Get your rental property ready for winter

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 | Property maintenace

The nights are getting longer, the leaves are falling fast, and the temperature has begun a steady decline as we delve into the winter months. Unfortunately, tis the season where things start to go wrong in a property, and we always see a surge in calls for emergency repairs from tenants experiencing flooding, storm damage, or heating issues.

Prevention is always better than cure, so we’ve collated a list of ways that you can prepare your rental property for the winter months to safeguard your property and protect your pocket. After all, there’s nothing festive about costly repairs!

Clear gutters and drains

Fallen leaves can wreak havoc on gutters and drains. Be sure to check drains and guttering for fallen leaves and debris that could cause blockages and flooding in your rental property.

Make small changes to improve energy efficiency

With energy bills on the rise, households up and down the country are experiencing financial difficulty. Give your tenants a helping hand by making small changes to your rental property that will improve its energy efficiency. This can include installing a smart meter so that tenants can track usage, replacing regular lightbulbs with LEDs, or insulating your pipes to keep the water warm and prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting.

These changes won’t cost a lot and will benefit you in the long run, as by doing what you can to keep energy bills low, you will be reducing the risk of your tenants falling into financial difficulty and being unable to pay rent over the winter months.

Check your heating systems

The last thing you want is for your tenants to be left without heating in the freezing winter weather. That’s why it is so important to get your boiler or heating system inspected in Autumn before the temperatures drop too severely. If you have a gas boiler, it is your legal obligation to get the boiler checked every year and to produce a gas safety certificate for your tenants.

Inspect your pipes for damage

Any damage to the pipes will be exacerbated in the cold weather, and if they freeze or burst, it could cut off your tenant’s water supply. Be sure to thoroughly check the pipes in your property for cracks and damage to avoid any emergency calls and costly repairs.

Inspect fences and gates

Harsh winds and torrential rains can cause serious damage to fences and gates, which can compromise a tenant’s security. Inspect the fences and gates for weak spots before the severe weather kicks in and causes problems for you and your tenants.

Check your insurance

As a landlord, it is important to regularly review your insurance documents to ensure you know exactly what you have cover for. It is even more important to do so ahead of the winter months, as escape of water, storm damage, and flood damage are the most common home insurance claims in the UK according to Aviva.

If you haven’t already got cover, we would recommend getting a comprehensive insurance policy designed especially for landlords to protect yourself against escape of water or damaged fences over the winter months. Some policies will cover your boiler, but often the coverage will only apply to boilers under a certain age that have been regularly serviced.

There are also policies that cover emergency accommodation for tenants in the event of extreme damage, so you and your tenants can rest easy knowing that should disaster strike, you’ll both be covered.

Even with the best preparations, accidents still happen. From emergency repairs to minor maintenance issues, our award-winning property management team are here to support you and your tenants over the winter months. Should you require any help with getting your property ready for the winter months, do not hesitate to contact your property manager who will be able to assist you every step of the way.