Winter is coming: are you ready for darker nights & security & the cold?

 

It’s time to think about how to winter-proof your rental property.

In order to help you keep your property safe as nigths draw in & keep tenants warm here’s a few pointers for attention;

  • Boilers – are they serviced / up to date. Do your tenants keep ahving to top it up? Have you budgeted for a new boiler? Check pressure guages or ask tenants to can save issues of boilers going down in mid-winter.
  • Radiators – Have they been bled to keep them effective
  • Emergency cover? Are you covered? Leaks and burst pipes. Is the property tenanted? Are they going away at all?
  • Damp Condensation & Mold. In old properties ensure tenants have dehumidifers. With the best will in the world they wont open windows in the cold and migth dry clothes in side. The worst nigthmare for an old victorian house! Advise tenants not to cover raidiators and to always open windows when drying clothes and cooking.
  • General repair- keeping a proeprty in a good state of repair can save a lot of money on remedial works if you dont atend to cracks/ render and decoration of older property.
  • Security – do your security lights work? do lock open and are windows secure? Maybe suggest to tenants about leaving lights on if working late – burgalry happens much more often form now to mid January.
  • Heavy rain – It’s important to do all that you can to limit potential damage to your property in the event of heavy rainfall or flooding. There can be a risk of flooding, during heavy rainfall the ground can become saturated and the capacity of drainage systems can be overwhelmed.
  • Ongoing maintenance checklist – heavy rain. Ensure that your gutters are clear and unblocked so that the rainwater can flow freely. Are chimneys are in good condition. A ‘storm collar’ is recommended. Thisprevents rain from getting into the opening where the chimney pipe goes through the roof flashing
  • Make sure that the sealant around doors and windows has no gaps or holes where water could seep in. Add non-return valves to your plumbing. These will prevent water from backing up into your property if groundwater levels rise