Hiring the right contractors such as plumbers, roofers and electricians are essential for any landlord as they provide a vital service that contributes to the proper management and maintenance of your property.
More importantly, however, finding the right contractor means that the work that is carried out is in line with current laws and regulations, ensuring that tenants are kept safe whilst living in your property.
In our latest blog post, we look at some of the key attributes of a good contractor:
Testimonials and reviews
When searching for contractors online, it is essential to always check reviews that previous customers have posted. Whilst Google is a good place to start, there are several other platforms you can use to validate their service offering such as Facebook Business pages, Which?, Trusted Trader, and Glassdoor.
It is also useful to reach out to the contractor directly and ask if they have any available references that you can call directly.
Qualifications
Does the contractor have the mandatory industry accreditations? Some of the most common across industries include:
- NICEIC
- Electrical Safety Register
- SafeContractor
- CHAS
- CITB
- Considerate Constructors
- Constructionline
- Gas Safe Register
- Master Locksmiths Association
- OFTEC
Double-check that their accreditations are legitimate, you can do this by searching for them on the official accreditation website.
Ask questions
It is always best to ask as many questions as possible before agreeing to any work done, to avoid future frustrations. Some top questions would be:
- Do you have a 24-hour emergency contact number?
- Can my tenants deal with you directly?
- Are you open on bank holidays?
Be aware of frauds
Unfortunately, this happens all too often and can lead to some serious outcomes such as tenant injury, fines, or legal action. To avoid this from occurring, take note of some of the signs to be aware of when communicating with contractors:
- No quotes provided – Ask for estimates before agreeing to any work with the contractor
- Urgency – If they are desperate to get started it could be that they are not getting much other business for reasons that would need looking into
- Cash only – If this is the only way of working them, make sure you always get a receipt or proof of payment.