Tips to avoid winter property maintenance issues
While it can be a good idea to perform property inspections throughout the year, this can be even more important as the winter months approach. During this colder period, there are specific risks that you might need to bear in mind, ones that may not be a problem the rest of the year.
Gallagher, the NRLA’s trusted Landlord Insurance partner, has provided tips to help keep your property well-maintained over the colder months.
External property maintenance tips
Outside the property, cold, wet weather conditions could lead to damage. Some maintenance before winter hits, along with monitoring during the winter months, could help to save you money on costly repairs when spring comes around.
Check for roof damage
Before the cold spells hit, it can be a good idea to check the roof for any existing damage. Cracked, broken, or missing tiles can lead to rain and snow getting into your property, which could cause damp or even water damage, as well as letting the cold in, making it more difficult to heat the property.
If conditions become icy or if snow builds up on your roof, you may want to clear the roof as the weight of the snow and ice could cause further damage.
Check gutters are clear
As autumn turns into winter, it’s important to give the gutters and drainpipes a once over as leaves and other debris may have built up in them. Blockages can lead to overflows, causing water to spill out down the side of your property and onto pathways outside the property. It can be even more important to clear your guttering before winter because this water may freeze in cold weather, which could create dangerously slippery conditions outside the property.
Secure garden furniture
It’s not just cold conditions that you might need to worry about during winter, but also strong winds. If items like garden furniture are left out, then these could blow around, potentially causing damage not just to the furniture, but also to surrounding structures, not to mention the potential risk of injury to those around.
Remind tenants that they should put away or otherwise secure garden furniture. They could put the furniture inside the house if there is space, or another storage solution such as a shed. If your tenants do not have space to securely store the furniture, then you could offer to store it away for them over the winter. They may take you up on this offer if they are unlikely to use the furniture during these months.
Check the condition of fences
If your property has garden fences, these will also be exposed to the elements all winter. Inspect your fences for any signs of damage or weakness. It may be a good idea to have any damage repaired before winter. Or it may just be a case of cleaning and repainting your fences to improve their condition before the harsher weather starts.
It may also be wise to clear leaves from around the base of the fence and to keep them clear of snow in the event of snowfall, as this build-up can lead to the moisture rotting the wood.
Internal property maintenance tips
Now for the inside of the property, where some small efforts could make big differences to the comfort of your tenants and the size of your energy bills over winter. Whether you cover your tenants’ energy bills within the rent or they pay them themselves, a more energy efficient property can benefit everyone involved.
Insulate your property
It is estimated that around 25% of a property’s heat is lost through its roof. Some basic loft and/or roof insulation can have a big impact on the energy efficiency of your property, keeping more warm air in and, as a result, meaning less energy is required to keep the property warm. Cavity wall insulation can also be a good idea for improved warmth and energy efficiency.
Service the boiler
An old or poorly maintained boiler may also not be the most energy efficient. You may want to have your boiler serviced before winter to keep it running efficiently and to help reduce the likelihood of it breaking down during the colder months. A winter boiler breakdown could be particularly costly and leave your tenants in a very uncomfortable situation.
If you consider it necessary, you may also replace your boiler before winter with a new, more modern appliance, which may also be more energy efficient.
Check window and door seals
Gaps and cracks around your windows and doors could be letting a lot of cold air in and warm air out. Inspect the seals around all your windows and doors to see if any need maintaining or reapplying.
And if any of the windows in your property are not double glazed, then now could be a good time to upgrade them to this more energy efficient option.
More energy saving tips
There may be other actions you could take to save energy in your rental property over winter, or tips to give your tenants to help them keep the property warm and the bills down. Providing draught excluders to place at the bottom of doors can help to keep warm air in heated rooms. Also, good quality, thick curtains can help to stop warm air escaping through windowpanes and trap any cold air between the window and the curtains.
And it’s not just the heat but also the light that you might need to consider. With fewer daylight hours during winter, tenants are likely to have lights on for more hours per day. Switching to energy efficient bulbs could help to reduce your electricity bills.
If your tenants are conscious about saving money on their energy bills, then it can also be beneficial to set up a smart meter in the property. This will allow them to monitor how much energy they are using and help them reduce their usage.
Will your property be unoccupied during winter?
Your property could further be at risk during winter if it is going to be unoccupied. This is because there are no tenants in the property keeping it warm by using the heating and hot water. So, issues can arise such as frozen pipes or damp and mould building up.
Check your landlord insurance policy for any clauses that might be relevant to unoccupancy during winter. For example, there may be a heating/drain down clause, meaning the water, gas, and electricity supplies might need to be turned off at the mains and the water system drained. Under these terms, the electricity supply may be left on if required for a security alarm or other security devices.
Similarly, your policy may allow you to leave the heating on at a minimum temperature to help prevent pipes from freezing. Be sure to check your policy for such terms and conditions.
Some modern boilers have a frost protection setting that can also help. This switches the boiler on when it detects that the water has dropped below a certain temperature. It can also be a good idea to check the pipes before winter to ensure that there are no cracks or damage, and to repair or replace any if necessary.
Specialist Landlord Insurance from Gallagher
With vast experience handling insurance policies for a wide range of landlords, and with relationships with some of the leading insurers, Gallagher aims to simplify your insurance arrangements and help to protect your property, its contents and your liabilities.
The sole purpose of this article is to provide information on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited and National Residential Landlords Association, an Introducer Appointed Representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
National Residential Landlords Association is an introducer appointed representative of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Office: Spectrum Building, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909.
