The FFHH standard under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 is a positive obligation on landlords to ensure properties remain fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. It covers 29 categories of hazard assessed using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Key concerns include structural stability, dampness and mould, cold and heating, overcrowding, drainage, water supply and electrical safety. If a property falls below the standard, the contract-holder can seek court-ordered remediation.

Genuine emergencies — no heating in winter, water leaks, loss of power, security failures — are attended within 4 hours during business hours and as soon as practicable out of hours through our emergency contractor network. We have contractors available 24/7 across all Welsh regions for genuine emergencies.

This depends on the cause. Structural damp caused by a defect in the building (penetrating damp, rising damp, failed damp proof course) is the landlord's responsibility under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the FFHH standard. Condensation damp caused by inadequate heating or ventilation is more complex — if the property lacks adequate heating or ventilation, that is a landlord issue; if the tenant's lifestyle is creating excess moisture in an otherwise adequate property, this is more nuanced. The Welsh Government and Ombudsman guidance is increasingly clear that landlords should not automatically blame tenants for condensation damp without investigation.

BookMyTrades (bookmytrades.co.uk) is our sister platform connecting property managers and landlords with vetted Welsh tradespeople across all trades. Contractors on BookMyTrades are vetted, insured and rated. Property Management Wales uses BookMyTrades for all contractor procurement — giving landlords access to a wider network of quality contractors than any single managing agent could maintain.

We control maintenance costs through pre-agreed expenditure thresholds (typically £250-500 — repairs below this can be authorised without landlord sign-off, repairs above require your approval), competitive contractor procurement, preventive maintenance to avoid expensive emergency repairs, and an annual maintenance budget that anticipates major expenditure cycles.

Yes — we prepare annual planned maintenance programmes for managed properties, scheduling works such as boiler servicing, gutter cleaning, redecorating cycles and roof inspections to maintain the property's condition and avoid expensive reactive repairs. Planned programmes are particularly important for larger properties and HMOs.