With climate change rarely out of the news these days, it comes as no surprise that most people are increasingly looking for ways to be more Eco-friendly in their own homes.

The latest research shows that 50% of prospective tenants in London, and 42% UK-wide, now consider the Eco-friendliness of a property as a key factor when choosing a rental home.

Letting agents and landlords are understandably being urged to take this information on board if they want to make their properties as attractive as possible to those looking to rent but where should landlords start and how can they make their properties better for the environment?

To help you make a few simple changes that could vastly improve energy efficiency, we’ve put together a quick guide to making your rental property more Eco-friendly.

 

  1. Water

An easy way to ensure water doesn’t go to waste and cut down on water bills at the same time is to ensure any dripping taps or leaking pipes are fixed. Another great way to save water is to fit a Low Flow shower head.

 

  1. Heating

The number one way to make sure you’re not wasting energy is to have your boiler serviced regularly. A well looked after boiler will work more efficiently and the added bonus is that it won’t have to deal with the hassle of unexpected breakdowns in the winter months either, something you can read more about in our guide to looking after rental property in the winter months.

Other great ways to improve the environmental impact of your heating is to install a smart meter which can help regulate the amount of heat needed in the property and automatically shut it off when it isn’t needed.

 

  1. Lighting

Next up is making sure all your lights have energy efficient bulbs. It may sound obvious but you would be amazed at how few people actually use them even though they have been around for years now and they really can save on electricity.

 

  1. Insulation

Fixing cracks in floors and walls, making sure your double glazing is up to scratch or getting some installed if you don’t have it already, insulating your loft to a good standard and insulating cavity walls are all great ways to retain heat and keep a rental property more energy efficient, making it more Eco-friendly. It’s worth investing in some of these things if you have the money as they will pay off in the long term and make your rental property more attractive to tenants. If you don’t have the resources to spend lots of money on insulation though, there are still some simple solutions too, for instance, if you have cold wooden floors just cover them with some warm rugs and place draft excluders around any ill-fitting door frames. An easy fix in most cases but something which can make a huge difference and your tenants will thank you for sorting out any nasty, unwanted drafts.

 

  1. Appliances

Finally, when you come to replace appliances around the property, always aim for A-rated items as these are the most energy efficient. They may cost a little more than some less Eco-friendly ones but you will benefit from a great selling point when you come to rent out your investment and you will be doing your bit for the environment at the same time!

 

We hope you find this checklist useful. If you would like more help with checking over your property then a professional property MOT such as the Eclipse Property Health Check report, will tell you what’s happening in there so you can see if there are any leaks, cracks or other issues which could be stopping your investment from being as Eco-friendly as it could be. It also helps keep landlords legally compliant, aware of maintenance issues and tenanted properties safe.

 

For further information about any of our inventory services or to book a Property Health Check, get in touch today. To keep up to date with tips and information about protecting your private rental property and the latest news about the London lettings market, follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn.