I am a tenant

Do the creaking hinges of your kitchen door bother you? Then it is your own responsibility to purchase the right products and to oil the hinge. That is obvious, but how do you know who is responsible for bigger issues? The law determines this and naturally we abide by the law. In your home and garden you are responsible for the following costs and maintenance:

• Painting inner walls, ceilings and possibly wallpapering;
• Filling dents and holes;
• Fixing loose parts (for example your door handle, wall socket or banister);
• Replacement of door handles, locks, hardware for doors and windows. Floor grates, ceiling grates, keys to locks, bathroom and toilet fittings, electrical switches, wall sockets, doorbells, cable, telephone and computer connections;
• Lubricating, oiling or descaling movable parts;
• Preventing taps from freezing;
• Repairing lamp (holders) inside the property;
• Minor damage to windows and mirrors;
• Refilling the central heating boiler and venting the radiators;
• Application and maintenance of draught-excluding measures;
• Replacement of parts for the letterbox, outdoor lights, carport, flagpole holder;
• In case of first occupancy: landscaping garden. Levelling garden and spreading soil, mowing grass, weeding, pruning hedges and hedgerows, replacing dead plants, replacing broken planks or segments of wooden partition, setting and keeping wooden fence straight and painting fence;
• Cleaning, sweeping and unclogging chimneys, drains and vents;
• Cleaning and unclogging indoor drainage up to the connection point from the living area of the leased property to the municipal sewer or main sewer inasmuch as the sewer can be reached by the tenant;
• Washing and keeping clean the inside and outside of windows, windowsills, doorposts and painted elements;
• Pest control at a low cost;
• Keeping drains and rain gutters clean regularly;
• Removing litter;
• Removing graffiti at a low cost;
• Emptying sumps, cesspools and septic tanks.

Apart from that, the landlord is responsible for the following costs and maintenance:

• Outdoor painting;
• Big repairs or replacement of hinges, locks, taps et cetera;
• Replacement of lamps in common areas and on the outside of the property;
• Repairs, inspection and replacement of central heating boiler and radiator(s);
• Replacement in case of wear and tear of (parts of) the letterbox, outdoor lights, carport, flagpole holder;
• In case of first occupancy: constructing driveways and access paths and placement of a simple fence. Big repairs, replacement of fences.
• Big repairs or replacement of chimneys, drains and vents;
• Repairs disposal chute or space for waste container;
• Getting rid of cockroaches, pharaoh ants, longhorn beetles and woodworms in case of force majeure;
• Replacement or repair of drains and rain gutters;
• Replacement or repair of sumps, cesspools and septic tanks

There aren’t many things that makes you happier then a hot shower and heating that works. If you notice the temperature indoors is going down, it is quite possible that you need to refill the central heating boiler. The quickest way to check this is to look inside the fuse box whether the pressure gauge is showing between 1.5 – 2 bar. Is it lower? Then start rolling up your sleeves and gather the following equipment:

• Bucket;
• Towel;
• Hose;
• Possibly a pipe wrench

Then take the following steps:

• Turn the room temperature down (turn the knob all the way to the left);
• Wait until the central heating boiler turns off;
• Attach the hose to the water tap. Fill this with water and then close the water tap again;
• Now attach the other end of the hose to the filling valve (you will find the filling valve near the boiler);
• Keep filling until the pressure gauge indicates between 1.5 – 2 bar;
• Close the filling valve;
• Close the water tap;
• Collect the remaining water in the filling hose;
• Vent every radiator.

Does this problem occur more than four times a year? Let us know! Odds are that your central heating boiler is leaking or damaged. One of our experts will come by to assess the situation. If necessary, we will replace the central heating boiler.

Watch a video tutorial here.

Do you regularly hear a ticking noise coming from your radiators? Odds are that you have air bubbles in your pipes. Your house takes a longer time to heat up and that is not only very annoying, but also a waste of energy.

Before you vent the heating, we advise you first to check the water pressure of your central heating boiler. Is that ok? Then go ahead and vent your radiator(s). Never done this before? We’re happy to explain you how to do this. First of all, gather:

• Bleed key
• Cloth

Then take the following steps:

• Turn the room temperature down (turn the knob all the way to the left);
• Close all radiator valves;
• Place the bleed key on your radiator and turn slowly. In most radiators, the place for the key is located on the side;
• Collect the moisture that leaks out with the cloth;
• Has air stopped coming out? Turn back the bleed key;
• If you want to make use of the radiator right away, open it again;
• Do you have several radiators? Check them all and work from step 3 to 6.
• You can turn up the room temperature again. You’re done!

Watch a video tutorial here

Taking care of yourself and your house is a lot of work. Also having to take care of a house mouse, ant or cockroach, isn’t your idea of having fun. Preventing a visit from an unwanted animal is always better than fixing it afterwards. Prevent pests by observing the following tips:

• Do not pile up food scraps. Lift your refrigerator or appliance on the kitchen worktop now and then. It is quite possible that you will discover a nasty and sticky surprise there;
• Do the dishes before going to bed, so no food scraps stay behind on the kitchen worktop at night;
• Wipe cracks and corners clean. Scraps often pile up in the little nooks;
• Store your food in sealed containers;
• Close off openings and holes. A mouse only needs a tiny hole to get into your house;
• Use sealed wastebaskets in your home and regularly replace your garbage bags. Take out garbage bags directly after replacement. This keeps out unwanted guests and dirty smells;
• Vacuum your home. There is plenty of muck on the floor that you can’t see, but as soon as you vacuum over it, you will hear clatter in the hose nonetheless. Do this thoroughly and at least once a week;
• Do not pile up newspapers. This is an ideal place for cockroaches to breed;
• Place insect screens in front of windows and doors. In that way mosquitos and wasps will stay away, especially in the warm months. Bonus: your nights won’t be disturbed by the buzzing of little creatures.

Are you following all these steps, but do unwanted visitors keep coming in anyway? Consider pesticides. Get up to speed on the subject and do not work too chemically, because your own health can suffer too.