Air quality tests rental properties

ENVIROVENT PARTNERS WITH AIRTOPIA TO OFFER LANDLORDS INDOOR AIR QUALITY TESTING

Landlords across the UK can now have their properties’ indoor air quality tested, as EnviroVent, one of the UK’s leading ventilation manufacturers, has partnered with social enterprise Airtopia to offer quick and easy Home Health checks.

Sources of indoor air pollution are all around us, but invisible. The unique Airtopia test will, for the first time, give landlords a detailed report and recommendations that relate to their own property.

Many people do not realise that poor indoor air quality may be the reason for a variety of health problems, ranging from respiratory conditions, such as asthma, sore throats, bronchitis, skin rashes and irritation, allergies, red eyes, headaches, running nose and nasal congestion. Long-term exposure to toxins in the home has even been linked to diabetes, dementia, tachycardia and an increased risk of cancers.

The Airtopia Home Health Check, available through EnviroVent, is an in-depth Indoor Air Quality assessment and questionnaire that can determine for sure whether a home has a problem. It only takes 90 minutes for an EnviroVent specialist to carry out the test. The results are then analysed in detail in the Airtopia laboratory.

The analyst will test for:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – the test reveals the overall levels of airborne chemicals, breaking them down into 16 individual contaminants with results and recommendations for each of them.
• Temperature, Moisture & Humidity – it tests the amount of water vapour in the air, which contributes to condensation, alongside levels of thermal comfort around the home.
• Carbon Dioxide – a gas naturally found in the atmosphere but is undesirable at higher levels.
• Formaldehyde – a colourless pungent gas used in building materials and many household products.
• Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds – which actively grow mould.

The landlord then receives a bespoke report on the air quality in their home, alongside advice, support and details of recommended solutions. Making use of the various remedial advice given, the property owner can improve their home’s indoor air quality and potentially their family’s health too.

Rebecca McLean, Marketing and Product Director, at EnviroVent, said: “The Home Health checks are an ideal tool for landlords to demonstrate any indoor air quality issues in their properties. Having an indoor air quality test means that you are made fully aware of any contaminants, toxins and excess moisture and then can deal with them in an appropriate manner. The best way to improve or maintain good indoor air quality is to have a reliable ventilation system in the home.”
For private and social landlords, EnviroVent has its own specialist team who will survey, recommend and then install the product into an existing or new property.

EnviroVent offers a range of extract fans, Positive Input Ventilation (PIV), Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV), and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) solutions for the new build and refurbishment sectors. Its award-winning products are UK manufactured and can be installed by EnviroVent’s own dedicated team of nationwide installation engineers, who also provide after-sales support.

EnviroVent & Airtopia’s Home Health Check, including detailed laboratory tests and a bespoke report, costs £299. To book a Home Health Check call 0345 2727807 or visit envirovent.com/healthcheck.

For more details about Airtopia and indoor air quality, please visit www.airtopia.co.uk
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance rates

Legionnaires Disease – What are a Landlords responsibilities?

Some of a landlords legal requirement are set out by the HSE legionnaires -  what you must do;  but there is also a lot of other contradictary information that clouds the issues. For instance does a landlord have to carry out a Risk Assessment? Does this have to be in writing? – the HSE guidance is equivocal.

A landlord responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act

There are legal duties placed on landlords by the Health and Safety at Work Act. To carry out a risk assessment, the Responsible person ( Landlords ) must be competent which is defined. Since 2013 there has been a lot of publicity from companies suggesting its now a legal requirement to have a legionnaires certificate for rented property.  The cost of these certificates are often three figures.

The HSE have confirmed  that certificates are not mandatory for most residential properties. However, the safety, duties and responsibilities on landlords are defined and have legal sanctions.

For example, there is certain information that a landlord must provide to tenants.

Courses On Landlords Duties Regarding Legionnaires Disease

Arising from legal sanctions introduced in 2013, there are courses available on Landlords duties regarding Legionnaires disease from half or a full day. A full day’s course can cost around £200.

A half-day course is now available with Chris Daniel that succinctly but thoroughly covers the subject is available.  What a landlord can expect to gain from this course:

* To have the Legionnaires disease duties and responsibilities of a landlord thoroughly but succinctly explained.

* A customised and abbreviated summary of around a hundred pages of HSE literature on the subject. [ Summary is 16 pages ]

* The knowledge gained will provide a landlord with the level of Competence required to comply with HSE guidance in most Residential properties.

* An example of a Risk Assessment ( including Schematic diagram and written scheme of control ) and Information for tenants leaflet,

* Practical demo of testing of water temperature.

* Bound Reference book containing the above and example documentation.

BONUS session, – 60 minutes of General Landlord advice on common topics

Course dates for Legionnaires Course  :

Croydon, 7/10/15.  10am-2pm.

Watford, 16/10/15. 10am-2pm

Cost – £67.00  ( Don’t forget to claim this against your Tax )

Booking via – chrispdaniel@virginmedia.com