Archive for the ‘Landscape’ category

Ways To Handle Difficult LandlordsWays To Handle Difficult Landlords

July 3rd, 2011

Bad landlords are of two types, those who will constantly interfere in your personal life and others who will completely ignore your problems. Both these will make your stay uncomfortable and you either have to leave or take some legal action. The law does provide for certain protection but handling both these categories of landlords can be pretty overwhelming and exhausting.

The best available option for you, to avoid this situation is to hire a letting agent and take their help and advice. These letting agencies will handle all these issues regarding your landlord and solve all your problems amicably. Their experience also helps and they also have tie-ups with solicitors of the area which will also help you resolve all kinds of legal matters.

Sometimes it’s not the landlord but the other agents handling the property causes nuisance and disturbs the tenant. Good real estate agents know how to manage and will not disturb the tenant as they believe in the importance of customer relationship.

Repairing obligations of the landlord

As per the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST), the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1985 states that the landlords have special obligations towards the tenant and the property’s management and maintenance.

Usually the act covers the heating and sanitation of the property concerned. The act exempts damages caused by the tenant. It’s the duty of the tenant to inform the property manager or the leaser about the damage.

Access to the proprietor

The leaser is the actual owner of the property and should be allowed to enter the property at least once a month either to repair or to inspect. The tenant cannot object as the owner has the right to do so. If the proprietor has hired a real estate agent, then too, the tenant has to allow them in the property. This will not be considered as trespassing and the tenant can only object in the case of harassment and disturbance.

Compensation

The tenant can claim compensation in the case of disturbance or negligence or breaching of the repairing obligation. This award will also include the total costs of the repairs and redecoration and for the inconvenience caused. » Read more: Ways To Handle Difficult LandlordsWays To Handle Difficult Landlords

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Irrigation Audits Are Worth Doing Because of The Resulting Benefits

June 11th, 2011

Irrigation audits are a key step in checking the efficiency of an irrigation system. Efficiency is achieved when most of the water from an irrigation system is actually used by the plants in the irrigated landscape in a consistent manner. Conducting an irrigation audit and the resulting irrigation efficiency results in several benefits:

*lower water use and lower water costs

*improved landscape appearance

*fewer wet spots and dry spots

*less water runoff

*less water lost below the plants roots

*less fertilizer needed

Irrigation audits should be done to evaluate an irrigation system’s performance immediately after installation. Doing so will mean that any shortcomings found from the audit will more likely be addressed instead of waiting months to survey the installation. The installing contractor is also far more likely to be available and willing to address system shortcomings in a timely manner.

An irrigation audit consists of a series of field procedures for collecting and gathering irrigation system information. Once this data is compiled, the performance of the irrigation systems can be determined by measuring such characteristics like distribution uniformity and precipitation rates.

Conducting an irrigation audit is a matter of turning on one irrigation valve, or station, at a time. Before testing a station, the valve should be turned on so that each irrigation head can be flagged and to visually inspect the station. » Read more: Irrigation Audits Are Worth Doing Because of The Resulting Benefits

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