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Drain smells can be very off-putting and are usually a signal that sewer gases are present. These can escape if something is wrong with your plumbing system, and so it is important to address the issue if it occurs. This can prevent even bigger issues from occurring.

Causes of drain smells

Drain and sewer smells are often caused by dry traps, damaged seals allowing gases to escape or blocked pipes. Cracked sewer lines can also cause issues, along with worn toilet seals, faulty vent pipes, and outdoor drainage issues. Where the issue is occurring can often be identified by the type of smell caused.

Quite often, simple remedies such as using vinegar, baking soda and hot water can be enough to get rid of odours, but persistent problems may need a professional inspection and service. Modern solutions to larger issues may include a CCTV drain survey Loughborough carried out by companies such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/loughborough/ or no-dig repairs. High-pressure jetting can also be used to resolve deeper issues.

Preventing drain odours

Professional checks and regular maintenance can help to prevent odours from occurring or recurring. This serves to protect health and maintain comfort levels by ensuring that drainage systems are kept in good working order and do not produce the musty or ‘eggy’ odour associated with drain smells.

If odours do occur, it is important that they aren’t ignored and the source is identified. This could be something simple like a U-bend that is dry or something bigger, such as cracks in a sewer pipe.

One of the first questions, if you are a landlord, will naturally be: how soon can we get a tenant in? Well, it really depends on which market your property is in, and the condition of that particular home, as well as how much marketing is happening.

An attainable timeline for letting a property in the UK is outlined below – from preparing the property all the way through move-in, as well as typical delays that will affect your timetable and slow you down. For a Gloucester Letting Agency, contact www.tgres.co.uk/

The preparation of the property (3 – 14 days), Stage 1

This is the part that many landlords underestimate. Before viewings, you’ll usually need:

A good deep clean plus minor repairs

Touch-ups to paintwork

On top, there is passing safety checks and the paperwork

Photos and a floor plan.

This is possible if the property is already an empty shell and in decent condition. It can be two weeks if you have maintenance, redecorating or furniture to pack away.

Marketing and Enquiries (1 – 7 days) Phase 2

The initial week is usually the most active following the publication of a listing. In some of the more high-demand areas, you will get enough enquiries for a whole day of viewings within 24 to 48 hours.

Delays here usually come from:

Rent set far too high for the local market

Bad photos or a weak description in the listing

Limited viewing availability

Step 3: Showings and Applications

Many properties receive applications after the first showing block. Others need a second round.

For most standard rentals, a reasonable expectation is about one to two weeks from hitting the market until you get an application that works, provided pricing and presentation are good.

Stage 4: Reference-Checking (2 – 7 days)

Referencing times are dependent on how quickly tenants return documents and a response from employers/previous landlords.

Typical checks include:

ID and Right to Rent

Credit checks

Employment/income verification

Previous landlord reference

Step 5: Tenancy agreement & Move-in (3 – 10 days)

After referencing, you’ll need to:

Agree on a move-in date

Sign the tenancy agreement

Receive the deposit and first month’s rent

Supply documents (EPC, Gas Safety, EICR if relevant or How to Rent guide)

Arrange check-in and inventory.

So how long does it really take?

A well-presented, realistically priced property in a decent area would have an end-to-end realistic timeline:

Fast: 1 – 2 weeks

Typical: 2 – 4 weeks

Slowest: 4 – 8+ weeks (often for pricing, condition or seasonal availability)

The best way to minimise void periods is preparation: ensure your property is ‘move-in ready’ and have all the paperwork in order before you come to market.

In May 2026, one of the biggest changes in law when it comes to rental properties is going to be put in in the UK – this is something that all landlords need to be aware of and prepare for if necessary. Here are some of the things that you need to be aware of if you are a landlord…

Firstly, the no fault evictions of the past will be abolished – from when the new renters rights bill comes in, landlords will only be able to evict tenants if they have a legal reason that is valid to do so, such as non-payment of rent for example. This will also require evidence, and you also need to potentially involve the court in this process.

Another thing that you need to know about is that fixed term tenancies are going to be coming to an end. Any existing tenancies as well as new tenancy agreements will all be rolling tenancies which means that tenants are able to leave at any time as long as they give two months’ notice.

Something else to be aware of is what you are charging for rent and also when you can increase the rent. Once the new law comes into effect, you will only be able to increase the rent once a year, and tenants will also be able to challenge rent increases that they believe to be unfair.

The way that properties are marketed will also change – in some areas, where there is a lot of competition for rental properties there have been bidding wars – when the new law comes in, a landlord will not be able to take more than the rental asking price which will stop this. When it comes to marketing a property, it is always better for landlords to go through a professional like this letting agents Gloucester based company www.thomasandthomasproperty.co.uk/ who also will be able to manage the property on your behalf and ensure that the law is complied with.