Landlords: How to Winter Proof Your Rental Property

With temperatures plummeting, so the risk to property damage increases. Winter is therefore a vital time for landlords to put measures in place to safeguard their investment. Let’s take a look at some of the most essential steps you should be taking to protect your rental property during the harshest months of the year.

The time has come to ensure your rental property is protected against the elements. Here’s what you should be doing now winter is in full swing.

Protect your pipework

Water escape is one of the most costly and damaging issues that can happen in any rental property. What’s more, if you are claiming on your landlord insurance to cover the costs of any damage, you’ll need to provide evidence that you took steps to reduce the risk of a burst pipe.

As winter sets in, the chances of pipes freezing and then bursting grow. It is therefore vital to liaise with your tenants and arrange an inspection of the pipes, especially if they have reported any problems such as cracks, leaks or knocking sounds, something which should always be encouraged.

Pipes should be adequately lagged so that they are protected from the cold. Also, be sure to advise your tenants to keep the heating system working at intervals throughout the day. If they are out all day, or going away, they should use a timer programme or smart control to switch the heating on and off at intervals. Pipes that are left unused for periods of time during cold spells are at a higher risk of bursting.

Lastly, ensure your tenants are aware of the location of the stopcock in the rental property so that they can turn off the water supply and mitigate damage should a leak occur.

Inspect the drains

Blocked drains can cause significant damage, serious enough to render your property uninhabitable, which means loss of rental income and long and drawn out insurance claims and repairs.

It is therefore crucial to check the guttering and overflow pipes for blockages and cracks, and to clear away any autumn leaves. Simple tasks like this can avert major problems.

Make sure your tenants know to report any signs of blocked drains, including damp patches on walls and ceilings.

Deal with overgrown plants

Overgrown shrubs and trees can hide a multitude of issues as well as cause damage, which is why it is important to clear them periodically, especially ahead of the wet season.

Climbing plants such as ivy and wisteria can lead to damp inside the property. Tree roots that are getting out of hand will need to be dealt with before they start interfering with the foundations and damp course. If in doubt about clearing vegetation and trees, always consult a qualified tree surgeon.

Check the roof of your rental property

Or better still, get a professional to do if for you. What you don’t want is cracked, loose or missing roof tiles causing issues with damp or leaks and damaged roof timbers, or insecure chimney stacks tumbling due to high winds.

Keep up with your mid-term inspections

Regular mid-term inspections will flag up any developing issues so that they can be dealt with before they turn into major, costly problems. It will also provide the ideal platform for tenants to raise any issues they have come across.

Want to hand over your winter maintenance tasks AND secure your monthly rent? Talk to homes2let.

There really is so much to take care of as a landlord, especially during winter. If you’d rather take a back seat and manage your rental property investment hands-off, whilst securing your monthly rental payments, take a look at the homes2let guaranteed rent scheme.

Not only do we take care of all the maintenance and legal compliance aspects of renting your property, we also source and reference tenants, deal with all the legal costs, arrange mid-term inspections and all check-in, check-out and inventory reports, AND pay you your monthly rent by standing order in advance every month, even when your property is untenanted.

To discover more about how the homes2let guaranteed rent scheme can revolutionise your life as a landlord, we welcome you to get in touch.