Articles by Tiffany Hurd

The writer of this article currently manages his own blog and is managing to do well by mixing online marketing and traditional marketing practices into one.

The importance of audit trails and property inspections

Image Credit

Consequently, the British Landlords Association (BLA) has issued guidance on Coronavirus and how it impacts on landlords’ obligations recommending legal guidance and the UK Government’s own advice.

Realistically, landlords should decide whether a scheduled visit can be delayed, and remain in contact with their tenants to ensure that no emergency has arisen. The advice from the BLA is that only emergency or urgent repairs should be considered, and even then, recommended hygiene guidance should be followed and any direct contact with the occupier avoided.

Gas supplies

Landlords have a legal duty when it comes to gas supplies, flues and appliances and must keep records of safety checks. Significantly the Gas Safe Register suspended inspections from midnight on the 23rd March 2020 until they receive more guidance from the Cabinet Office and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Image Credit

If landlords are unable to gain access to their property, they must keep records of communications with tenants and details of any attempts to gain access. The HSE are seeking government guidance on what gas maintenance services are seen as essential over the next three weeks, and will publish information when it is to hand.

Audit trail

Whilst property inspections are important, in the current climate they may be difficult to carry out. Landlords should be aware that they have the right to refuse to carry out an inspection if there is a valid reason to do so, and they have made every reasonable effort to gain access to the premises. This makes a comprehensive audit trail a vital record to retain, including all communications with tenants and the authorities.

If you have access to the best home inspection software, widely available online at sites offering the best home inspection software you will be able to schedule inspections, keep a diary and create an electronic audit trail for each property. If the current pandemic makes it impossible to carry out an inspection your audit trail will record the reasons why this is the case.

If a tenant is self-isolating there is clearly a safety issue for landlords or their agents and they would be within their rights to decline to enter the property.

 

Could you be a carer?

Have you had enough of your current job? Maybe you have recently taken a work personality test and realize that you are not in the right job for your personality? If the new year feels like a year for a career change and you have a caring personality, you might consider moving into the care sector. People who love their jobs are not just lucky but have chosen a career that suits their personality.

image credit

Do you have a caring personality?

Some of us are born with the innate ability to naturally want to care for others. The selfless individual, understanding, patient and enjoying helping others in their time of need. It could be working as a nurse, nursing assistant, veterinarian or counsellor. If this sounds like a job you will excel in, then most likely you have a caring personality. Almost every profession in care will require DBS check, as the work involves dealing with people who are vulnerable. For more information on Live in Care Bournemouth, visit a site like liveincare.com, a leading provider of Live in Care Bournemouth.

Personality aspects of someone who cares:

You put the needs of others before your own

People always turn to you when they need help

Like listening to other people if they need to talk about things

You will drop everything to help someone in trouble

When others feel good, you feel good

You want a job where you can work with people

You have been described as helping

You can remain calm in a moment of stress

If someone is crying, you do not feel awkward or fearful

Making a difference is important to you

Image credit

Most people who work in the caring professions do it quietly and often go unnoticed. They are not extroverts and may only receive national attention when receiving an award or commendation for their hard work and dedication. Many wonderful people are under the radar but provide caring services day after day, 365 days a year.

One very well-known figure in care is Florence Nightingale. Many have been inspired to enter care and nursing careers to follow in her footsteps. During the 19th century, Florence Nightingale worked in appalling conditions during the Crimean War. She arrived at a dirty and cramped medical ward and advanced lifesaving practices in hygiene, health and hospital care which is revolutionized the way medicine is practiced.

Choosing a new career is not a decision to be taken lightly and it is one of the most important life decisions. How well your personality matches your career choice plays a large role in how much you will enjoy the work.

Do a lot of research to see how it feels when you do this career, as it can often be very different to how it is perceived by others outside the field. If you can talk to someone who is already doing the work, or better yet, spend a day shadowing their working life, you can get a good feel for whether it is the right choice for you.

The Top Things to Do in Dublin

With oodles to explore at your fingertips in Dublin’s city centre, and so much more just a short tram or train ride away, here’s a look at some of the top picks that should be on your itinerary for an unforgettable experience.

Image Credit

Trinity College

With a convenient central location, Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university is worth seeing for yourself. In addition to beautiful architecture and cobblestone squares, Trinity College is also home to the world famous Book of Kells, an ancient ninth-century calfskin manuscript.

Little Museum of Dublin

Overlooking St Stephen’s Green, this Georgian townhouse serves as the Little Museum of Dublin, full of Irish history and intriguing exhibitions.

Phoenix Park

Immerse yourself in nature at Phoenix park, where over a million Irish people congregated for Pope John Paul II’s sermon in 1979. It’s one of the largest city parks in Europe, housing the city zoo and herds of deer.

Image Credit

George’s Street Arcade

Now to the burning question: what gifts can you get someone for St Patricks Day? If you’re looking for St Patricks Day Gifts, you’ll be spoilt for choice around the George’s Street Arcade. This 19th-century Victorian market features various food outlets and shops, while Designist, a store with quirky and novel homeware, stationery and gifts, can be found right across the road.

Iveagh Gardens

If you want some fresh air, Iveagh Gardens is an idyllic spot for a sit-down. It’s near St Stephen’s Green and the National Concert Hall, and the Green Bench Café isn’t far if you fancy sampling their delicious daily changing menu.

The Guinness Storehouse

Get a taste for Ireland’s most famous beer with a visit to the Guinness Storehouse as you learn about its history and grab a pint in the Gravity Bar. There’s also a new official brewery tour available providing a behind the scenes look at the brewery process and the brand’s legacy. This three-hour adventure will take you into the Roast House, underground passenger tunnel, Brewhouse 4 and more, plus beer and food tasting along with special sampling of limited edition tipples.

Temple Bar

Quench your thirst for culture along Temple Bar, an area that’s host to everything from art-house cinema to the Irish Film Institute and Project Arts Centre. Physical thirst can be quenched at the tantalising Vintage Cocktail Club.

Yellow v orange high-vis: which provides the best protection?

High-vis clothing can help make workforces and members of the public safer. You’ve probably noticed in recent years that orange high-visibility clothing has become as ubiquitous as yellow, but which one actually does a better job of making people visible?

Image Credit

Why do we need high-visibility clothing?

To get to the bottom of which is the better colour, we need to consider why we use this clothing in the first place. High-vis clothing helps people to be conspicuous, so they stand out and can be easily seen by those around them. For example, those working by the side of a busy road need to stand out so that drivers can see them amongst the many other moving and bright objects that may be around.

Contrast definition

The greater the contrast with the background, the better the person wearing high-vis apparel will stand out to the human eye. In terms of visibility, colours on the yellow-green spectrum stand out to human eye more than orange-red. Although yellow is a brighter colour, orange sometimes offers more contrast against certain backgrounds, especially in the daytime, where it offers more of a contrast in sunny weather. At night, yellow is generally a better choice.

Recognition

A key argument for purchasing high-vis jackets in a traditional colour is that it is familiar. Those looking for help know to look out for someone in yellow at an event, for example. Once upon a time, yellow was the main colour for high-vis clothing and therefore the most familiar and recognisable.

Image Credit

In recent years, however, orange has become equally popular, and both are now familiar choices. Often, one colour is more commonly associated with a certain job or hobby. For example, refuse collectors often wear orange, whilst cyclists choose yellow. Both are now available in a wide range of designs and styles (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48512187).

Other uses for high visibility colours

It’s not just clothing that features high-vis colours. Safety vehicles make use of these shades so motorists and members of the public can easily spot them. Chapter 8 Chevrons, for example, sell a choice of both yellow and orange chevrons for vehicles at https://www.vehiclechevrons.com/.

Whichever colour you choose, make sure you purchase high-vis clothing that also features reflective strips, which make the wearer even more conspicuous and therefore more safe.