Emergencies in a rental home can be extra stressful because you might not know how to deal with them or who to call for help and advice.
When you start your tenancy in Cheltenham you should go through the options with your agent or landlord so that you know who the right people to contact are. We can also help you to prepare for any emergencies by giving you some advice here.
The most common home emergencies
Hopefully, you won’t face any emergencies during your tenancy, but there’s always the chance. Having a good idea of what to do before anything happens can make the difference between dealing with an emergency and panicking.
Plumbing emergencies
Burst pipes or leaks
Leaks or burst pipes can cause a lot of damage if you don’t deal with them ASAP. You need to turn off the mains supply to prevent more water coming in, so make sure you know where it is from the start. When you’ve turned off the water, contact your landlord or agent so they can send round a plumber; in the meantime, try to mop up as much water as you can to minimise damage.
Blocked drains
Blocked drains are a common issue and you can usually sort this out by using a drain unblocking solution (found in most DIY stores) or a plunger. If it’s a persistent problem then there might be an underlying issue which needs investigation, so call your landlord.
Electrical faults
A power cut
If the power suddenly goes out, see if it’s a neighbourhood outage, in which case sit tight and wait it out. If it is just your property, check for tripped switches at the fusebox and reset them. If you can’t find the cause of the power failure, call your landlord who will send an electrician to you.
Faulty household appliances
If one of the appliances provided by your landlord is faulty, unplug it and tell your agent or landlord as they’re responsible for making sure white goods are safe and functional. If it’s your appliance, check your warranty and get an electrician if necessary.
A gas leak
This is a serious emergency and you need to act immediately. If you can smell gas, take the following steps:
- Leave all electrical switches alone – don’t turn them on or off
- Open all windows and doors to ventilate the property and dilute the gas
- Evacuate the property – regardless of the time or weather
- Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800111999
- Tell your landlord or agent that a gas leak has happened – but only when you are out of the building and safe
A broken boiler
An inconvenience at best, a broken boiler can be really bad news during winter. You should have the boiler’s manual (or download it) so you might be able to troubleshoot. If not, you need to tell your landlord or agent as they’re responsible for maintaining the heating.
While you wait, use portable heaters, hot water bottles and extra layers to keep warm.
A fire
Fires are pretty much the direst home emergency and you need to respond immediately – usually to evacuate.
Make sure that your smoke alarms are functioning properly – test them once a month and replace batteries when the alarm starts beeping. Let your landlord know immediately if your smoke alarm isn’t working and you can’t replace the batteries.
If there’s a fire
Don’t hesitate to get out of the property – you might be worried that it’s someone else’s place, but this doesn’t matter under these circumstances. You should:
- Evacuate immediately without picking up personal belongings – they can be replaced
- When you’re outside and safe, call the fire service on 999
- Stay outside – even if you can’t see much fire, there may be poisonous smoke and fumes
- Don’t go back in unless the fire service say it’s safe to
- Tell your neighbours, especially if you’re in a shared property or apartment block
Structural issues
Roof leaks or falling plaster
If you spot dripping water or falling plaster then let your landlord know immediately as these problems can present a serious hazard to your safety; they also need professional treatment.
Damp and mould
Damp and mould isn’t an immediate emergency in the same way a fire is, but they can have serious consequences for your health so let your landlord know about them. It may be the case that there are structural or ventilation issues causing the mould and so these need to be resolved.
Communicate with your agent or landlord
Being able to communicate with your agent or landlord is vital, especially when there’s an emergency, so make sure you have their contact details and that you know what their emergency procedures are. You should discuss these when your tenancy starts and they should also be in your tenancy agreement, so do review them from time to time.
