Property managing agents in Brighton
Construction Design and Management
The CDM Regulations 2007 place responsibilities on clients who commission building or maintenance works on their properties. The freeholders of blocks of flats or converted buildings containing flats fall within the scope of these regulations and are clients under these regulations.
Amongst other things the regulations require that clients check the competency of both professionals and contractors whom they employ to work on their buildings. Competency under the CDM regulations relates to the firm's training and procedures in respect of Health and Safety. Where the works last longer than six weeks – which is the case on many redecoration or maintenance projects – the client needs to appoint a CDM Coordinator to advise in respect of the Health and Safety aspects of the project.
As a building owner you might be surprised to learn that you are also responsible to check that the Construction Phase Health and Safety Plan produced by your contractor is adequate and to ensure that he has allowed sufficient welfare facilities for the proposed works!
Health and Safety in construction is becoming an increasingly complex area with all participants in the building project being involved. It is no longer just a matter for the building contractor. Building owners are therefore advised to take proper professional advice before instructing works on their properties.
Asbestos Surveys
Under The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, there is a duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises and this includes those parts of residential buildings for which the freeholder is responsible, such as the external areas and the internal commonways. The dutyholder must ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment is carried out as to whether asbestos is or is liable to be present in the premises.
Fire Risk Assessments
Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the freeholder has a responsibility to ensure that the commonways of their property are suitably assessed in terms of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on him by or under this Order.
Reinstatement Cost Assessments
It is important to undertake a regular assessment of the reinstatement value of a property, in order to ensure that the level of insurance cover is appropriate to the cost of re-building the entire property, should an incident occur to deem this necessary. It is generally considered good practice for a re-assessment to be made approximately every 5 years or so.