British Gas- Property Care cover for landlords

Chick

Hi everyone,

I think this has been mentioned elsewhere on another thread but I can't find the exact one..
I am about to let out my flat & have been looking online at the BG property care cover...I wanted to ask what kind of experiences other people have had with using this service- good, bad, indifferent (if that's possible, I think everyone has an opinion on BG!)

Also, are there similar ones run by other utility companies?
Ideally I am looking for something that includes the cost of the Gas safety check/certificate as well as emergency call out etc. as I will be managing the property myself from a distance, rather than going fully managed with letting agent.

Thanks in advance, Chick

plane_boy2000

Hi Chick,

I use them and have no complaints. They speak direct with the tennat each year to organise the safety check, and then provide me with a copy of the cert after completion. I also opted for the plumbing / drain care. So far tennat has called them herself after a problem with hot water which has been fixed so no complaints from me. The nice thing for me is that they will speak to the tennant, so if she has a problem can just ring them direct - no need for me to be involved.

Chick

Hiya,
Thanks for this, just the kind of info/feedback I was looking for...that seems quite good that they will deal with the tenant more directly rather than you being the go-between.

If you don't mind me asking, how much do you pay per year (approx amount is fine) & can I presume you don't have a letting agent managing the property for you?
I don't really want to go fully managed, I'd rather set something like this up with BG & deal with it myself/enable the tenants to contact BG as & when needed.

Cheers, Chick

plane_boy2000

No I dont use a letting agent - why pay then 12% to tell me there is a problem when teh tennat can tell me!

I pay BG monthly and from memory I think its about £25 to include the heating / hot water, plumbing and drains, and the gas hob! the hob is an odd one, but I have to include it to get the gas certificate that covers all appliances.

amboy

I personally would not use this type of service however I do manage more properties and am available most of the time to deal with certain issues. Therefore i save the money and self insure.

However the crucial aspect in your situation is that you are not on hand to deal with potential problem and it will be a nightmare for you to try and get a plumber, so it sounds like a good idea for you.

I would however check the other insurers out as I think you would get cheaper than BG

HTH

plane_boy2000

Good point, and if I had more than one property to look after then I would consider self insurance, but as it is I let the one I have tick along knowing that if the boiler packs in whilst I am on holiday no need to worry, plus teh gas cert gets done without me thinking about it.

Chick

Thanks a lot for your replies...I think BG seems to be the most comprehensive cover on offer.
I have checked the npower/edf websites, but what I'm really looking for is something which incorporates the gas safety check/cert.

Any ideas re other companies which offer a similar package to BG?
Thanks, Chick

seven-day-weekend

I use BG. It covers annual service and repair of the boiler, inspecting the gas hob (these are the only two gas appliances), the issue of a gas safety certificate and 24/7 365-day call out if the Central heating or boiler goes on the blink.

I live in Spain, so this service is invaluable to me. Plus, last time I tried to get a CORGI bloke, none of them would come round to do a gas certificate or minor repair.

The BG package costs £24.74 a month.

I also have other insurances with Severn Trent Water that cover water supply pipe cover (£19.99 pa), plumbing and drainage cover (£64.99 pa), gas supply pipe cover (14.99 pa) and Electrical emergency Breakdown cover (47.88 p.a)

I have these for the same reason, I'm 1500 miles away and know these things can be fixed without any hassle. Also my house is an 1860s terrace and I dread to think of the state of the underground drainage!

I think I can get the above cheaper, going to research it within the next few days.

Hope this helps.

Chick

Hi seven day weekend,
Thanks very much for this info & breaking down your other cover as well.

I think the BG package sounds very comprehensive & is just the sort of thing that I need to cover me...although in the interests of money saving I have been searching for other comparable packages with other companies, although with not much luck so far.

It's the peace of mind that it gives you- I will be in London with my property up in the midlands (not as far away as Spain!) & I need to know that things can get sorted relatively easily.
On another note, my flat was a new-build 5 years ago...the likelihood is that not much will go wrong, but I don't want to tempt fate but not covering myself!

amboy

Chick wrote:

On another note, my flat was a new-build 5 years ago...the likelihood is that not much will go wrong, but I don't want to tempt fate but not covering myself!

5 years is long time if your flat has a combi boiler, these things are cheaply made and now is about the time when new parts for these are needed in my experience.

Chick

Yes, amboy, I have a combi boiler..don't know a great deal about them, but that is a good point.
BG are coming out in a weeks time to do the gas cert & hopefully will be signed up and covered with property care shortly thereafter!

Chick