Protect your property this winter – a landlord checklist

The average void tenancy time has continued to decrease to 2.1 weeks and the average tenancy time continues to increase, meaning there has never been a more attractive time to be a landlord.

Winter months can cause unwanted problems in a property, so here we look at ways to avoid costly problems on your rental.

Keep your tenants toasty

A warm home is a happy one. Landlords can limit expenses and keep their tenants warm in the winter by:
1. Bleeding radiators – This is a simple yet effective way that can sometimes be overlooked.
2. Servicing the boiler – Keeping on top of services is far cheaper in the long run compared to the call out fee of a busy engineer for an urgent repair.
3. Limiting draughts in the property – Sealing them is a quick and easy way to help your tenants stay warm and save money. Check for draughts around the edges of window frames, under doors, and around letterboxes.
4. Insulate the loft – loft insulation can make a big difference when it comes to preserving heat in a property, if there is insulation, it’s worth checking it’s up to standard.
5. Lag the pipes – In order to keep pipes frost-free, landlords can wrap them in lagging which is nice and cheap but can save money by stopping pipes freezing and avoid bursts.

If a property is empty and ready and waiting for a new tenant, landlords should consider flicking on the heating and making sure it’s warm and cosy for viewings.

External checks

In order to limit potentially expensive damages before the worst of the weather hits, landlords should:
1. Check and clean gutters to limit blockages and prevent water damage.
2. Repair and maintain garden fences, windows and other features
3. Check the roof as missing tiles as a bad storm can cause structural problems in the long-term

Put on your gardening gloves

With autumn leaves scattered and gloomy days approaching a well-maintained garden can give a property the burst of colour and tidiness it needs. Landlords could consider planting new plants, trimming back hedges, and sweeping away any dead debris.

For maintenance or repairs contact Real Home Improvements on 0345 646 0780

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