Seven Ways to Prepare Your Rental Property for Winter
In this two-minute read, we look at how landlords in Burton and Derby can make sure their rental investments stand up to the challenges of winter weather.
With winter officially only a few weeks away, the time is now ideal for landlords to take steps to ensure their properties are prepared for whatever December to February serves up.
By putting a winter property maintenance plan in place, you’re setting yourself and your tenants up for a trouble-free winter period.
1) Begin with boilers
The best time to service a boiler is in September, ahead of it being plunged into constant action in the months that follow. The second-best time to service a boiler is right NOW. By keeping on top of boiler and heating maintenance, you’ll save a lot of money and avoid hassle in the long run.
2) Remember your radiators
Bleeding your radiators is a simple, yet effective way of ensuring they are working as well as they should be.
3) Look at lagging
Frozen pipes that burst are the stuff of nightmares for any serious landlord. So, take the time to ensure pipes are wrapped in lagging to reduce the risks of freezing and potentially bursting.
4) Go to guttering
Don’t wait until the weather turns before you clean out your gutters. Blockages can build up over time and slowly cause unseen damage.
5) Insulate everywhere
Insulating a loft is an excellent way of keeping the warmth in and the heating bills lower. But don’t forget that even insulating against draughts can be a small way of making a big difference to how warm a property feels.
6) Fix that fence
The stronger seasonal winds love claiming a poorly maintained fence as one of its victims. So, act now to ensure any weak spots in your fencing are ready to stand up to whatever the winter winds throw at it.
7) Check it out
If your property is vacant for any sustained period over the winter months, diarise weekly or fortnightly visits to it to keep an eye on things. If you can’t do this, then it’s the kind of thing a good, local letting agent can do for you.
Next Steps
If you are interested in finding out more about Lettings, you can download our eBook “Lettings Made Simple”
Your rental property is an asset, and having happy tenants is a key part of making the most of it, so take the time and spend the money on creating a safe, comfortable home for them this winter.
And don’t worry if you’re not a Handy Andy or a DIY Diana. At Sure Sales & Lettings, we have good working relationships with maintenance people who can do all the work for you.
