Landlords should 'know limitations'

Landlords trying to make improvements to their properties need to recognise the limitations of their ability, experts have pointed out.

Rather than bringing in professionals, many people may try to carry out work on homes themselves.

However, Build It has urged landlords and other property investors not to complete dangerous activities themselves.

The property magazine noted that financial issues are often behind attempts to carry out repairs personally.

Duncan Hayes, temporary editor at Build It, said: "Know your limitations because there is a lot of stuff that you can get wrong.

"If you're doing something like replacing a radiator valve - a very simple thing - if you don't know what you are doing and you don't have the right bits of plumbing gear, then you can get in an awful lot of mess and cause damage."

Recent B&Q research found that more than half of respondents blame a lack of knowledge for home improvement failings.

Get a landlord home insurance quote today from Simple Landlords Insurance.