Why Regular Chimney Sweeps Are Essential for Your Home

If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, maintaining your chimney is crucial for the safety and efficiency of your home. A regular chimney sweep goes beyond cleanliness—it's a vital part of ensuring your household stays safe, your heating system runs smoothly, and your environmental impact is minimized.

1. Fire Safety Chimneys accumulate creosote, a highly flammable byproduct of burning wood. Over time, this buildup can cause chimney fires, which may spread to the rest of your home. Regular sweeps help remove this risk, keeping your home safe from potential fire hazards.

2. Improve Air Quality A dirty or blocked chimney can trap harmful gases like carbon monoxide inside your home. This odorless, invisible gas is dangerous and can lead to serious health problems. Routine chimney maintenance ensures proper ventilation and cleaner indoor air.

3. Enhance Heating Efficiency A clean chimney allows your heating system to work more efficiently. When soot or debris clogs the flue, your system has to work harder, using more fuel. Regular sweeps optimize airflow, saving you money on fuel and reducing your environmental impact.

4. Prevent Structural Damage Creosote and soot can erode your chimney’s structure, and trapped moisture can damage the mortar or flue, leading to costly repairs. Regular chimney sweeps help detect these issues early, saving you from expensive fixes later on.

5. Reduce Environmental Impact Maintaining a clean chimney reduces the release of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. A well-maintained system burns fuel more efficiently, lowering your household’s carbon footprint.

6. Comply with Regulations In some regions, regular chimney sweeps are required, especially in rental properties. Staying on top of chimney maintenance ensures safety compliance and may be necessary for insurance coverage.

7. Prevent Pest Problems Animals like birds and squirrels often nest in chimneys, blocking ventilation and causing risks. Regular sweeps remove these nests, ensuring proper airflow and reducing the chances of carbon monoxide buildup.

How Often Should You Sweep Your Chimney? Experts recommend inspecting and cleaning your chimney at least once a year. Homes that frequently use their fireplace may require sweeps every six months.

Regular chimney sweeps are key to maintaining a safe, efficient, and eco-friendly home. Whether you're a homeowner or tenant, investing in chimney care protects your household and the environment while also saving on heating costs.

Renting Out Your Holiday Home: A Guide to Maximizing Use and Income

Owning a holiday home offers the best of both worlds—a private retreat and the potential to generate extra income. If you're looking to rent out your property for part of the year while keeping it available for your own holidays, there are some flexible options that can suit your needs.

One popular choice is to opt for a short fixed-term tenancy. This allows you to rent your property for a specific period, such as 90 days or less, with the tenancy ending automatically at the agreed-upon date. This arrangement ensures that no further notice is required to end the tenancy—the property becomes available for your personal use as soon as the term ends.

To set this up, both you and your tenant must agree in writing before the tenancy begins that it will end on a specific expiry date. This offers peace of mind, knowing exactly when the property will be available for your holiday plans.

Additionally, other rental options exist to help you strike the right balance between income and personal use, so you can enjoy your holiday home when it suits you.

Pest Control: How to Prevent Rats and Mice from Invading Your Home

While the kids may adore Stuart Little, he’s not the kind of guest you want running around your house! Rodents, including rats and mice, aren’t picky about where they live, and once they find a way in, they can be tricky to remove. Many people are unsure how to handle a rodent problem or who is responsible for pest control.

The good news is that spotting a rat or mouse doesn’t always mean you have a full-blown infestation. By taking a few simple steps, you can prevent these unwelcome visitors from turning your home into theirs.

1. Keep Food Stored Away
   Rodents are always on the lookout for food, so don’t leave any uncovered food lying around. Store food in sealed containers and clean up crumbs or spills promptly.

2. Manage Your Rubbish Properly
   Make sure rubbish bags are tied up tightly and never left sitting on the ground. Always use bins with secure lids, and dispose of your rubbish at least once a week to avoid attracting pests.

3. Seal Entry Points
   Mice only need a 6mm gap to enter your home, so it’s important to check for and seal any holes or gaps in walls, cupboards, floors, or doors where rodents can sneak in.

4. Eliminate Water Sources
   Rats are drawn to water, so ensure there are no leaky taps, pipes, or drains around your property. Also, keep an eye on areas near creeks, ponds, or other natural water sources.

5. Trim Vegetation
   Rodents love to hide in overgrown grass, bushes, and hedges. Regularly trimming these areas and removing any excess vegetation can make your property less appealing to them.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Homes Compliance

Obtaining compliance with the Healthy Homes Standards for your rental property is not a one-off tick box job. Maintaining compliance requires regular inspections and ongoing maintenance. 

Overflowing gutters or a blocked drain will result in the property becoming non-compliant. Gutters and downpipes need to be cleared regularly. Any drainage issues should be dealt with straight away.  

Similarly, it is quite common for the draft-preventing little window wedges to fall off or get broken. The wedges ensure a tight fitting window with no drafts, so if they break or come off, they need to be replaced or the house will no longer be compliant. Gaps around doors and windows cannot be greater than 3mm. 

You can ask your tenant if they have noticed issues with water pooling, overflowing gutters or windows that no longer shut tight.  

However, carrying out regular inspections is crucial for identifying issues and dealing with maintenance in a timely manner. Maintaining your property’s Healthy Homes Standards status is a legal obligation. 

Regular property inspections and reports to landlords are part of our Home & Co property management services.