A Winter Property Checklist for your Tenants
With winter around the corner, it’s a good time for landlords to prepare for the risks that the colder months can bring.
Taking time to draw up a to-do list for yourself and your tenants may help to ensure you have a trouble-free winter.
Here are our tips to help tenants keep your property safe and in good condition.
Making preparations in advance:
There are certain steps you can take to help avoid issues that are more prevalent in winter. With the cooperation of your tenants, you can be prepared if something does go wrong.
Encourage tenants to report problems
Ask them to flag any issues with the property as soon as they notice something isn’t right. Even if it’s the slightest drip or smallest crack, such issues can get worse if left, and if unmonitored, might not be caught until the damage has already been done.
Keep contact details up-to-date
Make sure you have a way to contact your tenants to let them know if you need to visit the property or send a professional for maintenance or repair work. They should also have up-to-date contact details for you. If you plan on going away, provide them with notice, so they will know if you’ll be unreachable.
Avoiding frozen pipes:
During very cold weather, the risk of frozen and burst pipes can increase. The water in pipes can freeze, which might then expand. This can cause a build-up of pressure that can rupture a pipe, leading to water damage in the property.
Locating the stopcock
To help reduce the risk of frozen pipes this winter, make sure your tenants know where the stopcock is that will turn off the incoming water supply.
Keep the property suitably heated
You may have included a clause in your tenancy agreement that requires tenants to adequately heat the house throughout the winter months. Remind them of this condition and of which months it applies to. This can help to avoid issues such as mould as well.
If your tenants go away, remember to check your property insurance policy for a heating clause that may come into effect at this time of year. It can also be worth checking how well the property is insulated. Suitable pipe and water tank insulation can help to prevent freezing.
Preparing for bad weather:
Storms can be common at this time of year and can pose a threat to your property at their most severe. Landlords should keep the property well maintained all year round, but this is particularly vital ahead of winter to help protect it against strong wind and rain.
Check the external condition of the property
Ask tenants to keep an eye on the outside of their home. If they notice any leaking drainpipes, they may need attention to avoid potential water damage. Gutters may also need clearing of fallen leaves or fixing from damage caused by high winds at this time of year.
Schedule an inspection to check the outside of the property and look for areas that need attention, such as broken or blocked guttering, overgrown vegetation, and rotting or cracked window frames.
What to do if there’s a storm
If a storm is forecasted, advise your tenants to keep all windows and doors shut and store away garden furniture and other unsecured items such as plant pots from around the property. If they are going away, ask them to ensure the property is secured against bad weather before they leave.
Going away for the holiday season:
Your tenants may go away on holiday, which can expose the property to risks that are more prevalent for unoccupied properties. You landlord insurance policy might not provide cover or may be restricted if the property is unoccupied for more than 30 days in a row. Check your policy documents for empty or unoccupied clauses.
Ask tenants to let you know if they are going away
If your tenants plan on going away for a while, they should let you know when your property will be empty. Prior notice can help you to take the necessary steps to ensure you don’t invalidate your landlord insurance policy.
Secure the property when it’s empty
Ensure your tenants are aware of their responsibilities when they go away. Doors and windows should be closed and securely locked, and all valuables should be stored out of sight.
Set up ways to make the home look occupied
If there is smart technology in the property that allows your tenants to control the lights from wherever they are, they can use that to make it appear as though someone is home. Individual light timers and television simulator lights can also work as a deterrent.
Turn off the water supply
To help avoid escape of water issues, ask your tenants to turn the water supply off at the mains before they go away. It may be a condition of your landlord insurance policy that this is done when tenants are away from the property.
Pre-emptively protecting your property:
As well as providing a winter checklist for your tenants, there are steps you can take as a landlord to help keep your property safe.
Periodic inspections throughout the year can allow you to keep an eye on any possible maintenance issues that may develop. It’s also worth checking your landlord insurance for any conditions that require you to perform regular inspections in order for the cover to be valid. Keep a record of these checks, in case you have to provide evidence upon making a claim. Remember to provide 24 hours’ notice to your tenants and to only visit at a reasonable time of day.[1]
However, despite your best intentions, issues with your let property can still occur. That’s why it’s important to find suitable insurance to help protect your property.
Help is at hand – get in touch with Rentguard.
With vast experience handling insurance policies for a wide range of landlords, and with relationships with a number of leading insurers, Rentguard Insurance aim to simplify your insurance arrangements and help to protect your property, its contents, and your liabilities.
Get a quote online or speak to our specialist team on 0333 000 0169 today!
[1] https://www.gov.uk/private-renting
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 trading as Rentguard 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, 7th Floor, 55 Blythswood Street, Glasgow, G2 7AT. Registered in Scotland. Company Number: SC108909. Rentguard is a trading name of Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited.
