You can never fully switch off from your responsibilities as a landlord, whether that be taking on new tenants, completing deposit disputes or making sure your property is kept in good condition over the festive period. There are a couple of things you can do to make sure your properties are in order, ensuring the safety of your tenants and hopefully a stress-free Christmas and New Year for you.
Are your tenants leaving the property over Christmas & New Year?
The deposit protection schemes received a lot of claims following the severe winter weather in 2010. The majority were the result of burst or frozen pipes at student houses where tenants had left the property to spend Christmas with their families.
In the worst cases, burst pipes resulted in damage to carpets and flooring, kitchen appliances needing replacing and claims for lost rent whilst damage was repaired. Some landlords faced repair bills of several thousand pounds.
To avoid this stress and expense, you should contact your tenants to check if they’re going away to ensure that the proper measures are taken to avoid this kind of damage.
Here is some guidance on keeping your property safe during cold spells:
1. Insulation – Ensure water pipes and tanks are lagged and insulated.
2. Heating – Advise tenants to keep the heating on, at a minimum of 15 degrees, if they’re going away. It’s also sensible to open the loft hatch allowing air to circulate and prevent pipes freezing and bursting in the loft.
3. Boiler servicing – Ensure that gas and oil boilers are serviced every 12 months.
4. If the property is going to be empty for an extended period it’s sensible to have the heating/water system drained by a qualified contractor.
5. Chimneys – Ensure they are swept once a year by a professional chimney sweep, ideally before the tenant starts using the fire.
6. Smoke Alarms – Check that smoke alarms are fitted in all properties and that they are all working properly. Replace batteries as necessary.
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