The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) is reminding landlords to be vigilant when dealing with contractors. It says there are many contractors who take advantage of inexperienced landlords, either by overcharging them for work, or not completing the work to a good standard.
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Supervise the Work
Problems often arise when a landlord engages a contractor to carry out a job, but doesn’t supervise the work. Contractors go to the property, do the job, and submit an invoice. Unless the landlord is there to check the quality of the work, or query why a two minute job is being charged out at £100, they are going to get ripped off.
The AIIC advises landlords to ask for a quote in writing before agreeing to the work. If the trades-person visits the property and discovers extra work needs doing, make sure they give you an updated quote before they do the work. If you are working with a budget, let the contractor know, particularly if there is a lot of work to be done on the property.
Check Credentials
It is also sensible to check the credentials of a trades-person before you engage them. Nowadays, it is hard for a rogue contractor to get away with shoddy workmanship, as people are very quick to post negative reviews and feedback on social media. If you are happy with any work carried out, leave a good review online, so you can let others know the contractor is reliable.
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