Landlord tips for looking after let properties in winter

With winter on its way in the UK, rental platform LettingaProperty.com has put together a few tips to help landlords and their let properties survive the colder months.

Your rental property could be one of your biggest investments. So it makes sense to keep it in good condition. Extreme weather conditions during the winter months can take their toll on homes. But there are steps you can take to help prevent or limit damage, which could save you a lot of money in the long run. Read our essential guide for landlords to find out what you need to do and how.

Jonathan Daines, Founder and CEO of LettingaProperty, comments: “November and December are known for bringing a fall in lettings activity. And decreased tenant demand isn’t the only issue facing landlords – letting properties during the winter months also means there’s plenty to think about from a maintenance perspective.”

Perform maintenance checks

Looking for tenants during the winter months? LettingaProperty suggests one quick win is to fix all minor repairs. Tackling loose cupboard doors, wonky drawer handles, and dilapidated garden fences can make a difference to a potential tenant’s first impression of a property. Ensure the boiler has been serviced and bleed the radiators as part of your winter maintenance work.

Outside the property, it’s important to keep gutters and roofs clear and in good repair. Guttering that is clogged with autumn leaves and moss is unlikely to direct water away from the house efficiently, creating potential problems with damp and mould.

TOP 10 TIPS:

1. Give your pipes the once over

2. Show tenants where the stopcock is, so in an emergency the water supply can be turned off to stop pressure build up in the pipes

3. Insulate your loft

4. Give your gutters a clear-out

5. Seal any draughty areas

6. Give your radiators some TLC

7. Keep your property warm

8. Check the boiler’s pressure

9. Make sure the property is secure

10. Test all your alarms

Establish in writing the procedure you wish your tenants to follow in the case of an emergency, and check they have spare keys, to save you any Christmas Day dramas. However, if you use Leaders’ Fully Managed service, our team of Property Managers will do all of this on your behalf.

Highlight the home’s best features

Pay careful attention to how you describe the property when advertising it. Avoid generic language and highlight the best features to ensure the property stands out from the crowd. Marketing across multiple platforms can also help.

Keep the heating on in unoccupied properties

If the property is empty, it can be tempting to leave the heating off. However, this runs the risk of the pipes freezing and bursting, so it’s much better to leave the heating on low. In addition, any exposed pipework will need attention – insulation tubes are a cost-effective and easy way to reduce the risk of freezing. External taps can also be protected with insulation tubes.

Avoid keeping the windows shut all of the time

Keeping the property warm will also help to combat any condensation, mould or damp. However, avoid the temptation to keep the windows shut all of the time, as airflow and ventilation are also key to avoiding condensation and damp.

Compare energy suppliers

Given the spiralling cost of energy bills during the winter, consider using the winter months to switch suppliers, with a view to making a saving.

Protect your property investment

Finally, make sure you have the relevant insurance in place, as the property is more likely to sustain damage over the winter months than in the summer, the rental platform says.

Daines comments: “Good communication with the tenant is also crucial to successful winter lettings. After all, tenants who have a good relationship with their landlord are likely to make more effort to keep the property in good condition.

“And if heavy snow, local flooding or other extreme weather is expected, the landlord and tenant can agree on an emergency plan and share ways to contact each other if required. By working in partnership, they can ensure that the property will still be in tip-top condition come spring.”