The clocks have gone back and there is a distinct chill in the air – and with the winter months almost upon us now is the perfect time to make sure your properties are prepared for a cold snap.
A thorough inspection is always advisable to identify areas that may need attention but have not been flagged by tenants; allowing you to check for things such as blocked gutters which, left untreated, could create major issues which could ultimately result in costly repairs.
Of course, your tenants have the right to the ‘quiet enjoyment’ of their home, so the first thing to do is get in contact to explain that you want to inspect the property and why – and decide on a time that works for them.
This is a good time to ask them whether they have been having any issues with the property or the outside space, which could be anything from minor leaks or issues with drainpipes or guttering.
Make sure you have organised an annual service for your boiler, to be carried out by a qualified Gas Safe engineer, something that can be organised by us here at Safe2. This is a legal requirement and can highlight any underlying issues – as well as ensuring it is less likely to break down over winter.
If you have an open fire, make sure the chimney is swept and check your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, as fuel-burning appliances, such as log burners are more likely to be in use in the colder months.
Make sure storage tanks and pipes are properly lagged and unheated areas are properly insulated. Burst pipes (caused by freezing water expanding) can cause huge amounts of damage to your property and lead to costly repair bills.
You can also check radiators and bleed them if they are not heating properly
When looking at the outside of the building don’t forget to include the garden, along with any sheds, garages or outbuildings and paths or driveways.
Blocked gutters, a relatively minor issue to deal, with can cause major problems if not dealt with, so clear any leaves or debris.
Check the roof for any issues with slates or tiles and check the eaves, fascias and soffits for damage, arranging repairs as necessary.
Examine windows and door frames looking for cracks and any sign of rot or damp.
When checking the garden look out for loose fence panels, damaged or potentially dangerous branches on your trees and make sure garden furniture is put away or secured and that decking is clean.
If you have outdoor taps, make sure they are lagged, or consider draining them over winter.
Also check any outdoor lights are working and that handrails are safe and secure.
While you are talking to your tenants it is worth reminding them that they should let you know if they will be away for an extended period of time over the festive season.
Remind them to time the heating to come on for an hour a day, or something similar, to prevent burst pipes – and if they are away for a significant amount of time you could ask them to switch the water off.
If you are going away yourself, make sure your tenants have a trusted contact that they can call in an emergency, along with a list of emergency numbers for contractors – and that they know basics such as where the stopcock is, how the boiler works and how to change the thermostat.
Simple checks like this, early on, should minimise the chance of things going wring further down the line, and you should also keep a note of the condition of the property and details of any repair work carried out, as this may be useful if there are problems further down the line.
Remind tenants to let you know of any further issues as they occur as the sooner you can attend to repairs the less change there is of things getting out of hand; allowing you and your tenants to enjoy a warm and stress-free winter.
Part of the NRLA family, Safe2 is a digital platform providing of all forms of property safety certification. A one-stop-shop for all things compliance, it sends alerts when documents are due to expire, organises inspections and repairs and issues certificates. All NRLA members are entitled to exclusive discounts when using any of Safe2’s services. Visit nrla.org.uk/safe2
Safe2 also offers a free alert system, letting you now when your essential inspections are due. To sign up fill in our tracking form here.
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