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FAQs - Health and Safety : A. Do I need a health and safety survey of my property?
UK law requires that a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk is carried out in all communal areas of residential properties. This should cover not only residents, but also visitors, contractors and property management employees. The survey needs to be carried out by someone with the necessary competence and training in legislative implementation, health and safety management, control measures...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : B. Aren't residents and contractors responsible for their own health and safety?
To a certain extent. They must take reasonable care over their own health and safety, as well as of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions. However, this does not preclude the requirement for a systematic investigation of risks in the communal areas of residential properties. ...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : C. How will a survey help?
Our survey will identify the location and nature of risks and associated risk level and recommend remedial action. We can then programme - and schedule - the work needed....
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FAQs - Health and Safety : D. Why has a survey only taken place recently?
In common with most management functions, establishing and then maintaining control is crucial to effective health and safety. Overall risk levels at a property are assessed prior to survey, before a formal risk assessment survey is carried out - grading risks from tolerable to substantial. This helps to establish a timescale of action required. We have a long-established programme of risk assessm...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : E. The property has recently been refurbished, so can I assume that H&S featured in this?
Not necessarily. When substantial or major works are planned, we use a building surveyor who plans the work, ensuring that it complies with current building regulations. However, these are not the same as health and safety regulations. When we are in receipt of a health and safety report, we consult with the building surveyor to determine and then incorporate the appropriate recommendations....
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FAQs - Health and Safety : F. Aren't there more important things to spend money on in the property?
At any property where building, repair or redecoration work is required, priorities have to be aligned with other factors, including funds available. We look at the health and safety report carefully, in particular the risk levels associated with a particular recommendation. For instance, for a risk level deemed 'moderate,' efforts should be made to reduce the risk within a defined time period but...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : G. Why doesn't the management fee cover the cost of Health and Safety surveys and co-ordination?
Transparency is central to our approach. Our fee structure clearly differentiates between residential block management - which covers the services detailed in the property management agreement - and health and safety supervision. We consider this as necessary to ensure that residents at a block are aware of specific health and safety responsibilities....
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FAQs - Health and Safety : H. Why is a Health and Safety survey and report relevant to the block I live in?
The survey identifies significant risks at the block. Only those which could result in serious harm to people are identified. One of the most important things about health and safety matters at a residential block is that it is in the best interests of residents and visitors for the communal areas to be made as safe as is reasonably practicable. ...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : I. Are contractors vetted or monitored for their Health and Safety standards?
We make it an absolute priority to ensure that all contractors who work on a property comply with all the necessary health and safety standards. All contractors and sub-contractors are stringently vetted to ensure they have the full and correct insurances in place and are fully qualified and equipped to perform their work....
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FAQs - Health and Safety : J. The issues surrounding asbestos are confusing. What is the law on it?
The dangers of asbestos have been known for some time and UK legislation now includes requirements to manage the risk from asbestos in communal areas of residential properties. This means that those responsible for those areas must make a presumption that materials in them contain asbestos unless there is strong evidence to the contrary. If you're responsible for such areas, you therefore need to ...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : K. Who is going to object if we don't have an asbestos survey now?
The new regulations require that those responsible for communal areas of residential properties make information - on both the location and condition of asbestos - available to anyone liable to work on it or otherwise come into contact with it. Failure to do so could be an offence, one for which individuals and organisations are liable for prosecution. The Health and Safety Executive has been taki...
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FAQs - Health and Safety : L. Will an asbestos survey mean a lot of expenditure?
This will depend on whether asbestos is found in the communal areas and, if so, what condition it is in and the likelihood of it being disturbed. An asbestos report assesses the risk and then, in line with the new regulations, a plan can be prepared to show how the risk can be managed. The size and timings of the costs can also be calculated....
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FAQs - Maintenance and Repairs : A. If I need a repair in my flat, what do I do?
Please check what the fault is or what's causing it - it will help us diagnose it and speed up repair. Then contact us on 0870 600 1179. Remember, it's up to you to change bulbs and check fuses....
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FAQs - Maintenance and Repairs : B. If I request a repair in my flat, do I have to be present?
You must provide access to contractors who are making repairs to your flat. We will only allow contractors to collect duplicate keys from our offices in exceptional circumstances....
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FAQs - Maintenance and Repairs : C. If a repair is needed outside office hours, what should I do?
Call an emergency repairer - you'll find details via Talking Pages (freephone), Yellow Pages or local newspapers. Ensure you get a detailed bill for the work and forward it to us. If it's a genuine emergency and falls within the landlord's responsibility, we'll reimburse you. However, we won't cover emergency repair bills if the work could have been carried out within normal working hours....
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