Keeping A Rental Property Safe This Winter - The Top Tips

The UK is known for its chilly and wet weather during the winter months. From November through to March temperatures typically drop, and sometimes cause hazards such as ice.

Being prepared for potential downpours, ice, and snow during the winter months will put landlords in a great position. It will also ensure that tenants are safe and happy during these cold months.

After all, no tenant wants to have to deal with a leak or burst pump any time of the year, let alone during the festive season.

Keeping a rental property safe this winter should be at the top of every landlord’s agenda. Here are the top tips landlords can follow to safeguard properties from adverse weather.

Cold weather often causes pipe issues

Cold weather is one of the main causes of burst pipes. When the temperature drops, pipes can freeze, inflate and split. Pipes that are over 100 years old, often installed in older homes, are sometimes unable to endure the wintry weather.

According to Severn Trent water company, the owner of the property must check with the insurer if they have suitable cover for potential leaks. In addition to this, tenants rely on landlords for guidance about potential issues with the property so landlords must be in the know.

Landlords have a duty of care when it comes to the safety of their tenants so keeping them informed and in the know is crucial, especially during the winter months where issues are more likely to occur.

Failure to detect pipe fixtures issues is an easy mistake to make, but as a landlord, you are accountable for any issues with pipes or plumbing fixtures.

Getting a professional to carry out the appropriate checks will help landlords understand if pipes need changing. This is an essential preventative measure that will ensure that landlords do not breach the industry standard.

Ventilation and boiler checks are essential

During the winter months, people are likely to spend more time at home and consume more electricity to keep their home warm. However, this is prone to cause some issues.

Condensation problems are more likely to transpire during these colder months. This can cause mould to form and result in tenants getting sick. Simply making use of bathroom vents and extractor fans will prevent mould from forming.

In addition to this, boiler breakdowns can occur due to rust forming. By getting a boiler check annually, bleeding radiators or replacing an old gas boiler with a heat pump or electric boiler, landlords can keep tenants out of the cold this winter.

A well-informed tenant is a safe tenant

Often property maintenance takes a turn for the worst when the tenant is misinformed or there is a lack of information readily available.

Educating tenants on how to use systems is likely to prevent issues from occurring, keep tenants safe and prevent them from panicking if mishaps do arise.

For example, a landlord who shares the location of taps could help a tenant quickly stop flooding if a leak does occur. Whereas a tenant who is not informed about this information might panic about the situation and make the leak worst.

Including key information that all tenants should know about the property in a tenant information pack will keep occupants safe if these instances do occur. Recent figures reveal
that two-thirds of landlords provide their tenants with this information – however, a third (33%) do not.

Providing tenants with an information pack that can be easily accessed from any device and outlines everything they need to know will keep them safe during the winter months.

Home security is crucial

Winter is the time of year that burglaries are more likely to take place in England, but the good news is there are effective measures that can be put in place to prevent this from happening.

Making sure that windows and doors are not only properly fitted but also locking them properly whenever away from home can help to keep the property and its belongings safe.

In a survey of 422 burglars, the behaviours of burglars were analysed. Findings show that 60% of participants admitted that if a property had an alarm, it would discourage them from carrying out the crime.

In addition to this, a Co-op survey revealed that CCTV cameras were the biggest deterrent, yet only 14% of homeowners use these in their homes.

Investing in CCTV cameras, burglar alarms and fitting doors and windows with locks will ensure that the property is secure and help ward off burglars.

Following these top tips can help to ensure that tenants and your rental property are kept safe this winter - and will ensure you get the most from your tenancy all year round.

By using our tools for landlords, including chat threads and rental agreements, you can improve your renting experience and relationship with your tenants. Find out more about our service here.