Preparing Your Rental Property for Winter

With summer firmly coming to a close behind us, many letting agents are breathing a sigh of relief as another peak season is done and we have lived to tell the tale…well just about anyway!

Now comes the time to start preparing your rental property for winter and what the cooler months bring to rental properties.

The latest Voice of the Landlord Survey by TDS reported that one fifth (19%) of landlords who participated in the survey only complete checks on their rental property in response to tenants reporting issues or not at all, which with the harshness of the winter months, can lead to small problems becoming big problems.

Top Tips to Keep Properties Ticking Along Through Winter

Boiler & Heating Checks

• Why do boilers only ever go wrong in winter? Good question, but it is inevitable, after months of minimal use through the summer, they then suddenly get put on maximum output as cold weather kicks in, giving rise to lots of niggles in the system.
• Schedule annual boiler checks ahead of winter, in early October, to ensure things run smoothly.
• This also helps you avoid vying for a boiler repair company along with the thousands of others during the peak winter season.
• Avoid freezing pipes by making sure tenants leave boilers on a constant low if they go away or leave the property for any length of time.

🌳 Gardens

• Make sure gardens are winterised putting tables & chairs away or covering them, ensuring barbecues, parasols, soft furnishings are stored away.
• Cover any precious plants with frost protectors.
• Water features turned off, including hoses.
• Tenants can’t be relied upon to do these things, so it is always advisable to check in and get them done.

💡 Lighting & Security Alarms

• Make sure any exterior lights are working and dark passageways and communal areas are well illuminated.
• With the darker evenings your tenants will most likely be leaving and returning in low light, help them feel safe and happy in the property by checking on these things.
• If there is a burglar alarm, make sure the tenants have the code. Ensure it is serviced annually and is fully working for them.
• Giving tenants a feeling of security leads to happier tenants and longer tenancies.

🏡 Damp

• Damp and mould can be a problem in winter as clothes are being dried indoors, more hot showers are being run, heating is on constantly, all without proper ventilation from windows being shut.
• Encourage tenants to air the property when they can and make sure you have good quality extractors fitted that are working.
• Doing regular property checks will help you spot any problems early on and help you stay compliant with legislation like Awaab’s Law.

🔧 Handy Man

• Be in contact with a handy man you trust and know to work in the area.
• It’s hard to find a good tradesman, when you need one, so planning ahead can avoid a lot of stress if things go wrong.
• You don’t need to book them for a job, just make contact and have his number to hand when you need them to help with preparing your rental property for winter or if an issue should arise.

🚪 Windows & Doors

• This can be a main source of heat loss in a property, forcing a boiler to work harder than needed.
• Small improvements can really help to keep cold and damp out, tenants happy and boilers ticking along.
• Doors can also swell in the damper weather, causing problems with locks.
• A pre-winter annual check will avoid last minute calls from disgruntled tenants struggling with their locks.

🍂 Gutters & Drains

• Blocked drains and gutters can lead to damp issues inside a property, so making sure these are free of blockages avoids much costlier problems later on.
• A check towards the end of autumn should see them clear for winter.
• This would also be a good time to check for any loose or missing roof tiles, which can also cause leaks to come through in to a property.

How Can Eclipse Help?

Aside from the list above, it is important to carry out regular checks on your investment and whilst preparing your rental property for winter is the perfect time to do it to avoid any nasty surprises and big bills caused by the cold, damp weather during the winter months.

With the growing number of legal requirements on property owners and a reduced amount of time landlords have to check up on their properties, a professional property MOT such as the Eclipse Property Health Check report is essential.

The inspection will include:

✅ Mid tenancy clerk visit & appraisal
✅ Reporting of hazards, issues and misuse
✅ Checks on decor, structure and safety
✅ Feedback on compliance issues
✅ Photographs of issues
✅ Easy to read checklist style report.

Keeping landlords legally compliant, aware of maintenance issues and tenanted properties safe.