When it comes to the end of a tenancy it is common practice to have an end of tenancy inspection, often called a checkout. Ideally, the landlord or their agent will have carried out regular property checks throughout the tenancy, so there should be no surprises during this final inspection. To make sure you are fully prepared, in this article we walk you through what to expect during an end of tenancy inspection.

Check the Inventory

The main basis of the end of tenancy inspection is the report that was generated at the start of the tenancy (usually called an inventory). This would have been a detailed report, with photos of the condition of the property when the tenancy first started and a list of all the fixtures, fittings and contents. Make sure you have your copy of that report to hand.

Home inspection form with clipboard and pen.

Who will do the inspection?

When the check out inspection happens, it can be carried out by the landlord, their agent or even a 3^rd party check out service provider. The tenant doesn’t need to be present, but it is highly recommended that they are.

What will the inspection cover?

Using the initial report as a basis, every room will be carefully inspected for cleanliness and the condition will be noted. Photos should be taken to record everything and a discussion should be had where it appears there is a difference in condition or cleanliness between the check-in report and the check out the condition.

Some important tasks that should happen:

• Meter readings should be taken for gas, electricity and water. The tenant will need to settle these bills.

• All lights will be checked to make sure that they work.

• Smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors will be tested to ensure that they are in working order.

• The inside of the oven will be checked for cleanliness and the oven checked to make sure it works.

• All white goods will be checked including the internals. Remember that if a washing machine is supplied, the detergent drawer will most likely also be checked.

• Walls, doors and windows will be checked for condition, scuffs and operation.

• Taps will be run in all sinks and baths to check that the waste systems are not blocked.

• If any crockery, pots and pans or cutlery have been supplied this will be checked to ensure it is all present.

• For furnished properties, all furniture should be checked to ensure there is no damage.

• The external aspects of the property will be inspected along with any outbuildings.

It is important that any concerns are discussed during the inspection and that fair wear and tear are considered when looking at and logging the condition of the property.

At the end of the check out inspection, a report will be generated with all the appropriate information, comments and photos. This will then form discussions between the tenant and the landlord (or their agent) in order to agree on the return of the deposit.

Have you ever sat outside on a balmy summer evening and looked up at the night sky and thought to yourself that you’d love to be able to enjoy that view all year round? If you have then read on as, in this article, we will look at ways of getting a beautiful sky view from inside your home.

Roof Options

When it comes to adding windows to your roof there are a couple of options and it is perhaps best to discuss the differences before going into too much detail. Essentially, you can have a roof window, a roof light or a skylight and there are differences between them.

Roof Window

A roof window is typically a single window which is fitted in the same orientation and plane as the surrounding roof, this means that it does not sit proudly on the surface of the roof. These can be fixed or openable. Typically, these will be installed on a pitched roof. You can purchase standard sizes, which will be the most economical, or you can ask for a custom size to be made.

Rooflight

A rooflight is a variation on the same theme. Typically, they are installed with an upstand making them sit proud of the roof tiles. These can be installed on flat roofs and pitched roofs.

Skylights

Although often used interchangeably with a roof window or even rooflight, a skylight is normally a larger installation consisting of multiple roof lights or roof windows next to each other to create a large glazed opening.

Planning and Building Regulations

Normally planning permission isn’t required for these types of installations as long as certain conditions are adhered to. If you are unsure in any way, then consult an expert to make sure you don’t fall foul of the rules.

You will, however, need to ensure building regulations are considered as this type of installation is considered a controlled fitting as it changes the thermal characteristics of your home. Ensure that you discuss these requirements in detail with the installer to make sure you meet all building regulation requirements. You should receive a compliance certificate from the installer at the end of the project.

Opening and Closing

Most home windows can be opened and closed and the same goes for glazing installed on a roof.  Although they can be fixed and closed so that they can’t be opened, even the most inaccessible windows can be opened. If you can reach the glazing, then simply opt for a normal handle type opening system but if you can’t then you have two options: Electrical or manual opening.

 Manual Opening

There are a few options for manual opening of inaccessible windows from a manual winding gear, to a folding opener to a screwjack opener.  Talking to the installer will help you decide on which version is best for your needs.

Electric Opening

If you don’t like the idea of having to open the window using a manual mechanism, then you can opt for electrical openers. Again, there are several different types of openers for you to consider. They are more expensive to buy and install but you will be able to open your windows at the touch of a button.

As far as adding glazing to your roof is concerned you can opt for single windows of various sizes to a full span across the space. Going for a full skylight will be a lot more expensive but the view will be spectacular.

Conservatories

Another great option to give you a spectacular view of the night sky is a conservatory. Not only will a conservatory add more space to your home, but the glass roof will also give you unobstructed views of the sky when you are there. You will need to check the planning permission rules for your town to see if you will need planning permission for a conservatory but normally they are classed as a permitted development right, as long as they meet certain conditions. Irrespective of whether you need planning permission, you will need to check compliance with building regulations.

As you can see, there are a few ways of achieving a night sky view from inside your home and each has its pros and cons so spend some time talking to installers and suppliers to help you decide which option is best for you. What you can be sure of, however, is a stunning view of the starry night on those beautiful clear winter nights, without suffering the cold.

We here at switch properties would like to wish you all a jubilant jubilee day and a very big congratulations to her majesty the queen for the extraordinary achievement of being one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history.

A few fun ideas

We’d like to give you a few fun little ideas on how to spend your jubilee day:

1. Be a tourist in your city. You don’t have to fly to Rome for the day to have an adventure. Explore your city as a tourist would to discover new places, sights and activities. Start by heading to a local hotel, raiding the brochure kiosk and checking out a couple of the featured activities that pique your interest. Explore a neighbourhood you’ve never been to, or climb the highest building or hill in your city to enjoy the skyline. Bring your camera and have pedestrians snap pictures of you in front of tourist spots.

2. Try out a new recipe. Scroll through cooking blogs, leaf through food magazines or call up your great aunt to hunt down a new recipe to try. Grab ingredients from your pantry, fire up your stove and try cooking a childhood favourite or foreign cuisine. Delight your family and coworkers by surprising them with a fancy cake or gourmet pie.

3. clean out your closet. Make your life more organized and give back at the same time by spending some time cleaning out your closet. Make a pile of things you can toss in the garbage, things you can donate, and things you’d like to keep. Put the donation items in bags and bring them to a nearby shelter or set up a date where they can get picked up by a charity. You’ll feel so happy your closet has more space, and you’ll be giving clothes to people who need them.

Bank Holidays

We will be closed on the 2nd and 3rd of June for the spring bank holiday and the platinum jubilee bank holiday respectively.
But do not worry, as we are always available to assist you whatever the situation, make sure you contact us on the switch properties Emergency phone number so that we can respond rapidly.

Keep safe and enjoy the (hopefully) warm weather this season, keep in touch with us over social media as we may soon alongside dishing out our first few NFT be hosting a switch properties barbeque with vegetarian options available.

Adding a touch of greenery to your home is important. Not only can an indoor garden look really great, but it also works to improve the air quality in your home by releasing healthy oxygen into the environment which helps to remove toxins.

From terrariums to ladder pots in your conservatory, we look at 4 simple ways to create an indoor garden. All these gardens can be put together in a short space of time regardless of how green your thumbs are!

1. Pots on the Windowsill

The simplest way to build an indoor garden is to simply find a suitable, wide windowsill and fill it with a variety of plant pots. Ideally, you want an area that has enough light but not too much direct sunlight.

You can opt to have a mix of different plants, for example, a herb garden or high oxygen plants such as aloe vera. Some plants are more difficult to maintain than others and a lot will depend on how confident you are. If you want something easy to maintain but which looks impressive, a cheese plant is a perfect option. Country Living has a great guide to some of the best plants to choose

2. Choose a Terrarium

A terrarium is a sealable glass container and acts as a mini-greenhouse for your plants. It’s not only an attractive way to keep your indoor garden in one place but is ideal for plants that require a good deal of moisture rather than the dry atmosphere you normally find in a home.

Terrariums are great for plants like ferns, dwarf palms and succulents such as cacti. Here is a great list of some of the best plants to pot in your terrarium.

3. Are Hydroponics Complicated?

Hydroponics is a way of growing your indoor garden without using soil or using low-quality soil. Instead, you grow the plant in a mix of water and nutrient. It’s a brilliant option, however, if you have limited space or want to get involved with the different methods of growing.

It can be a complicated process. Simple hydroponic systems are fairly easy to maintain. The Independent has a list of some of the best Hydroponic systems for you to try.

4. Building an Indoor Garden Wall

Garden walls involve building your garden space vertically rather than horizontally. This has been used indoors successfully for business and commercial properties around the world but there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t create this kind of space in your own home, including areas like conservatories. Take a look at this fabulous guide from the folks at Ideal Home

Options such as vertical ladder pots which can be fitted to the wall or placed on the floor are an easy way to set up a small garden wall. There are plenty of stylish examples to be found online including this wooden ladder from Sarah Raven.

If you are looking for something more expansive, and have the wall space available, building individual shelf units can be a great option. What you do need to ensure is that your garden wall gets enough light and is tended to regularly.

You can even choose to mix and match the above ideas in your home. For example, you can use a ladder pot to create a herb garden for your kitchen. How about putting high oxygenating plants like the peace lily and aloe vera in the bedroom? If you prefer lower maintenance, cacti and other succulents are really easy to manage and don’t require a lot of watering.

The great news is there is no end to the options and the chance to be creative with your indoor garden!

Not just a Lettings agent

We pride ourselves on being amongst the leaders of innovation in the property sector, we set out to create and implement ideas that aren’t typically thought of, at least not within the realm of the property market.
We like to set the bar for other agencies in digital capability and prowess.

What’s the latest Idea?

Since we’re the kind of company that likes to keep ahead of the curve, we’ve decided to expand our digital influence into the metaverse by minting unique NFTs of various aspects of the business, including our theme, logo, staff, properties and even other unique images such as capturing a moment of joy between our tenants on a night out. We aim to capture your moments of happiness and immortalise them as a unique NFT so that you can have a token of your time here with us and in the beautiful city of Leeds.

Sounds Great how do I get involved?

Getting involved is extremely simple, We aim to do a few Giveaways over on our social media pages very soon, primarily on Instagram and tik tok, so keep an eye out for those! We also plan on minting completely unique NFTs for our landlords and tenants at your request. Simply contact us over the phone at 0113 345 3031 and ask to speak to our digital coordinator or send an e-mail to info@switchproperties.co.uk requesting further information.

Summer is fast approaching and many of us will be spending more time outdoors making the most of the (hopefully) good weather. BBQs, paddling pools and entertaining friends and family are no doubt part of many people’s weekend plans. Having a dedicated social area is a high priority on home improvement plans up and down the country. In this article, we will take a look at how to design and plan a decking area to make the most of your outdoor entertaining.

Planning Practicalities

Many practical things need to be considered before you start to design your decking area:

1. Are there any services underneath the area to be decked? You don’t want to obstruct drain covers for example so you might need to build access into your design.

2. What are you likely to put on the decking? The foundations and supports will need to be very different if it is only people and tables that will be on the decking versus a hot tub for example.

3. Is the area to be decked level? Sloping areas can be decked but you will have to consider more supports if a part of the decking is to be raised off the ground.

4. Do you want the decking to be totally in sunlight or in the shade or a bit of both? You might need to build in some artificial shade if you do want a shaded area.

5. How big will the decked area be? You will need to factor in more supports and noggins if the area is bigger to ensure it is stable.

6. Does planning permission apply? You will need to check with the local planning team to be 100% but as a guide planning permission might apply if:

   • The deck is within 20m of a highway,

   • The deck platform is more than 300mm from the ground,

   • Any part of the deck exceeds 3m in height,

   • The deck could affect the privacy of neighbours,

   • The deck is to be attached to a listed building.

   • The decking along with all other extensions and outbuildings takes up more than 50% of the available garden area,

Once you have identified and dealt with the practicalities you can go ahead and start designing your fabulous new deck. Here are some best practice points to consider:

1. Always use structural treated timber for the decking. You do not want it unable to support the weight or rot too soon.

2. Ensure the Postcrete used for the support posts is piled slightly high and then sloped away from the supports to stop water accumulation.

3. Use specific screws and fixings for decking. These are specifically designed to be strong enough and weatherproof for your decking project.

4. Ideally, raise the decking slightly off the ground to protect it from the wet, but at the least lay it on a self-draining gravel surface rather than on bare earth or grass.

5. Treat all cut edges with wood edge sealant.

6. When installing noggins, make sure they are staggered to allow you to screw them in.

7. Use the right-sized structural timber:

   • Frame timber should be at least 150mm x 50mm.

   • Joists should be 100mm x 100mm.

8. Ensure you have the right spacing for the frame:

   • Structural support posts should be no more than 1800mm apart and around 1200mm apart for raised decks.

   • If you are putting heavy weights onto the deck supports should be even closer, around 600m apart to ensure the deck is strong enough.

   • Joists should be spaced at 400mm centres for the best support.

   • Noggins between joists, staggered in the centre of the joist.

   • Balustrades to be at least 90cm in height if the decking is up to 60cm from the ground and 120cm if the deck is higher than 60cm from the ground.

Once you have taken all this into account the best thing to do is measure the area you want and draw your design to scale marking down all the support posts, joists and noggins. Using this diagram, you will be able to accurately calculate the amount of wood you need for the subframe and you will also be able to calculate the number and length of decking boards you need.

Building Your Decking Area

For flat surfaces, you will need to either build directly on slabs or dig in some support posts to hold the decking slightly proud of the surface and therefore away from sitting water. You can build directly onto the surface but, if it is a grass area it is best to remove the grass, put down a weed membrane and lay gravel to help drainage.

For raised decks, support posts should be buried to at least 600mm and cemented in with Postcrete to hold them in place. Make sure the posts are straight and level before cementing them in place.

The first thing to do is lay out your frame and make sure it is square. The simplest way to do this is to measure diagonally from corner to corner. The two diagonals should have the same measurement. If they don’t then the frame is not square. Once you have a square frame, screw the frame components together by first drilling a pilot hole and then screwing in the coach screws.

For a flat, ground-level deck, cut blocks of the 100mm x 100mm support timber and place these in the corners. It is easier to cut them a little too long, so you have extra timber to allow you to level the frame. You can cut off the excess when your frame is level. Secure the frame onto the supports using coach screws. The procedure for a raised deck is the same, but you will need to dig a hole and cement the support post in place.

Once you have the frame in place, you can then start adding the joists and further support posts as required. Once all the joists and supports are in place, it is time to add the noggins to create the completed structure.

When putting the decking boards on, make sure that there is a 5mm gap between the boards for expansion. Use a simple spacer to do this. You can cut a piece of decking board for this.

Once you have put all the decking boards on, it is time to add the trim boards to the outside and then you are finished. Here is a great guide for building a basic low-level deck. Decking is easy to build and if you are a relatively good DIYer it shouldn’t tax you to your limits. With a little hard work and some upfront thinking and design, you will soon have a lovely area to enjoy entertaining this summer.

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This promotional offer will come to an end on the 30th May, so please make sure to sign up before then to not miss out.