Any way to idiot proof my plumbing?

[Charlie_Powell]

Two sorts of Landlords I dealt with.

One who guts the house and puts it all back in to a good standard for a sound investment and for the comfort of their Tennants.

Or the one that buys a hose and moves people in without doing much for a quick buck.
Then suffers constant problems and costs with failing plumbing and electrical call outs

Gutting a house should be a last resort. It isn't good for the environment. It wastes construction manpower.

 

[Bod ...]

Gutting a house should be a last resort. It isn't good for the environment. It wastes construction manpower.

If a house needs gutting then the house needs gutting.

 

[Charlie_Powell]

If a house needs gutting then the house needs gutting.

Gutting is often not needed. Repairs are a better way to go. They unpopular as its less profitable for trades as a business but it is better for your pocket and the environment, if you can make it happen.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Keep it simple.
Taps- I've used lever taps everywhere- no problems with people overtightening them or finding them too stiff to open.
Iso valves (good ones, not the 80p ones from eBay) wherever possible- if a tap does fail but you can isolate it pending repair the house is still habitable.
Waste- again simple. Plug on a chain.

Hot water in the bathroom- if you are refurbing put a tempering valve on the bath/shower supply to prevent scalding.

DHW- if it's unvented cylinder make sure it's properly serviced annually. If open vent make sure the header tank is clean, covered and heavily insulated along with supply pipes and overflow.

Heating (assuming wet central heating) oversized rads and TRVs everywhere except where the roomstat is. Avoid loads of battery gizmos- as part of a fixed system they'll be your responsibility to replace.



Leave an operating manual for the house.
Where does the gas, electricity, water switch off (the street stoptap as well)

Make sure the CU is marked up for what does what- if extra detail sheets would be useful then add them.

Any appliances leave the manuals for them- if they are online-only print a copy for the operating manual.

 

[Bod ...]

Gutting is often not needed. Repairs are a better way to go. They unpopular as its less profitable for trades as a business but it is better for your pocket and the environment, if you can make it happen.

I agree with your "if" its when there's more buts than ifs.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

Gutting is often not needed. Repairs are a better way to go. They unpopular as its less profitable for trades as a business but it is better for your pocket and the environment, if you can make it happen.

And that's down to how well maintained the place was or how many generations of bodgers have layered lash-up onto lash-up. Certainly with ceilings and sometimes with walls back to brick is more financially predictable than repairing.