Script:
SIMON Hello, this is Simon Marshall. I spoke to you the other day about renting flat 3A.
OWNER Oh yes, hello Simon. What can I do for you?
SIMON Well, there are a few health and safety things I’d like to run through if that’s OK.
OWNER Yes, fine.
SIMON Right, well the first thing, bearing in mind it’s quite an old house, is whether there’s any damp. I’m thinking here of the exterior walls, and the floor.
OWNER Well, I’ve never known any problems with damp there. It was all right last time I checked, certainly - though that was before the recent wet weather. I’d better have another look and get back to you on that.
SIMON OK. Now the next thing is the gas supply. Do you have a safety certificate? A current one that is.
OWNER We do. All the gas appliances have been checked by a registered engineer.
SIMON Yes, I was going to ask about that. When did they actually do the inspection?
OWNER Let me think ... they sent an engineer to check something early last year, but, no, that wasn’t the inspection ... Oh I remember now, it was in the Spring. In fact I’ve got the certificate here somewhere ... yes, that’s it: March 22nd, so it’s just over five months ago.
SIMON And the electricity. When was the last time all the wiring was inspected? I know it doesn’t have to be checked as often as the gas, but it’s still important, especially in older properties.
OWNER As it happens we had an electrician in when we redecorated flat 3A. If he looked at everything then, he would have charged us for it. I’ll find the bill and check it if you like.
SIMON Fine. And when was that?
OWNER Er ,.. the decorators finished just before Easter, so that would be about eighteen months ago.
SIMON Just one more point on the electrics: are there enough plug sockets in the flat?
OWNER It depends what you mean by ‘enough’ really.
SIMON Well I’ve got quite a lot of electrical things - computer, radio, lamps, kitchen appliances and so on and I’m wondering whether I could plug them all in without having cables trailing all over the place.
OWNER I think there’s one per room: that’s fairly normal in older properties.
SIMON I’ll take that as a ‘no’ then!
OWNER All right.
SIMON Now, another safety point: is there a smoke alarm?
OWNER Yes, there’s one in the kitchen.
SIMON And is it in good working order?
OWNER I’ll have to try it out, and let you know.
SIMON Right. Now you mentioned the previous tenants: do they, or anyone else who’s lived in the flat, still have keys to the door?
OWNER We’re very strict about that. Everyone has to hand back the keys when they leave, or we don’t return the deposit. And those in 3A have always done so.
How does the owner answer?