling to help ease some of the strain in the coming months. 

 

Homeowner

Anyone who owns their own home is facing a huge surge in energy bills. The daily cost of running the home has increased, much to people’s worry. Staying on top of your bills and bringing the price down in any way you can is essential for getting through this period. The government is providing one-off payments of £400 this Autumn to help subsidise increased costs. This money that was promised to take people through the next 2 years has sadly been retracted, so alternative methods must be used to help bring down bills.

 

Analysing the efficiency of your property is key to seeing where you are spending unnecessary money. Things such as broken window seals, old heating systems, and draughty doors will all contribute to your house feeling colder. They also make your heating system less efficient, costing you more money for less output. 

 

Business Owner

Owning a business can be challenging at the best of times. The energy crisis will no doubt have put a strain on trade. Fewer people have disposable income to spend, and the price of running facilities is higher than ever. If you’re struggling to afford your bills, you must raise the issue with your energy provider. You can arrange a payment plan to help spread the cost so you can stay in business. The government also provides grants so you can improve your building’s efficiency.

 

Turning the lights and heating off outside of opening hours can be a helpful way to bring costs down. Also, installing a thermostat can help you stay on top of the temperature. If you are a restaurant or food business, you can look at ways of utilising the heat from your cooking appliances. Upgrading your appliances to more energy efficient alternatives will also help to reduce the cost of your bills.

 

Landlord

Owning multiple properties during a cost of living crisis may feel like a mistake. Perhaps you have already thought of selling your additional properties. If you have tenants, however, this may be tricky. It may ease your mind to know that you can do things that don’t involve giving up your properties. Managing energy bills is possible if you properly maintain your properties to minimise the energy needed to heat them. Things such as draught-proofing, insulating, and installing double-glazed windows can help buildings retain maximum heat. This is particularly important if you own older houses without modern insulation. 

 

If you have tenants who pay the bills, which is usually the case, then the additional costs will only affect them. However, the drastic increase in energy costs may mean they need help to afford rent. Coming to an agreement can help ease both their mind and yours, ensuring both the energy bills and the rent remains affordable.

 

Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Property With Kiasu

If you need help improving energy efficiency in your home, rented properties, or business, then contact Kiasu. We offer various property maintenance services, including boiler repair, replacement, and electrical work. Having up to date appliances and modern systems in place will bring down additional energy costs and hopefully get you through the energy crisis.

Air conditioning is a fundamental part of any building. Whether it is our home or workplace, we cherish our AC in the warm summer months. But how exactly does this brilliant piece of technology work? This guide shows you an overview of the cooling process most ACs utilise. Then we’ll take you through a crash course on AC types so you can better understand which system is suitable for you and your air cooling needs. Get to grips with AC and know what each system has to offer before you get an air conditioning installation.

How Air Conditioning Systems Work

Air conditioners work by taking in air from your home through vents. This air then passes over an evaporator coil which cools the air by absorbing the heat. The cooling process occurs in the AC system’s condenser – the outdoor unit. A fan blows the remaining cool air into your home while the warm air is expelled outside.

 

Types Of Air-Conditioning Systems

The way air is collected and distributed varies depending on the type of air-conditioning system. There is a broad selection of AC system types catering to all kinds of buildings, requirements and budgets.

We have outlined and explained how each of these systems works below.

Central Air Conditioner

Central air-conditioning systems take in air from your home and cool it by releasing hot air outside. The cooled air is then distributed throughout the building using d

ucts. This system creates a more even temperature throughout the home. Central air-conditioning systems typically consist of an indoor and an outdoor unit. There are exceptions to this that we will discuss next.

Packaged Air Conditioners

Packaged air conditioners are a type of central air-conditioning. However, they differ from other AC types. Whilst most other AC systems use multiple units, Packaged ACs are two-in-one. Packaged systems are only located outside the building instead of using an indoor and an outdoor unit.

Ductless Air-Conditioning

The other style of air conditioner, ductless air-conditioning, cools a single room. A ductless AC system is made up of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. It is possible to cool several rooms with a ductless system. Each room will require an indoor unit. You can have up to five indoor units that work with a single outdoor unit.

Ductless Multi-Split AC Systems

Ductless multi-split air-conditioning systems connect up to five indoor and one outdoor unit. They are an excellent choice for buildings without ductwork. Although the upfront cost of the additional units can be more expensive, in the long term, they may save you money as they are typically more energy efficient.

Ductless Mini-Split Air-conditioning

Mini-Split air-conditioning systems work like multi-split units. However, where a multi-split system has a 5:1 ratio of indoor to outdoor units, mini-split are 1:1. The cool air is pumped into the one room where the indoor unit is located. Ductless units can be installed in the wall providing better airflow. Or they can be installed in the ground. This reduces airflow, but you will notice the effects more quickly.

Window Air Conditioner

Window air-conditioning, like central air-conditioning units, is often installed half inside and half outside. They are used to cool a single room. Generally, they are inexpensive, although they do have a few drawbacks. They can be noisy and are often not the most aesthetically pleasing.

Dual Fuel System

An alternative to air-conditioning, dual fuel systems provide a heating and cooling solution. Instead of an air conditioner, they use a heat pump and a furnace. A heat pump system can both heat and cool.

 

The Benefits Of Air-Conditioning

In addition to keeping your home or office at a comfortable temperature, AC offers a few extra perks. For example, a good AC system can also improve air quality. The reduction in humidity is also a great benefit. Less humidity has the additional effect of reducing mould growth. As mould poses many potential health risks, this cannot be understated as one of the many additional benefits of good air-conditioning. The cooler, dryer atmosphere is also less appealing to many insects, so your AC could even prevent ants from wandering into your home.

The benefits of AC will depend on a few things. The type of system you install and its suitability for your property and goals will be the most significant factors. This will also affect any potential drawbacks such as noise pollution. A cheap system may feel like a great idea, but the noise may outweigh the savings.

Air conditioners come in many shapes and sizes. The broad selection of systems has something for everyone and buildings of all types. With the right system, any building can benefit from cooler, cleaner air and enjoy AC’s many benefits.

Painting a wall starts far before you even open the paint can. When painting a wall, it’s important to do prep work first. In the right light, even the smallest of imperfections in a wall become glaringly obvious. And many of them cannot be easily reversed as the problem lies with a lack of preparation before painting.

If you want a super-smooth coat of paint on your walls without blemishes, marks, or cracks, you cannot afford to skip pre-paint preparation. In this guide, we take you step by step through preparing your walls before a lick of paint even touches them.

Follow these steps to remove wallpaper, fill holes, remove marks and fix a range of other imperfections which could affect the final look of your freshly painted walls.

 

Painting Wallpapered Walls

If your walls aren’t wallpapered, skip to the next section. If they are, however, this section is important. Whilst you can paint over wallpaper, it’s unlikely to give you the best finish. For a better look, it’s best to remove the wallpaper.

How you remove the paper will depend on how it was put up. If the wallpaper was hung by pasting the wall, it could simply be peeled off. This shouldn’t require any tools. If the paper was hung by pasting the back of the paper, you’d need to do a bit more work to get it off – these steps are detailed below.

Tools for removing wallpaper

The first thing to do is gather up your tools. You’ll need:

• Stripping knife or orbital scorer
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Steam stripper
• Wallpaper stripping solution
• Sandpaper
• Sugar soap

 

Removing the Wallpaper

1. The first stage is to score your wallpaper. Use your orbital scorer or stripping knife to score diagonal crosses. Be careful not to push onto the plasterboard.
2. The next step is to use a sponge to soap the wallpaper. Wet a few metres at a time and leave five minutes for the paper to soften. Take care around switches and sockets.
3. Following this, use the stripping knife to remove the paper by sliding it into the cuts you created in step one.

If the paper is not coming off easily, you can break down the wallpaper paste using a stripping solution. Soak the paper with the solution and leave it for the time specified in the instruction. This should make it easier to remove the paper with your knife.

Alternatively, you could use a steam stripper. Use the steamer on the wallpaper starting at the bottom until it appears damp. Don’t leave the steamer in one place for too long to avoid blistering the plaster. Once the paper is steamed, you should remove it with your knife.

Finally, remove any remaining pieces of wallpaper with sandpaper.

Repainting Walls

If you are painting already painted walls (or have removed the wallpaper from the walls),you’ll need to prepare it before you can apply the new paint. The main stages in this process are filling holes, sanding the wall, and cleaning the wall.

For the next steps, you will need:

• Sponge
• Sugar soap
• Flexible filler
• Flexible filling knife
• Fine sandpaper

Fill Holes

Filling holes is simple and only requires a few steps.

1. Firstly, using sugar soap, clean the holes you’re going to fill. This will clear out dust, preventing the filler from sticking to the wall.
2. Next, using a flexible filling knife, apply the filler. Fill the holes until the filler is smooth with the wall.
3. Finally, once the filler has dried, use sandpaper to smooth down the filler.

 

Sand The Wall

For the next stage, you want to continue sanding. Lightly sand the whole wall making sure to sand down any peeling paint.

 

Clean The Wall

Once the wall is sanded, you can use the sugar soap again.

1. Use the sugar soap to clean the whole wall. This will remove marks such as fingerprints and break down grease.
2. Using warm water, give the wall a clean down, washing away any soap.

 

Plastering: DIY or Hire a Pro?

Removing wallpaper and filling holes is a fairly basic DIY. However, you may find your paint project being put on hold for another task; replastering.

Replastering won’t be required every time you paint a wall, but it’s important not to forgo it when it is needed. Always stay on the lookout for signs of damage. Plaster can bulge or crack. Loose plaster can also affect your attempts at painting a wall. And then there’s damp, which can create staining and may require striping the plaster to repair.

Compared to removing wallpaper, cleaning stains, and filling holes in your wall, plastering can be a bit trickier to get right. It’s possible to take a DIY approach to plastering, depending on the damage and your experience.

Although you may prefer to hire a professional plasterer. Plasterers are trained to get it right (the first time) and have all the right materials. They are also trained for health and safety, which is essential in a job involving ladders or potential exposure to live electrical wires. The temptation to DIY a plaster project can be high. You may think it’s an easy way to save money. The reality is that many of the poorly plastered walls professionals work on result from DIY projects and attempts to save money.

Once the plastering is done, allow the plaster to dry before painting. Remember to use a roller to give the plaster a coat of sealant before applying paint. This will prevent the plaster from soaking up the paint and mean you will need to apply fewer coats.

 

Enjoy Your Paint Project

Preparing your walls for painting is a little bit of work, but it’s worth it. You’ll be far happier with the finished wall when you’re done. Follow the steps in this guide, and your fresh coat of paint will be a mark-free crisp colour with a super-smooth finish.

Spending a lot of time in dirty environments can be detrimental to your health. This post looks at how an unclean home or workplace can lead to negative health consequences.

A build-up of dirt, grime, mould and bacteria can lead to illness which can spread throughout a home or workplace. We will also look at deep cleans – a cleaning process designed to tackle dirt, bacteria, and mould in a way a general clean cannot achieve.

 

Kill Germs (Viruses and Bacteria)

Unclean surfaces are abundant with germs. Bacteria and viruses are one of the biggest dangers of an untidy workplace or living space. Dirty surfaces allow bacteria to thrive and increase the risk of many illnesses. Desks and carpets can be breeding grounds for bacteria. Door handles and other shared surfaces make it easy for bacteria to pass between people. Without regular cleaning, your office could face widespread and ongoing illness.

 

Remove and Prevent Mould

Mould grows where there is an accumulation of water. This can result from a spill that is not cleared away or water vapour. The health impacts of mould are quite drastic. They range from itchiness and rashes to repository problems. People can have allergic reactions to mould too. It is vital to have mould cleaned away and take measures to prevent it from growing.

It is important to clean up spillages immediately and properly to prevent mould growth. All surfaces should be cleaned and wiped dry. Ventilation is also key to preventing mould. Mould is most common in kitchens and toilets so pay particular attention to these areas.

 

Declutter Your Workspace

Whilst you could consider clutter as “untidy” rather than “unclean”, it is still important to address it. Tidying away clutter may be outside the scope of a deep clean, but it is no less important to your health. A cluttered home or workplace creates trip hazards. Furthermore, depending on the type of clutter and where it is, it could have significant implications for fire safety.

You need to consider where combustible materials are kept. You also need to ensure clutter is not preventing easy access to fire exits and fire extinguishers. You can address this more thoroughly with a workplace fire risk assessment.

 

What Is A Deep Clean?

A deep clean is a thorough cleaning designed to address the issues outlined above. Killing harmful bacteria and removing mould can have a huge impact on employees’ health. A deep clean decontaminates a building or work area using professional cleaning equipment. This means everything is cleaned, even the tricky to clean and hard to reach places. Furniture or places that may be looked over in a general sweeping clean are given particular attention.

With a deep clean, your upholstery will be disinfected, carpets decontaminated, and touchpoint (such as door handles) sanitised. This is all done with disinfectant solutions designed for these specific applications.

A deep clean also includes a bio mist fogging. This fills the room with a fine mist which then settles on surfaces. The mist quickly kills bacteria, viruses and spores. The fogging technique, like many deep cleaning processes, utilises specialist equipment that your cleaners should be licensed to use.

The obvious health impacts of an unclean office make a deep clean a priority. And no one is more equipped to achieve the necessary cleaning standards than a professional cleaning team equipped with the right equipment and disinfectants for the job. You cannot afford to take your cleaning regimen lightly, the health risks are too high. Fight dust, dirt and grime, kill bacteria and ensure even those hard to clean areas are disinfected.

All landlords are responsible for providing a safe and fully working environment for their tenants. This means fixing any maintenance issues as soon as they occur. There will be many problems that arise which are unavoidable, and the more properties you own, the more you are sure to be faced with.

Issues can also occur when it comes to tenants. Most property renters respect and take care of the building they are paying to live in. Still, every so often, there can be difficult tenants. They may cause damage to your property accidentally or deliberately. Hence, an awareness of these issues and how to deal with them is crucial so you can ensure your property stays in the best possible condition.

 

Here are some top maintenance tips for landlords:

1. Plumbing

This is the most frequent maintenance issue you will face as a landlord. Depending on the size of your property or the number of properties you own, you could be responsible for a great deal of plumbing. In one building alone, there could be multiple bathrooms. This is why it is worth your while knowing how to address any issues in this area. Depending on a tenant’s plumbing knowledge, they may be flushing harmful waste down the toilets or sinks that block the pipes.

If you find you keep having the same problems, then you can install signs above your toilets and sinks to remind your tenants of what they can and can’t put down the drain. It may be a simple case of heading round with the plunger. However, ongoing harmful items in your waste system can cause much more expensive problems with your entire plumbing system. Having your drains checked for contamination can help with these issues.

 

2. Boilers & Heating Systems

Ensuring you have a fully working and efficient heating system in your properties is beneficial not only for those paying the bills but for landlords too. The lower the energy bills, the happier the tenant, and the more likely they will have more money for rent increases. Your tenants have the right to hot running water on demand, especially when paying for the privilege. You must make sure that any problems with the boiler are amended as soon as possible.

You must also get your boilers serviced by a fully qualified gas engineer so it is registered gas-safe for your tenants. Heating systems and radiators can run into issues now and again. These may involve minor tweaks such as bleeding your radiators, or they could require more attention. If there are problems with your heating and it isn’t the boiler, then you may need to arrange for your system to be flushed, or worse, buy replacement radiators. Kiasu offers a range of plumbing and heating services, including repairs and installations for your London-based property.

 

3. Fire Safety

This is the most important aspect of renting out a property. You must ensure that your tenants have everything they need to help prevent, put out and alert them of fire. When you first acquire your rental property, you should perform a full risk assessment. This helps ensure you are doing everything to keep any future tenants as safe as possible. Arranging for a fully qualified company to perform these assessments and address any fire risks in the property will make this easier.

 

4. Structural Repairs

It is worth carrying out structural surveys and maintenance to ensure your property is in top condition between changing tenants. Some of these can be time-consuming tasks that cause a disturbance, so it is better to do them when the property is vacant. However, this sometimes cannot be avoided. Do not worry; tenants are still required to pay rent, even if construction occurs. If they are needed to move out for repairs or refurbishments to happen, you can discuss their fees directly with them.

 

5.  Deep Cleaning

At the end of any tenancy, those renting your property are legally required to perform a thorough clean. Depending on the terms of your contract, you may deduct money from the deposit to pay for any outstanding necessary cleaning. It is always worth hiring a professional cleaning company to deep clean your property. They are trained to use slightly harsher chemicals to eliminate bacteria causing health issues such as Legionella. It is now more important than ever to ensure your property is safe from germs and viruses to help avoid the spread of Coronavirus.

 

If your property requires any of the above maintenance, you can arrange for our expert team at Kiasu to come and carry out the work so you don’t have to. We have a considerable task force with a broad range of skills in all property maintenance areas, so you can be sure to find the help you need at just the click of a button. Contact us today to arrange maintenance for your London-based property.