Contractor fees - Letting Agency

S

Sipe

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Hi

We live abroad and have our place rented through an agency. They manage letting and maintenence.

We recently were quoted close to €300 to install 2 €15 carbon monoxide alarms. It's actually cheaper for me to fly home and do it myself....

Any tips on how to avoid excessive contractor fees? Are there contractor's who deal directly with landlands who keep keys and provide a wide range of services at more reasonable charges?

Thx
S.
 
If you don't have a family member or friend that could do the job try http://www.tradesmen.ie

Your tenants should be able to let the contractor in to the house, negating the need to give the tradesman a key.
 
Sipe said:
Hi


We recently were quoted close to €300 to install 2 €15 carbon monoxide alarms. It's actually cheaper for me to fly home and do it myself....


S.
Click to expand...

scandalous how on earth do they justify that charge :eek:
 
I have a gas alarm, like the one for smoke, it's just the same as the one for smoke in size and fitting, is this 15 euro devise a very technical installation ( mine are just attached to the ceiling like the smoke alarm)
 
I think it may be a requirement to have the alarms in a rented property wired to the mains with battery back-up. This is not work to be undertaken by an enthusiastic but unqualified DIY. Check regs, I could be wrong.

If they are battery power only, have the tenants stick them to the ceilings.
 
Carbon monoxide alarms with a 3 pin plug need no fitting.They are available in most electrical and hardware stores
 
"New regulations which came into effect in 2009 set new minimum standards for rental properties and these were being introduced on a phased basis for properties that were let prior to 31st January 2009 but since the 1st February 2013 they now apply to all rental properties...

FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
Multi-unit dwellings (e.g. a house divided into flats) must contain a mains-wired smoke alarm, a fire blanket, emergency lighting in common areas and an emergency evacuation plan.

Rental units that do not form part of a multiple unit (e.g. a house) must have a fire blanket and either a mains-wired smoke alarm or at least two 10 year self-contained battery operated smoke alarms.

Check your property has smoke alarms. Fire extinguishers are not required by law in rental properties but are highly recommended.

Non-Compliance

The penalties for non-compliance with the Regulations is a fine of not exceeding 5,000 euro or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both, and the fine for each day of a continuing offence is 400 euro."

Source : irishlandlord.com.

N.B. A carbon monoxide alarm is NOT a smoke-alarm
 
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