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Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain requirements:

The following are the requirements for resale properties and everything required below can be carried out by the company if required. For all new purpose built buy to let villas everything is taken care of and included in the price of the villa. Even the furnishings!! You buy a ready made purpose built Villa to rent with a guaranteed income! Unbeatable offer - Contact us now!

Air conditioning
It is our intention to have all bedrooms air-conditioned. Where this is not already installed, The company will offer a subsidised fitting service. We will also increase the contract rate where not already included to cover additional electricity costs. Where Air conditioning is not available The company will supply Heaters and Fans.

Pool Heating
Research has shown that clients book a heated pool quicker than a non heated one in the low/shoulder months. We are offering all owners a heavily subsidised opportunity to have a pool heater fitted. We will also pay an additional amount to cover additional electricity used.

Internet Access
It is our intention to have as many villas as possible with an internet connection and computer terminal. Where there is an existing telephone line, The company will take over responsibility and arrange ADSL where possible. All costs will be borne by The company.

Extras
In addition to the standard washing machine, dishwasher, microwave and brick barbecue, it is our intention that all villas will have: Digital Satellite TV To include BBC1/2, Playstation 2 and DVD, Video player and a selection of videos. Table Tennis table and/or all weather pool table (subject to space). Villa security Full alarm system, intruder lights, key lockbox and safes.

To new owners
A brief introduction to the company.. Founded by Nick Cooper in 1987, the company started as a ten villa programme to the Algarve. We now feature seven destinations - The Algarve, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Mallorca, Menorca, Corfu and Cyprus. The ethos of the Company is the same today as it was then - to supply good family villa holidays at value-for money prices and only to be sold direct to the customer. The 'Plus' factor and co-operation with all villa owners has always been the key to the success. The company had to be different from other villa operators and felt that by giving clients those “plus” extras that other companies do not supply or, if they do, charge extra for, would be that key. Clients' comfort, welfare and safety are so important to the future success of the company. All our staff, owners and suppliers understand the need to put clients first and it is vital that everything is done to ensure their expectations are not only fulfilled, but wherever possible, exceeded. We hope that this will help you to understand our commitment to our mutual clients' welfare and enable you to work with us to ensure that any complaints are kept to a minimum. Please ask us if you need any further assistance.

Due Diligence
In accordance with regulatory legislation, both the tour operator and the villa owner/agent have an obligatory duty of care when providing accommodation for holiday letting purposes. It is important therefore, that the contents of this health and safety guide are adhered to in its entirety, and that all health and safety check lists are completed at the start of the rental contract and maintained throughout the rental term. An effective health and safety policy is one that is reviewed and monitored regularly to ensure that all aspects are covered and that uncompromising standards of safety are maintained at all times. The importance of our continual and mutual commitment to villa maintenance and client safety can at no time be overstated.

Recommendations
Whilst our recommendations are by no means exhaustive, it is our intention to increase awareness of our mutual responsibilities to provide the required levels of health and safety for our client irrespective of local, national and international requirements which often vary from country to country. We hope you find this guide both informative and helpful in achieving our objective of client's welfare.

Insurance
In addition to the full property and contents insurance that all owners are required by contract to have on their property, we strongly recommend that the owner obtains additional public liability insurance. This cover is often included in standard house insurance or, if not, can be added at very little additional cost.

Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain - Basic Safety Equipment, Principal safety items to be featured in all properties:

Fire extinguisher - one dry powder to European safety standards fixed on the wall in the kitchen in close proximity to the cooking area. This item must be easily visible and accessible in case of a fire

Smoke alarms - one for each floor, placed on the ceiling or above door height. They must be battery operated with pause and test button and regularly tested

Fire Blanket - to be fixed on the wall in the kitchen in close proximity to the cooking area. This item must be easily visible and accessible in case of a fire

Glass Door Stickers - Company approved and sufficient for each glass door/French window, one at adult height and one at child head height.

Cots and High chairs - These items should always be sturdy, purpose built and in good condition. Check to ensure there are no weak joints or sharp protruding objects. Modern safety mattresses should be fitted to cots so that they completely fill the base, with no gaps between the cot frame and mattress. Cot bars should be closely spaced.

Furniture - It is important that all chairs and tables are secure and sturdy and not likely to give way under regular or heavy use. Check to make sure that there are no hidden nails protruding from undersides or sharp objects in the padding. Glass tables are to be avoided and where used must be of toughened safety glass.

Stairways - Often a potentially hazardous area, especially for the young and elderly. Properties with particularly steep or with spiral staircases should always be clearly indicated in villa descriptions. Staircases must never have open sides and always have a securely fixed banister rail of an acceptable safe height. Banister rails have to be netted if the spindles are more than 10cms apart. This also applies to any exterior staircases and balconies.

Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain - Health and Safety Guide For Owners

Wells - Wells (including swimming pool machine rooms) are always a source of interest and intrigue for young people, and unless properly protected, present a potential fatal hazard. In all circumstances, wells must be securely covered and/or fenced off and securely locked.

Tools and work areas - Garden implements and any potential dangerous tools should be locked away out of client's sight and reach. All equipment rooms, outhouses etc should be restricted to guests and children and must be securely locked.

Fences and railings - All unprotected drops and potential hazards, must be securely protected by adequate fencing or railings. All external staircases must have a secure hand rail and/or support. Regulations for new buildings state that all stairs, terraces and balconies with unprotected drops must have adequate fencing or railings built to a height of 1.2metre with gaps no more that 10cms apart. Owners must ensure existing balconies, walls, stair banisters and railings, with unprotected drops, are high enough and any gaps small enough to ensure clients' safety. Existing balconies, walls and railings can be no lower than 90cms with gaps no wider than 11 to 12cms. Any that are not, must be raised and the gaps closed. Works carried out must raise the height to a minimum of 1m and gaps closed to 10cms. Terrace or balcony walls with concrete or other seating set against it, must be at least 90cms higher than the seating area to the top of the wall. All balcony furniture should be kept away from any railings or walls under 2m. Roof terraces with a low wall height must be raised or a secure gate fitted at the bottom of the steps. All balconies, walls, stairs and railings must also be inspected for their construction and "risk assessed" for the potential danger to clients. Remedial work must be completed before the contract begins and the property re-assessed.

Play equipment - Any children's play equipment should be in good condition, sturdy, free from rust and safe to use. No sharp or dangerous edges. All ground surfaces should be of soft surface material.

Swimming Pools - The following points will help to ensure that safe practices are employed and minimise the risk of accidents. All must be in a good state of repair, with no loose, cracked or damaged tiles in, above or below the water line. Ladders and steps must be secure. There must be no rough edges around the pool. The Depth markings must be clearly marked in Metres at both ends of the pool to clearly indicate the shallow and deep ends. All surfaces around pool must be non slip or have a non slip coating applied especially those with marble tiles which become lethal when wet. A 'NO DIVING' sign should be erected within easy visual vicinity of the pool. All pool chemicals and testing equipment should be kept under lock and key. Records must be kept of all chemical additions.The water and ph/chlorine/saline levels should be checked regularly to ensure that both water clarity and water safety are good and remedial action taken to ensure that the pool is returned to use. Records must be kept together with any action taken. A full list of recommendations relating to pool use must be placed in the villa manual and client's attention focused on it by the representative during the welcome meeting.

Water Supplies - Following the guidelines of the household and drinking water directive, it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that there is an uninterrupted supply of clean water to the property at all times. All hot water systems should be checked to ensure that a good supply of hot water is available and that it is provided at a good pressure especially in those villas that use a combination boiler for the hot water supply. Any villa that relies on emersion heaters for hot water supply must carry a warning about the temperature that the water will reach in the villa book and the clients attention will be drawn to it by the representative during the welcome meeting.

Gallery rooms - Rooms or bedrooms with only three closed sides must have secure railings/banisters so that children cannot slip through and that are high enough to satisfy current regulations.

Doors, floors and walls - Floors must not pose a tripping hazard. Coverings must be in a clean and level state of repair and no carpets should have thread-bare patches or areas of torn fabric. Wires to lamps, stereos, TV etc must not cross areas where people walk, since they pose a tripping hazard. Keep all other wires in a tidy position. Walls should never have protruding and potentially dangerous objects sticking out, such as shelf brackets, redundant hooks and nails etc. All unused wiring, whether live or otherwise should be properly hidden and covered up. All glass doors and windows lower than 80cm above floor level should be fitted with toughened glass. Where not, place glass door stickers and make mention in the villa manual.

Cutlery and Utensils - Check to ensure that drinking glasses and all ceramic items are not chipped, cracked, crazed glaze or have exposed sharp edges. Whenever possible items such as sharp knives should be placed in drawers, bleach and other poisonous cleaning materials should be inaccessible to children (check under the sink) and preferably kept under lock and key by the maid Gas installations There is a duty of care placed on the property owner to ensure that gas installation is safe. The aim is to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning which can occur if:

a) Gas burning fixtures are badly installed
b) Appliances are badly installed
c) Appliances have not been serviced regularly and checked to ensure that there is insufficient ventilation in the room and that the flue/chimney is blocked

Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain - Internal/External instantaneous

Gas Water Heaters
All properties featuring the above are obliged to get them serviced on a regular basis and a certificate of worthiness issued. A copy of this certificate must be supplied for office use. It is the owners responsibility that any alterations recommended for the compliance of the above must be carried out by a qualified engineer and paid for by the owner. Audible carbon monoxide detectors should be placed at ground level in the same room where long term gas certificates have been issued and a ground level air vent have not yet been installed. It would be preferable that owners are encouraged to have these vents installed without having to wait for the expiry of the certificates rather than relying on Carbon
Monoxide detectors Owners should also note that a current gas certificate is required if there are any gas appliances operational in their villa.

Butane (calor gas) Connections - Owners should ensure that the rubber tubing connecting the gas bottle to the cooker should be changed regularly (a minimum once per season) and date stamped. All externally located cylinders must be located in an appropriate lockable and vented cupboard to avoid direct sunlight. Only small cylinders (maximum 15kgs) should be kept inside. All mobile calor gas heaters are prohibited from being used.

Electrical Installation - Following EC low voltage regulation there is a duty of maintenance placed on the owner with regard to the quality and safety of electrical installations within the property. In conjunction with common practice for general safety advice, all major electrical fittings must be professionally installed, secured and adequately insulated. Smaller items should be inspected for wear and tear regularly especially irons. Any iron with flex wire that are severely twisted or have exposed wires must be replaced or the flex renewed. It is advisable to keep a record of any inspection or test dates in order to demonstrate that you have complied with your duty of care. Electrical fires are some of the most common and often occur when appliances malfunction. It is therefore important that washing machines, fridges, dishwashers etc are all in a good state of repair, correctly wired and fused. All cracked, damaged or loose sockets must be replaced immediately staff are notified.

Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain - Pre-season check-list and general standards

Walk around the villa to get an overall impression on how the winter has affected the property. Open all windows and doors to start the airing processes. Clean all windows, blinds and doors Clean all lampshades, sofas and furniture. (Any defective items to be bought to owners notice). Check all lights and ensure electric sockets are working. Check all outside lights .Remove all owners' equipment especially cleaning materials and chemicals. Report any maintenance issues to the appropriate department. Check for any insect infestations that may have happened over the winter. Take action to rectify. Note any Health and Safety matters that may need attention before the start of season. Kitchen / Utility room Clean all cupboards inside and out. Check all crockery, clean and list any replacements needed. Clean all drawers, reline if necessary and ensure cutlery is replaced accordingly. Check gas bottles. Check rubber hoses. Clean cooker, oven and extractor fans. Clean all tile surrounds. Pull out fridge, clean behind, outside and inside. Defrost if required. Clean microwave. Check dishwasher for salt, cleanliness and odour free. Check kettle is lime scale free and toaster is clean. Bleach sink and drains. Give floor a good mopping and we recommend tile polishing if required.
Bathroom.
Ensure no black mould around bath/shower edges. Clean tiles. Get maintenance to replace if required. Remove any lime scale or drip marks around taps and on bath/shower. De-scale all showerheads. Check all toilet seats are secured properly. Check toilet roll holders. Bleach sinks, baths, shower trays and toilet. Ensure shower curtain is clean. Polish any glass. Ensure shower drain is hair-free. Clean cupboard, remove cobwebs and give floor a good clean.
Bedrooms/Lounge
Ensure mattresses are in good order and aired. All bed bases should be solid and must not squeak. Clean under the bed and dust the bed bases. Clean all lamps and furniture.
All sheets, pillowcases and blankets should be cleaned and aired. Ensure walls are clean and recommend repaint where required. Remove traces of squashed insects. Pull out furniture and clean/dust behind. Remove pictures, dust, dust behind and replace. Check all drawers& cupboards - reline where required. Ensure all lounge furniture covers are removed, washed and replaced and all cushions and soft furnishings are clean and aired.
Outside.
Tidy up from Winter. Report any gardening chores that need to be done. Check all outside furniture for quality. Clean all patio furniture. Report any broken furniture for replacement.
Clean sun-loungers and sun mattresses. Check barbeque area and ensure clean. Ensure all equipment is in working order. Clean Table tennis table/billiard table where appropriate.

Guaranteed rental incomes in Spain - Minimum Standards Required

All bed linen, blankets, bed spreads, towels, bath mats, toilet mats and tea towels to be inspected at the start of every season and replaced where necessary. All sheets to be white cotton or cotton mix (no nylon). All beds must be in good condition. They must not squeak and the mattresses must be clean and covered by a mattress protector. No foam or hair mattresses (must be sprung). No religious imagery ie pictures or ornaments. Picture of nudes are discouraged. No animal skins on walls or floors. No guns (real or fake), knives/swords or sharp implements as decoration around the house. Garden furniture to be of modern plastic or cast iron. Wooden furniture in good condition is also acceptable
with the emphasis on 'good condition'. Sun loungers to be canvas / plastic and also have to be in good condition. Moulded fibreglass loungers are not acceptable unless in a general mix of different types. Saucepans/pots to be dent free and clean. Baking tins and dishes to be ceramic or stainless steel. Good size kettle suitable for the number of guests that the villa holds. Chopping board to be ceramic/glass or plastic not wood. BBQ to be of Brick Construction, safe and good size or a quality portable one. Coat hangers to be plastic or wooden (not wire). Pool surface net to be supplied. All items of crockery/cutlery to match as far as possible and must be in a good state of repair, free from cracks or chips and the glaze must not be crazed. All kitchen work surfaces must be in good repair and hygienic.

In Conclusion - The precautions and requirements detailed above will ensure that your property is sufficiently well equipped and prepared to avert the majority of major problems and minimise the risk of damage to holidaymakers and your property alike. New regulations and requirements will be forthcoming and requirements can constantly change. It is the owners responsibility to maintain any changes in local law and the company will confirm any changes as they are made aware of them. Contact us now!

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