Regulated by RICS
There is a high volume of demand for housing disrepair claims which the company has responded to and is now heavily involved with.
The areas covered for housing disrepair is Greater London and the southeast of England. Occasionally inspections further afield are undertaken.
Expert Witness Reports are prepared which focus on the landlords’ repairing obligations under Section 9a and 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, this includes the amendment, Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.
The 29 number hazards covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), pursuant to section 9 of the Housing Act (2004) are referenced to in the reports that are produced.
Other legislation often referred to is Section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 and Statutory Public or Private Nuisance s. 79 (1) (a) Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Many housing disrepair claims evolve around dampness. This may arise from rising damp, leaking roofs, leaks from properties above or internally from a lack of adequate ventilation.
To detect the dampness the company uses the most advanced technology available from Protimeter, the moisture meter model number MMS3. Firstly, a scan in undertaken pin less, non-invasive, mode and this is usually followed, where appropriate by taking some pin mode readings. The table below provides guidance on the possible readings obtained during the inspection.
Moisture Meter (Protimeter MMS3) Pin Mode
Reading | Display | Indication | Progress bar |
<7.8 | N/A |
|
|
≥7.8 to <17 | MC%WME value | DRY | Green |
≥17 to <20 | MC%WME value | RISK | Yellow |
≥20 | MC%WME value | WET | Red |
Table referenced from Protimeter MMS3 instruction manual INS8800 Rev A October 2021 page 5.
The instrument can also be used in the pin less non-invasive search mode to take readings in solid materials to a depth of 19mm. The instrument can be held against the surface and will display a relative reading from 60-999. The table below provides guidance on the possible readings obtained during the inspection.
Moisture Meter (Protimeter MMS3) Pin Less Non-Invasive Search Mode
Aquent | Display | Indication | Progress bar |
<60 |
|
|
|
≥60 to <170 | Aquent value | DRY | Green |
≥170 to <200 | Aquent value | RISK | Yellow |
≥200 to <999 | Aquent value | WET | Red |
≥999 | 999 | WET | Red |
Table referenced from Protimeter MMS3 instruction manual INS8800 Rev A October 2021 page 8.
The yellow and red readings indicate that there is an increased moisture level above normal which will require further investigation to determine the cause.
Moisture meter readings are recorded and referenced in the reports produced.
A cause of the dampness, on a balance of probabilities, is provided in the Expert Witness Report.