Landlord certificate prep in Exeter
Professional landlord certificate prep services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£260
Typical Duration
2-5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Property prepped for landlord safety certificates. I'll sort smoke alarms, access, minor issues - everything that commonly causes fails - so you pass first time.
Don't Fail On The Easy Stuff
You've paid £200+ for an EICR or gas safety check, the engineer turns up, and you fail because of a missing smoke alarm. Or because boxes are blocking the consumer unit. Or the CO detector is chirping.
Infuriating. Expensive. Totally avoidable.
I work with landlords all over Exeter prepping properties before inspections. Sort the basics, fix common fail points, make sure inspectors can actually do their job. Pass first time, no drama.
💡 Pro tip: Book me the week before your EICR/gas cert is due. I'll flag anything that might cause problems so you can decide whether to fix it or accept the fail and deal with it after.
What Actually Causes Inspection Fails
It's usually simple stuff, not major electrical faults.
| ✅ Passes Easily | ❌ Common Fails |
|---|---|
| Working smoke alarm in every room | Missing alarm in one bedroom |
| CO detector working near boiler | Detector chirping or missing |
| Clear access to consumer unit | Blocked by boxes, can't open panel |
| Stable light fittings, no exposed wires | Loose ceiling rose, exposed cable |
| Sockets secure and working | Wobbly socket, cover missing |
What You Get
🔧 The Pre-Inspection Prep
| Area | What I Check/Fix |
|---|---|
| Smoke alarms | Test every detector, replace batteries, fit missing ones |
| CO detectors | Test, replace if needed (required near boiler) |
| Consumer unit | Clear access, check it's labelled, tidy cables |
| Visible electrics | Tighten loose sockets/switches, flag dodgy ones |
| Gas appliances | Clear access to boiler, check ventilation isn't blocked |
📦 You're Left With
- Property ready for inspection
- Common fail points sorted
- Any specialist issues flagged for you
- Higher chance of passing first time
Pricing Guide
| Property Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat | 2 hrs | £110 |
| 2-3 bed house | 3 hrs | £160 |
| Large house or HMO | 4-5 hrs | £210-£260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Smoke alarms/detectors not included (usually £15-25 each if needed).
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ EICR due - get ready for electrical inspection
✅ Gas cert renewal - boiler access and CO detector sorted
✅ New rental setup - get compliant from the start
✅ HMO licensing - more detectors and stricter rules
Why Choose Us for Landlord certificate prep in Exeter?
Property ready for EICR and gas checks
Common fail points sorted in advance
Smoke alarms and CO detectors tested
Pass inspections first time
What to Expect
Step 1: Walk-Through Check
I'll go through the property checking all the stuff inspectors care about - smoke alarms, detectors, access to electrics/gas, visible hazards.
Step 2: Fix What I Can
Fit missing alarms, replace batteries, tighten loose fittings, clear access, sort minor issues. Flag anything that needs a qualified electrician or gas engineer.
Step 3: Ready For Inspection
Property's ready. Your inspector can actually do their job without tripping over boxes or finding missing detectors. Much higher chance of passing.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to prep your rental for inspection yourself? Here's what to focus on:
🔧 Smoke alarm basics
- One detector on every floor minimum (HMOs need one per room)
- Test button should make a loud beep
- Replace batteries if it chirps or doesn't beep loudly
- Detectors over 10 years old should be replaced
- Keep a spare new detector in case one fails on test
📐 CO detector requirements
- Required in any room with gas appliance or solid fuel
- Usually fitted near the boiler/fire
- Test button should beep - replace battery if not
- Must be within 1-3 meters of appliance (check local regs)
- Replace every 7 years (they expire)
⚠️ Common prep mistakes
- Forgetting about the CO detector entirely
- Leaving access panels painted shut
- Consumer unit buried behind storage
- Assuming smoke alarms work without testing them
- Not checking every room (inspectors will)
💡 Pro trick: Create a "certificate prep" checklist and run through it a week before any inspection. Test every alarm, check every socket is tight, clear all access. Catches problems while you've got time to fix them, not when the inspector's standing there.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
📋 Keep records - note when you fit/replace detectors and when batteries were changed. Inspectors like seeing you're on top of it, and it helps you track when things need replacing.
Multiple properties? I can prep several rentals in one go - especially helpful if you've got a batch of EICRs due around the same time.
Failed already? I can fix the non-specialist issues from a failed report quickly - usually same or next day. Gets you ready for the re-inspection fast.
Exeter's older properties often have awkward consumer units in weird locations, or plaster that's crumbling around sockets. I'll work with what you've got and advise if something really needs an electrician to sort properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's involved in prepping for landlord certificates?
I make sure the basics are sorted before your electrician or gas engineer arrives - clear access to consumer unit and boiler, working smoke/CO alarms, obvious hazards dealt with, loose sockets tightened. Can't fix electrical or gas issues themselves (that's for the qualified people), but I'll sort everything else so you don't fail on silly stuff.
Can you fix things that fail an EICR or gas cert?
Depends what's failed. Non-electrical stuff like mounting a detector, fixing access panels, securing loose things - yes. Actual electrical faults or gas issues - no, those need qualified electricians/gas engineers. But I can coordinate with them and do the prep work to save you money on their hourly rate.
How much time can this save me?
If you're prepping yourself, probably a full day of faffing around - finding smoke alarms, clearing access, testing everything, fixing minor issues. I'll do it in 2-5 hours depending on the property size. Plus I know what inspectors actually care about, so you don't waste time on stuff that doesn't matter.
What's the most common reason rentals fail inspections?
Honestly? Stupid stuff. Missing smoke alarm in one room. CO detector not working. Access to consumer unit blocked by boxes. Loose socket that makes them test everything more carefully. I've seen landlords fail on a £3 smoke alarm when the rest of the property was perfect. Annoying and expensive when you have to get the inspector back.
Do you provide the actual certificates?
No - certificates must come from qualified electricians (EICR) and Gas Safe engineers (gas safety). I prep the property so it's ready for them, and I can fix non-specialist issues they flag. Saves you paying their £60+/hr rate for basic jobs.
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